Home education guidance

Overview

Why we are consulting
This consultation seeks views on the draft updates to the existing Home education guidance, published in 2007.

This guidance is published under Section 14 of the Standards in Scotland’s Schools Act 2000, and local authorities are to have regard to the guidance.

The draft guidance sets out the roles and responsibilities of local authorities and parents in relation to home education. It provides information on the relevant law and the process for withdrawing a child from school. The draft guidance also offers information and guidance for local authorities and parents on developing positive relationships based on mutual trust that function in the best interests of the child or young person.

What has been updated
Although the numbering broadly matches the original document, each paragraph in this consultation document has been numbered separately to enable those being consulted to reference particular points and easier cross-referencing.

All legislation and references to guidance and organisations has been updated.

What has not been updated and why
A number of new issues relating to home education that were not covered in the previous guidance have been highlighted to the Scottish Government in advance of this consultation. These have not been added to the draft guidance, but questions on them are included where appropriate to gather respondees’ views. 

Read the consultation paper

What happens next

Now that the consultation has closed, Scottish Government will consider all the responses and feedback gathered from stakeholders in order to publish a response to the consultation.