A letter or email from your Local Authority about home education can feel unsettling, even when you know you are doing everything right. Many home educating parents describe a jolt of anxiety the moment they see a Local Authority return address, worried that something is wrong or that their choice to home educate is somehow under threat. In almost all cases, it is not. Local Authority contact is a routine part of home education in England, and knowing what it means and how to respond turns a stressful moment into a straightforward one.
This guide explains exactly why Local Authorities make contact, what you are and are not required to do, and how to respond in a way that protects your family and keeps the relationship constructive.
Why Local Authorities make contact
Local Authorities have a duty under section 437 of the Education Act 1996 to make informal enquiries where it appears that a child of compulsory school age is not receiving a suitable education. For home educating families, this usually means an annual or occasional check-in rather than active suspicion of wrongdoing.
Most contact happens for one of three reasons: routine annual monitoring that many Local Authorities carry out as standard practice, a fresh deregistration where the Local Authority wants to confirm education has begun, or a specific concern that has been raised, for example by a school, a health visitor, or a member of the public.
It helps to remember that Local Authority officers are not looking for reasons to intervene. Their statutory role is simply to satisfy themselves that your child is receiving a suitable, full-time education appropriate to their age, ability, and aptitude. A clear, honest response is usually all that is needed.
Your rights and obligations when contacted
Understanding where the legal boundaries sit makes it much easier to respond with confidence rather than anxiety.
You do not have to allow a home visit
There is no legal requirement for you to allow a Local Authority officer into your home. Many families are surprised to learn this, because Local Authority letters sometimes read as though a home visit is mandatory. You can decline a home visit and offer an alternative, such as a written report, a meeting at a neutral location, or samples of your child's work sent by post or email.
You are expected to provide some information
While you can decline a home visit, you are expected to provide the Local Authority with enough information to satisfy them that a suitable education is taking place. Refusing to engage at all is different from declining a specific request, and a pattern of no response can prompt more formal action. A short written account, a portfolio of work, or a summary of your child's activities is usually sufficient.
You can choose how to respond
There is no prescribed format for your response. You do not need to use a Local Authority's own form if you would rather write your own account. You do not need to follow the National Curriculum or demonstrate school-style attainment. What matters is that your response gives a coherent, honest picture of your child's education.
Section 437 notices: what they mean and what to do
A Section 437 notice is a formal step, distinct from routine contact. It is issued under section 437 of the Education Act 1996 when a Local Authority has formed the view that a child may not be receiving a suitable education. The notice requires you to satisfy the Local Authority, usually within 15 days, that a suitable education is being provided.
If you receive a Section 437 notice, do not ignore it. Respond in writing, within the timeframe given, with a clear account of your child's education, including examples of activities, resources, and progress. Keep a copy of everything you send. If you are unsure how to respond, home education support organisations can offer guidance, and in some cases it is worth seeking independent advice.
Failure to respond adequately to a Section 437 notice can lead to a School Attendance Order, which is a more serious legal step. This is uncommon and normally only follows a sustained lack of engagement, not an isolated missed email.
Common types of Local Authority contact and how to respond
The initial informal enquiry
This is usually a friendly letter or email introducing the Local Authority's home education team and asking for basic information about your approach. A brief written reply describing your child's education, along with an offer to provide more detail if needed, is generally all that is required.
A request for a written report
Some Local Authorities ask for an annual report describing your child's activities, resources, and progress over the year. This does not need to be lengthy or formal. A page or two covering what your child has been doing, what they have enjoyed, and any notable progress is usually sufficient. You can supplement this with photographs or samples of work if you wish.
A request for a home visit
As covered above, you can decline this and offer an alternative. If you do agree to a visit, you are entitled to have another adult present, and the visit should be arranged at a time that suits your family.
A Section 437 notice or more formal correspondence
Treat this differently from routine contact. Respond promptly, in writing, with a clear and thorough account of your child's education, and keep every piece of correspondence.
How to respond with confidence
A calm, organised response makes every stage of Local Authority contact easier. A few habits make the biggest difference.
Respond promptly. Even a short acknowledgement that you have received the letter and will reply in full shortly helps prevent escalation.
Keep your response factual and specific. Concrete examples of activities, books, projects, and outings carry more weight than general statements about your educational philosophy.
Keep copies of everything. Every letter, email, and reply should be filed somewhere you can find it again. This matters most if a dispute ever arises later.
Know what you are not required to do. You are not required to allow a home visit, follow the National Curriculum, hold formal teaching qualifications, or produce school-style assessments.
Ask questions if anything is unclear. If a letter asks for something you do not understand or that seems to go beyond what the law requires, it is reasonable to ask the Local Authority to clarify what they need and why.
