How to Register
A step-by-step guide to registering your child with your Local Education Authority (LEA). Takes about 20 minutes if you have your documents ready.
What You'll Need
Gather these before you start:
- Child's full legal name and date of birth
- Child's home address
- Your own full name and contact details (phone + email)
- Names of anyone else involved in the education (tutors, co-op leaders)
- Details of any education providers or services you use
- If your child was previously at school: the school's name and address (useful context for your LEA, though not legally required)
The Steps
Find Your LEA
Your LEA is the local authority (council) for the area where your child lives — not where the school was or where you prefer.
Note: If you live in a county like Kent, your LEA is the County Council, not your district council. Our lookup handles this automatically.
Write and Send Your Registration Letter
There is no official government form. You register by writing to your LEA's EHE team. Use our ready-made letter template — just fill in your details.
Send it by email (most EHE teams prefer this) or by recorded post. Keep a copy and proof of delivery.
Wait for Acknowledgement (15 Days Max)
By law, your LEA must acknowledge your registration within 15 days. If you don't hear anything after 15 days, follow up — by email so you have a paper trail.
Keep Your LEA Updated
Within 15 days of any change, you must notify your LEA of updates to:
- Your address
- Your contact details
- Anyone new involved in the education (new tutor, co-op, online provider)
- Anyone leaving the education arrangement
- Any change in the time spent with each person or provider
Use our change notification template for this.
Keep Your Own Records
While not explicitly required to be submitted unless asked, keeping your own records makes compliance straightforward:
- Education log — brief notes on what your child is learning
- Provider list — who does what, and roughly how many hours
- Evidence of progress — work samples, photos, certificates
- Correspondence — copies of all letters and emails with your LEA
Download our annual compliance checklist to stay on top of this.
What Happens After You Register
Once registered, your LEA may:
- Write to you to acknowledge registration and set out their expectations
- Request evidenceof the education you're providing (not all LAs do this routinely)
- Request a home visit — you are not legally forced to agree, but refusing may lead to court action
Many LAs are pragmatic and supportive. EHE officers are often experienced and understand that home education works well. Keep communication polite and professional.
Special Cases
Your child was at school
When you deregister from a school, the school shouldnotify the LEA that you've elected to home educate. But don't rely on this — send your own registration letter as well.
You're already home educating
Already home educating?If you're already home educating, you will still need to register once the Act commences. There will be no grace period after 1 September 2026, so it is best to prepare your registration now.
Your child has SEND
The Children's Wellbeing Act will not remove or change any existing rights under the SEND Code of Practice. If your child has an EHC plan, the LA will continue to have duties towards them.