How to Deregister and Start Online School (Step by Step)

In England, to move a child from a registered mainstream school to a full-time online school, the parent sends the school a written deregistration notice stating the child will be educated otherwise than at school. Under the School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024, the school must then remove the child from its roll.

Jurisdiction: this covers England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules. Seek advice specific to your situation, especially if your child has an EHCP or attends a special school.

Step 1: How to take my child out of school for online school

The first thing to understand is that, in the eyes of the law in England, moving your child to a full-time online school is a form of elective home education — you are choosing to educate your child otherwise than at a school, using an online school to do it. That matters because it is the elective-home-education deregistration process you follow, and it is a parent's right: for a mainstream school, you do not need the school's or the local authority's permission, and you do not have to give a reason.

The mechanism is simple: you notify the school in writing that your child is being (or will be) educated otherwise than at school, and the school must then remove your child from its register. Before you do this, though, one important piece of sequencing: confirm your online school place first, so there is no gap between leaving one and starting the other. With that in place, you are ready to deregister. Read whether online school is right for your child.

Two important exceptions (covered in Step 4): if your child attends a special school arranged by the local authority, or is subject to a School Attendance Order, different rules apply.

Step 2: Write the deregistration letter

The deregistration letter is the key document, and it does not need to be complicated. Address it to the headteacher or proprietor of your child's current school, and state clearly that you are withdrawing your child from the school because they will be educated otherwise than at school (electively home educated), and that you are therefore requesting your child's name be removed from the admission register.

A simple, effective deregistration letter includes: your child's full name and date of birth; a clear statement that your child is being educated otherwise than at school from a stated date; a request that their name be deleted from the school roll; and a request for written confirmation that this has been done. You do not need to explain your reasons, name the online school, or justify the decision — a clear written notice is what the law requires. Keep a dated copy of your letter and of the school's confirmation, in case of any later query. Sending it by email (or a method that gives you proof of sending) is sensible.

Step 3: What happens when you remove a child from school

Once the school receives your written notification, the law is clear about what must happen. Under Regulation 9 of the School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024 (the current regulations, which replaced the 2006 version in August 2024), where a parent gives written notice that the child is being educated otherwise than at school, the school must delete the child's name from the admission register. The school does not have discretion to refuse, to "consider" it, or to keep your child on roll while it makes checks — once proper notice is given for a mainstream school, removal follows.

The school then has a duty to inform the local authority that the child has been removed from roll to be home educated — this is the school's responsibility, not yours. The local authority may make informal enquiries about the education you are providing (an online school delivering a full curriculum is strong evidence of suitable education), but this does not delay or block the deregistration. From the point your child is removed from the register, they are no longer a registered pupil at that school, and so cannot be marked absent from it — which is why proper deregistration also resolves any attendance concern. Read whether you can be fined if your child stops attending school.

Step 4: Know the exceptions — special schools and attendance orders

Most mainstream deregistrations are straightforward, but two situations are different and it is important to know if either applies to you:

• Special schools. If your child attends a special school arranged by the local authority, you cannot simply deregister by written notice — you must obtain the local authority's consent to remove your child from the roll first. The process is different and involves the LA, so seek advice specific to your situation.

• School Attendance Orders. If your child is subject to a School Attendance Order, you cannot deregister until the order is revoked — you must apply to the local authority to revoke it (on the basis that suitable education is being arranged) before your child can be removed from roll.

• EHCP (mainstream). If your child has an EHCP but attends a mainstream school, an EHCP does not by itself remove your right to home educate — but the plan interacts with the decision, so it is worth understanding how, and getting advice. Read how learning support and EHCPs work at an online school.

If none of these applies — which is the case for most families moving from a mainstream school — the straightforward written-notice process in Steps 2 and 3 is what you follow. If any does, get advice specific to your circumstances before acting. Read who online school is for.

Step 5: Is there a notice period to leave a school?

This is one of the most common misunderstandings, so it is worth being clear: for deregistering a child from a mainstream school for home education (including a move to an online school), there is no notice period requirement in the way there is for, say, giving a term's notice at a private school. Advance notice is not legally required for a parent taking a child out of a mainstream school to educate them otherwise than at school.

In practice, once you give proper written notice, the school must remove your child from the roll — and a mainstream written notice can take effect without a lengthy delay (some administrative processing may take a short time, but there is no mandated notice period to serve). This is different from a private school, where your contract may require a term's notice or a fee in lieu — that is a contractual matter with that school, separate from the legal deregistration process, so check any contract you signed. But for the legal act of deregistration itself, no statutory notice period applies. Read the guide on moving to online school mid-year.

Step 6: Start online school

With deregistration done and your online school place confirmed, your child simply begins. Because you sequenced it sensibly — confirming the online place before deregistering — there is no gap in your child's education. Your child starts their new school, and the transition is complete.

A good online school's admissions team can help you get the timing right, so the move from one school to the next is smooth and your child does not miss learning in between. If you are moving mid-year, an online school can typically start a child promptly rather than making you wait for a term boundary. And keep the paperwork — your deregistration letter and the school's confirmation — safely, in case it is ever needed. That is the whole process: decide, confirm the place, deregister in writing, start. Speak to the admissions team about enrolling and timing.

Frequently asked questions

How do I take my child out of school for online school?

In England, you send the current mainstream school a written deregistration notice stating your child will be educated otherwise than at school, and under the School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024 the school must remove them from the roll. No permission or reason is required, and no notice period applies. Confirm your online school place first to avoid a gap.

What should a deregistration letter say?

Address it to the headteacher or proprietor; state your child's full name and date of birth; state clearly that your child is being educated otherwise than at school from a given date; request their name be deleted from the admission register; and request written confirmation. You need not give reasons or name the online school. Keep a dated copy.

What happens when I remove my child from school?

Once you give written notice, the school must delete your child from its register (Regulation 9 of the 2024 Regulations) — it cannot refuse or delay for a mainstream pupil — and must then inform the local authority. The authority may make informal enquiries about the education provided, but this does not block the deregistration.

Is there a notice period to leave a school?

For legal deregistration from a mainstream school for home education, no statutory notice period applies — advance notice is not required. A private school contract may separately require a term's notice or fee in lieu, but that is a contractual matter, distinct from the legal deregistration process. Check any contract you signed.

Do I need permission to take my child out of school?

For a mainstream school, no — deregistration for home education is a parent's right, needing no permission or reason. The exceptions are a special school arranged by the local authority (which requires LA consent to remove) and a School Attendance Order (which must be revoked first). Seek advice if either applies.

Can I move my child to online school in the middle of the year?

Yes. Deregistration can happen at any point, and a good online school can typically start a child promptly rather than waiting for a term boundary. Confirm the online place, deregister in writing, and your child begins — with no gap if you sequence it sensibly. Read the mid-year move guide.

Deregistering and starting online school is a clear, defined process: confirm your online place, send a written deregistration notice, and — for a mainstream school — the school must remove your child from roll, with no notice period required. To take the next step, read who online school is for, or speak to the admissions team about enrolling and getting the timing right.

This guide is general information about the position in England, not legal advice, and the rules can change. For your specific situation — particularly if your child has an EHCP, attends a special school, or is subject to a School Attendance Order — seek advice specific to your circumstances.