What not to do
Do not ignore Local Authority contact altogether. Silence is far more likely to prompt formal action than a considered response, even a brief one. Do not feel pressured into agreeing to a home visit or handing over private information you are not comfortable sharing. And do not assume that contact means something is wrong. In the vast majority of cases, it is simply part of the Local Authority fulfilling its statutory duty to check in.
The CNIS register and future Local Authority contact
The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 introduces the Children Not in School register, which will require home educating families to register with their Local Authority. Read our full guide to what the Act means for home educators. Once the register is active, Local Authorities will have clearer statutory duties to make contact with registered families and to satisfy themselves about the suitability of education being provided.
The core principles are expected to remain the same. You will still not be required to allow a home visit, and you will still be expected to give a reasonable account of your child's education. Families who are already comfortable and organised when it comes to Local Authority contact will be well placed to adapt once the register comes into force.
Summary: how to respond to Local Authority contact
| Situation | What is required | What is not required |
|---|---|---|
| Routine annual enquiry | A brief written reply describing your child's education | A formal report, National Curriculum alignment, or a home visit |
| Request for a home visit | An alternative way to demonstrate education, if declined | Allowing entry to your home |
| Request for a written report or form | Enough information to satisfy the Local Authority a suitable education is happening | Using the Local Authority's own form, or answering every question in exhaustive detail |
| Section 437 notice | A prompt, thorough written response within the given timeframe | Immediate agreement to a home visit or inspection |
Keeping organised, dated records throughout the year is the single biggest factor in making Local Authority contact feel manageable. When your activity log, work samples, and correspondence are already in one place, a Local Authority letter becomes a five-minute task rather than a stressful scramble.
Little Folio was built specifically for this. You can log activities as you go, attach photographs and documents as evidence, and store all your Local Authority correspondence in one place, so you always have a clear, chronological record ready to share.
Start your free trial of Little FolioFurther reading
- How to deregister your child from school to home educate in England
- What records do home educators need to keep in England? A 2026 guide
- The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026: what home educators need to know
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to respond to my Local Authority?
You are not legally obliged to respond to every letter your Local Authority sends, but ignoring contact altogether is unwise. Local Authorities have a duty to satisfy themselves that your child is receiving a suitable education, and a pattern of non-response can prompt more formal action, including a Section 437 notice. A brief, factual reply is usually all that is needed to reassure your Local Authority and avoid escalation.
Can my Local Authority insist on a home visit?
No. A home visit is not a legal requirement and you can decline one without being in breach of any duty. Many families prefer to respond in writing or meet the Local Authority representative elsewhere, such as a library or community space. If you decline a home visit, it is worth offering an alternative way to demonstrate your child's education, such as a written report or samples of work.
What is a Section 437 notice and what should I do if I receive one?
A Section 437 notice is a formal notice issued under section 437 of the Education Act 1996 when a Local Authority has reason to believe a child is not receiving a suitable education. It requires you to satisfy the Local Authority within a specified period, usually 15 days, that your child is being suitably educated. If you receive one, respond promptly and in writing, and consider seeking advice from a home education support organisation, as failing to respond adequately can lead to a School Attendance Order.
What if my Local Authority sends a form I am required to complete?
You are not legally required to complete every form a Local Authority sends, and some Local Authorities send questionnaires that go beyond what the law allows them to ask. You can choose to respond in your own words rather than on the form provided, as long as you give enough information for the Local Authority to satisfy itself that a suitable education is being provided. If a form asks for information you are not comfortable sharing, such as your teaching methods in exhaustive detail, you can decline to answer specific questions while still providing a general account of your child's education.
Can my Local Authority contact me more than once a year?
There is no fixed legal limit on how often a Local Authority can make contact, but most Local Authorities make contact once a year as part of routine monitoring, in line with Department for Education guidance. Repeated or overly frequent contact beyond what is reasonable can be challenged, particularly if it becomes intrusive or if you have already provided sufficient information. Keeping a record of correspondence helps you show a consistent pattern if contact becomes excessive.
Will I need to respond differently once the CNIS register is in place?
Once the Children Not in School register is in place, Local Authorities will have clearer statutory duties to make contact with registered families and to satisfy themselves about the suitability of education being provided. The basic principles are expected to remain the same: you will still not be required to allow a home visit, and you will still be expected to provide a reasonable account of your child's education. Families who are already comfortable responding to Local Authority contact will be well placed to adapt once the register comes into force.
Little Folio is a record-keeping app built for home educating families in England. Log activities, store evidence, and manage Local Authority correspondence in one place, so you are always prepared.
Last updated: July 2026. This post is for information only and does not constitute legal advice. Always verify against current official guidance and seek independent legal advice for your specific circumstances.