Home education in Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland the Education Authority (EA) has one home education team for the whole country. Here is how starting and support work.
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The new UK law doesn’t apply here. The home education parts of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 cover England and Wales only.
Your duty as a parent
Article 45 of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 says parents must make sure their child gets efficient, full-time education suitable to their age, ability and aptitude and any special educational needs, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.
Taking your child out of school
- Write to the school principal to say you are de-registering your child to home educate. Use our letter for Northern Ireland.
- The school sends an attendance form (SA1) and a copy of your letter to the EA’s home education team.
- The EA then contacts you with a copy of its guidelines and details of the support it offers. It also offers advice to families whose children have never been to school.
- Special school: tell the EA as well, and ask whether anything more is needed before your child comes off the roll.
The EA’s guidelines
The EA publishes non-statutory Guidelines for Elective Home Education (2020). It may ask how you approach education and for examples of your child’s work. If the EA thinks a child isn’t receiving a suitable education, it can begin the school attendance order process.
Contact the EA home education team
Email [email protected] or phone 028 9031 7428. Also listed in our directory.
Going back to school
You can apply for a school place at any time. Ask the school you’d like, or the Education Authority, how to apply. See going back to school in Northern Ireland.
Exams
Parents arrange and pay for exams. GCSEs and A levels from CCEA and the other boards are taken as a private candidate at a centre that accepts them. More on exams.
Official sources
- Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986, article 45
- Education Authority (NI): Elective home education
- Education Authority (NI): Guidelines for Elective Home Education (2020, PDF)
- JCQ: Private candidates (and the centre search tool)
Last checked against these sources: 25 October 2026.
General information, not legal advice. This page sums up the official guidance in our own words. Rules differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and can change. Check the official sources and your council’s own guidance, and get qualified advice for your situation. Classfern is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department for Education, the Welsh Government, the Scottish Government, the Education Authority or any council. Official guidance is used under the Open Government Licence v3.0.