Guide · For parents
How to write an educational provision report
A good report is one or two pages. It says what your child is learning, how, and what progress they have made, with real examples. It does not need to look like a school report.
Last checked 10 November 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.
Why you might write one
Councils are advised to contact home-educating families at least once a year. A written report is the usual way to answer. No law requires this format. It is simply the one that works.
The five parts
1. About your child. Age, interests, and any special educational needs. Two or three sentences.
2. Your approach. Structured, child-led, or a mix. One short paragraph. Councils are told a description of approach alone is not enough, so keep this brief and move on.
3. What they are learning. This is the heart of it. Go area by area and be specific.
- Weak: "We do maths regularly."
- Strong: "She is working on fractions and long multiplication using a workbook and cooking measurements. In September she could not yet divide by two-digit numbers. She now can."
Cover literacy and numeracy clearly. Councils may apply basic expectations for both.
4. Time and resources. Roughly how the week is spent. Groups, tutors, clubs, library visits, online courses. Mention time with other children. Marked isolation from peers is one thing councils are told to watch for.
5. Progress and next steps. What has changed since last time, and what you plan next.
What to leave out
- your reasons for home educating, unless you want to give them
- detail about family life
- anything about other children in the family not being asked about
- photographs showing other people's children
Use UK terms
Many free templates online are American. "Grade level", "transcript" and "GPA" mean little to an English council officer. Write "Year 6 level" or just describe what your child can do.
How much evidence?
A few samples are plenty. You are showing a picture, not proving every hour.
Keep it up to date
Save your report. Next year, update the examples and the progress section. It takes half an hour.