Clackmannanshire Council Online

Home Education

Home Education

The responsibility for a child's education lies with their parents. Most parents send their children to school but, if they want to, parents have the right to choose to educate their child at home.

If a child has additional support needs, parents have the same rights.

Children also have a right to have their views taken into account subject to age and capacity.

Parents do not need to have any qualifications or training to home school their child. They will have to show they can provide an 'efficient and suitable' education for their child’s age, ability and aptitude.

Parents must make sure the Getting It Right for Every Child values are being met. These values are:

• Safe
• Healthy
• Active
• Nurtured
• Achieving
• Respected
• Responsible
• Included

Parents do not need the consent of the Education Service to home school their child if:

• their child has never attended a public school
• their child has never attended a public school in the Clackmannanshire Council area
• their child is being withdrawn from an independent school
• their child has finished primary education in one school but has not started secondary education in another school
• the school the child has been attending has closed

In the last two situations, parents simply need to tell us that they want to home school their child.

How do I withdraw my child from school?

If a parent wishes to withdraw their child from the school roll of a school they are already attending, please write to:

Clackmannanshire Council
Education Service
Chief Education Officer
Kilncraigs
Greenside Street
Alloa FK10 1EB

The request should include:

• how the parent will provide an efficient and suitable education for the child
• how the parent will meet any additional support needs the child may have
• what provision the parent has made for peer contact and social education
• when the home schooling will start
• what the child's views on home schooling are

We will make a decision on most requests within 30 working days (excluding school holidays). The child must attend school until we send a letter approving the parent’s request to remove them from the school roll.

The Chief Education Officer may not approve immediately the request for the removal of a child from the school roll in order to home educate in the following circumstances:

• the child is on the Child Protection register
• the child is subject to a supervision requirement
• the child is referred to the Children’s Reporter on care and protection grounds and the referral is being considered
• the child has been referred to Social Work or the Police for child protection reasons and the matter is being investigated

We have no legal responsibility to provide parents with access to educational resources and activities if they are home educating. However, the home education link officer will provide information, advice and will consider any requests for practical support and resources.

If you are a parent and are thinking about home schooling, you may find it helpful to discuss your plans with us. Please contact your child's head teacher or the link officer for home education in Kilncraigs.

Our Guidance on Home Education is also available to refer to.

Additional Information

• Scottish Government Home Education Guidance
• Parenting Across Scotland
• Schoolhouse
• A to Z Home's Cool