How to Withdraw Your Child from School in England to Homeschool While Travelling

(Includes free legal starter pack with editable letter + full guide)

“But what about the kids?”
That’s the first thing people ask when we say we’re going travelling. Not “Where are you off to first?” Always: “What about school?”

Actually, here’s the truth:

Yes, you can legally take your children out of school to homeschool them – even while travelling the world. And no, you don’t need teaching qualifications or permission from the school to do it.

We’ve done it and to save you the stress, we’ve created a step-by-step pack to help you do it too including a fully editable deregistration letter and a legal guide for parents in England.

The Problem with the School System in England

The school system is broken. We’ve normalised locking kids in classrooms for seven hours a day, following rigid curriculums with little room for creativity, personal interests, or real-world learning and don’t even get me started on the fines.

How dare you take your children out of school to explore the world?

Even if it’s more educational than anything they’d get from a worksheet or beneficial for the family relationship.

A study by the US Travel Association found that 49% of adults say their happiest memories are family holidays.
So why are we punishing parents for giving their kids these experiences…

We’ve become desensitised to:

1 in 5 children reporting mental health struggles
Chronic underfunding and oversized classrooms
Record SEND waiting lists
Absurd pressure around exams and qualifications that often mean little in the real world.

If your gut says that the system isn’t serving your child or that they could benefit from a year under your direct care. You are not wrong!

Is It Legal to Take Your Child Out of School in the UK?

Yes, 100%.
In England, education is compulsory – but school is not.

You are legally allowed to educate your child at home (or while travelling), without the ridged curriculum.

Why not focus on:

Money basics, how to save.
Where food comes from, how to grow it.
What empathy, kindness and boundaries mean.
How to look after your mental health.
Spotting mis-information online.
Nutrition, what to eat and to avoid.

Isn’t that better than memorising the stages of photosynthesis?

All you have to do is notifiy the school in writing, they are legally required to remove your child from the register.
You:

Don’t need formal teaching qualifications
Don’t need to follow the national curriculum
Do need to provide a full-time education suitable for your child’s age, ability, and needs

Your local authority may check in to ensure everything looks okay, but as long as your child is learning and progressing, you’re doing everything right.

Still unsure or want further confirmation? Click here to find the government website stating the facts.

Children may not remember the things you buy them over the years but they’ll always remember where you took them.

England vs. Finland: Who’s Really Putting Children First?

Still unsure about taking your child out of school?

Let’s compare England, where kids start formal education at 4 with Finland, one of the world’s most respected education systems:

Feature	England	Finland
Starting Age for School	4–5 years old	7 years old
First Formal Testing	Age 6–7 (Key Stage 1 SATs)	Age 16 (National Matriculation Exam)
Class Size (Primary)	Average 27–30 students	Average 19–21 students
Curriculum Structure	National Curriculum (prescriptive)	National Core Curriculum (flexible)
Homework Expectations (Primary)	Frequent, even at early age	Minimal to none in early years
Standardised Testing	Frequent (SATs, GCSEs, A-levels)	Rare, focus on continuous assessment
School Hours	6–6.5 hours/day	4-5 Hours/day
Outdoor Play & Recess	1–2 short breaks per day	15 mins every hour; daily outdoor time
Focus in Early Years	Literacy & numeracy skills	Social skills, emotional wellbeing, play
Inspection System	OFSTED inspections, league tables	No league tables; school autonomy
Parental Role	Limited say in curriculum	Parents seen as equal partners
Homeschooling Popularity	Growing, but often questioned socially	Less common, but alternative approaches respected
World Happiness Rank (2025)	23rd	1st

Now, I’m not saying school is the only factor in Finland’s world happiness ranking…
But when you look at this table, it’s hard to ignore which country creates a better environment for children to thrive in.

If you’re a fellow traveller ready to take the plunge, or a parent fed up with a failing school system and ready to take your child’s education into your own hands — you’re not alone.
We’re not saying school is the enemy, teachers work very hard in an underfunded sector but we are saying: you have options.

Final Thoughts: You’re Allowed to Do This

Whether you’re preparing to travel the world or just seeking a better fit for your family, homeschooling can offer your child a more meaningful, personalised, and enriching education.

You’re not breaking the law. You’re not being reckless. You’re choosing what’s best for your child.
And if that includes learning about history while walking through the grounds of Osaka Castle in Japan, or learning fractions at a night market in Vietnam it all counts.

If you’re considering long-term travel with kids, check out our post on travel hacks.

F.A.Qs

Yes, it’s legal to homeschool as long as your child is not enrolled in a UK school. You must deregister them first, and you remain responsible for providing a suitable education, even while travelling.

No permission is required. Once your child is deregistered from school, you are free to educate them in a way that suits your lifestyle, including worldschooling and travel-based learning.

You must write to the headteacher stating that you intend to home educate. The school will remove your child from the register, and the local authority may contact you for more details later.

You must ensure your child receives an education suitable to their age, ability, and any special needs. This doesn’t have to follow the national curriculum, but it should be consistent and appropriate.

Often, yes. Some local authorities request a report or learning outline. You are not legally required to follow their preferred format, but you must demonstrate that suitable education is taking place.

Yes, as long as your child is properly deregistered and receiving an education. Many families worldschool legally by combining travel experiences with personalised learning approaches.