Home education in Reading
Reading Borough Council · covers Reading (home education is run for the council by Brighter Futures for Children)
Last checked 24 October 2026
Taking your child off a school roll
- 1Tell the headteacher in writing that you are taking your child out of school to home educate.
- 2The school takes your child off roll and lets the home education officer know. A meeting with the school first is encouraged, and the officer can join it.
- 3If your child has never been to school, tell School Admissions ([email protected]) and the home education officer instead.
If your child is at a special school, the council has to give permission before they can be taken out.
The yearly check-in
How oftenOnce a year, timed by key stage: KS4 after October half term, KS3 after Christmas, KS2 after Easter, KS1 after May half term.
What they ask forEvidence of the education you are providing.
Do you have to meetNo. You choose a home visit, a meeting at the Civic Centre or a library, or a written report on their form with some evidence.
Do they need to see your child[TODO]
Flexi-schooling
Allowed, but not a right: it only happens if the headteacher agrees. Your child stays on the school roll, the days at home count as home education, and the whole week together must still add up to a suitable full-time education.
The national picture
The new "children not in school" register
What applies today, and what is still to come.
Read the explainer