Few things make home-educating parents more anxious than a letter from the Local Authority. The word "visit" can sound like an inspection or a test you might fail. In reality, it's far less dramatic than it feels — and knowing how the process works puts you firmly back in control.
This guide explains what typically happens in England, and how to walk into any contact with the LA feeling calm and prepared.
Please note: This is general information, not legal advice. The law differs across the UK, and your own Local Authority will have its own policy. Always check current government guidance and, if you're unsure, seek advice from a home-education support organisation.
Why the Local Authority gets in touch
In England, Local Authorities have a duty to identify children who may not be receiving a suitable education. To do that, they may make informal enquiries of home-educating families. This isn't an accusation — it's the LA satisfying itself that things are on track. Most contact is routine and once-a-year.
What an enquiry usually looks like
Contact often starts with a letter or email asking about the education you're providing. The LA may ask for:
- A short description of your educational approach and routine.
- The subjects or areas your child is covering.
- Examples of work or evidence of progress.
- Sometimes, an offer to meet — at your home, a neutral venue, or not at all.
A home visit is not compulsory
This is the part many families don't realise: in England you are not legally required to meet with the LA or to let them into your home. You can choose to respond to an enquiry by providing a written report and samples of work instead of a visit. Many families do exactly that.
A friendly meeting can be a perfectly positive experience and some parents welcome it — but it's your choice, not an obligation. The aim is simply to show that a suitable education is happening.
Key point: What the LA ultimately wants to see is evidence of an efficient, suitable, full-time education appropriate to your child's age, ability and aptitude. A clear written report with examples does this just as well as a visit.
What "suitable education" means in practice
You do not have to follow the National Curriculum, keep to school hours, sit exams, or replicate a classroom. "Suitable" is interpreted broadly. What helps is being able to show, in your own words, that your child is learning across a reasonable breadth of areas and making progress over time.
How to prepare — calmly
Preparation is really just having a tidy picture of what you already do. A simple educational philosophy statement, a rough outline of subjects and routine, and a handful of work examples will cover most enquiries comfortably.
This is where good records pay off. If you've been logging learning as you go, responding to the LA is a five-minute job rather than a weekend of digging through drawers. Our record-keeping guide shows a light, sustainable way to do this.
Turning a year of learning into a portfolio in one click
Homeducate is designed to make exactly this moment painless. Log sessions throughout the year, attach photos of work, and when an enquiry arrives, export a complete, professional portfolio showing subjects covered, progress and examples — ready to hand over or email. No scramble, no stress.
Free download: Our Local Authority Review Checklist lists everything worth having ready, so an enquiry never catches you off guard.
The bottom line
A Local Authority enquiry is a routine check, not a courtroom. You have clear rights, you can respond on your own terms, and a little ongoing organisation removes almost all of the worry. Prepared once, it becomes a non-event every year after.
New to all this? Start with our plain-English guide to elective home education law in England.