Home education in Devon

Covers Devon County Council, England. General information, not legal advice. Checked against the council's own pages on 2 November 2026.

Plymouth and Torbay have their own councils. Not sure which is yours? GOV.UK's find your local council will tell you from a postcode.

After you deregister

Devon's page on what to do if you want to home educate asks you to tell the head teacher in writing, and the school then tells the council. The general steps, with a letter you can adapt, are in how to deregister your child from school.

The council's guidance for schools says a school should take your child off roll straight away once you've confirmed in writing, and send the council a form with a copy of your letter. The school may offer you an exit meeting first. That guidance says you aren't legally required to attend one.

Devon also calls it helpful to fill in its parent registration form once you've told the school, so it can record your arrangements. You'll then get a letter confirming your decision, with pointers to support. Devon's one-minute guide for schools adds that every new family is offered an EHE adviser.

If your child is at a special school, you need the council's agreement before they can come off roll, and Devon sends you to its SEND Operations team at EHCP@devon.gov.uk. For a child with an EHC plan, the EHE policy asks schools to call an urgent review of the plan before deregistration. Home education and SEND explains what changes for the plan, which the council says it must still review at least once a year.

When the council gets in touch

Devon says it will contact you at least once a year for an update on your arrangements. Where it has concerns, or not much information, the policy says it may ask for more or arrange a discussion, typically within six weeks of deregistration and sooner if it sees risks.

What it accepts is broad: examples of work, a description of how your child learns, evidence of progress, and talking with you and, where appropriate, your child. The policy says it doesn't expect a specific format and will consider everything you provide. Its introduction page also says the council doesn't inspect home education.

On visits, the parents' page is direct: "Home visits are voluntary, and you do not have to invite us into your home." You can send examples of work instead, or meet somewhere else. The policy's safeguarding section does say the council may arrange a home visit or try to see your child where there are concerns. The DfE's guidance for parents says the council's general safeguarding duty doesn't entitle it to insist on a visit just to monitor home education. Replying to the council covers what a written answer can contain, and your council's home education policy covers what a policy can and can't require.

Exams

Devon doesn't arrange or pay for exams. Its policy puts arranging and funding them, and finding a centre, with you, and its qualifications and exams page points you to the JCQ search for centres that take private candidates. Exam centres for private candidates goes through what to ask.

Support the council lists

• Support for children with SEND, with links to the SEND Local Offer.
• Post-16 education.
• Work experience and employment, including the work permit a child under 16 needs for paid work.
• Safeguarding, with questions to ask tutors and clubs.
• School admissions, on 01392 383000, if you later want a school place.

Devon's pages don't currently list local home education groups.

Contacting the home education team

Email the team at educate.educationelectivehomeeducation-mailbox@devon.gov.uk. The guide for schools gives 01392 287230 for EHE admin support. The council's general children's services line is 0345 155 1013. If you move or change your number, use the change of circumstances form so the council can still reach you.