The Cost Of Homeschooling In The UK. It Might Surprise You!

Contents

1. Is homeschooling free in the UK?
2. How do I start homeschooling in the UK?
3. Can I claim benefits if I homeschool my child in the UK?
4. How many hours do you homeschool in the UK?

Thinking of taking your child out of mainstream school? Take a look at the financial  considerations of homeschooling before you decide.

As a result of the pandemic, the majority of parents had no choice but to homeschool their kids. Suddenly, most parents had the insight into how hard teaching can be and what kind of student their child actually was! While some parents were keen to get their kids back to school, others saw the advantages of homeschooling as a preferable alternative to mainstream education. What child wouldn’t welcome no uniform, a flexible timetable and lessons catered specifically for them and their interests? 👍

In recent years there had already been an increase in parents choosing to homeschool their kids, but the pandemic accelerated this trend:

A survey by the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ACDS) estimated that the cumulative number of children and young people being electively home educated (EHE) across 152 local authorities at some point during the 2020-21 academic year was 115,542 – a 34% increase on 2019-20 totals.But there are disadvantages too. Would the cost be a disadvantage in your family? You need to ask the right questions: How much does homeschooling cost in the UK? Do you get paid to Homeschool in the UK and: Is there a Homeschooling GCSE cost? We answer all these answers and more below.

Is homeschooling free in the UK?

There are a lot of things to consider when deciding whether homeschooling is right for your family. It could be that your child has been bullied and you see it as the best option, or that, in your opinion, schools don’t do enough for children with learning difficulties. It may also be because you think you can protect your child’s mental health by educating them at home.

Having said that, the cost of raising a child is high enough without additional financial pressure. 💰 The last thing you’d want to do is add to this stress by taking your child out of school.

So, how much does homeschooling cost in the UK? The short answer is that it costs nothing. That’s right, nada! There are many free resources and guidance at your disposal. Look at our table for just a small selection of what’s out there:

But the impact of homeschooling on your family’s cost, is of no use unless you have something to compare it to. Let’s have a look at how much you might spend, on average, if your child is in mainstream state education. According to homeschool of 1, your outgoings for secondary school would be:

Without taking into consideration inflated holiday costs and even if you do this on a tighter budget, it’s looks likely that you’ll be spending around a thousand pounds every year.😨 Therefore, how much does homeschooling cost in the UK would appear to have you in credit overall! With this in mind, the cost of a private tutor for homeschooling is something you might want to think about. It would give you a break from doing all the teaching yourself and would allow you to earn some extra income to help with expenses.

However, there are a couple of other things you’d need to think about when looking at finances: homeschooling may mean you have to take a career break to teach and cope with the challenge of that lost income. If you’re a single parent, you may wonder how you’ll finance it and whether it would be a viable option for you.

Secondly, although you don’t have to follow the national curriculum, if you do follow the traditional school subjects, there will be costs for exams your child takes. This is both for GCSEs and a private A-level candidate. These are on the Ofqual qualifications price index but to give you some idea: 

• Homeschooling GCSE cost, average price per qualification in 2021 was £43.91
• Homeschooling A-level cost, average price per qualification in 2021 was £105.12 

The upshot of all of this is that, when asking how much does homeschooling cost in the UK, you need to accurately work out what you already spent on education and what you’ll spend on teaching your child or children at home. Remember to include private tutors, any subscriptions you might choose to pay and lost income. Then you can make an informed decision as to whether you can afford to do it. 💪

How do I start homeschooling in the UK?

The good news is that there is a long history of homeschooling in this country and others around the world so what you’re doing will have been done by many parents before you. We would advise that the gov.uk website is the best place to start. We also advise reading the Elective home education departmental guidance for parents which was produced in 2019 and will give you all necessary information.

If your child attends mainstream school, even if you have an education, health and care (EHC) plan, you don’t need the council’s permission. You just need to inform the school. The only time they can object is if you want to send your child to school for some of the time. 

If your child attends a special school for special educational needs (SEN) you will need to get the council’s permission.

Can I claim benefits if I homeschool my child in the UK?

We would suggest contacting your local council for the most up-to-date information regarding assistance with homeschooling. Just follow this link and put in your postcode.

But, to answer the question, we’d have to say this: currently there is no funding for homeschooling costs on a day-to-day basis.

With regards to payment you already receive from the government, the answer is more optimistic. Your child benefit will not be affected and neither will your universal credit. In fact, those who see a reduction to their working hours, may well receive more financial help. 😀 For more information about these benefits, check here.

How many hours can you homeschool in the UK?

Children who go to mainstream school usually have five hours a day for 190 days a year. This is spread over 38 weeks of the year. While there is no obligation to follow this structure, we recommend using this as a guide. As well as this, you should aim to create a comfortable study space for your child, think about learning outside and give your child the opportunity to interact with other children their age.

Once you’ve worked out how much does homeschooling cost in the UK, you’re ready to go for it! There’s a lot of support out there and even if you decide after a few months that it’s not working out, well, you can always change your mind. 😊