Moving between councils or nations while home educating

Today you do not have to tell anyone when you move. Once England's register starts, you will have 15 days to tell your council about a change of address. The rules also change when you cross a border within the UK.

Last checked 10 November 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.

Moving within England today

There is no duty to notify your old or new council. Councils are expected to share information with each other about children who move, so your new council may contact you anyway.

A short note to both is often the easiest course. It stops your old council chasing a family that has left.

Moving within England once the register starts

The Act will require you to:

• tell your council within 15 days of becoming aware of a change of address
• tell it within 15 days if your child stops being eligible because they no longer live in its area

Your child then becomes eligible in the new area. On a plain reading, that starts a fresh 15 days to notify the new council. Guidance should confirm how the handover works.

If your address is less than a year old

The register must hold a previous address where the current one is under 12 months old.

England to Wales, or Wales to England

Both will have registers under the same Act, on different timetables. Until both are running, you may have duties on one side of the border and none on the other.

Moving to Scotland

Scotland has no register. Consent to withdraw is only needed for a child attending a public school in that council's area. If your child has never attended one there, Scottish guidance says no consent is needed. You can simply continue.

Scottish guidance encourages you to let the council know.

Moving to Northern Ireland

There is no register. The Education Authority offers advice and support whether or not your child was ever registered at a school there.

Moving to England from elsewhere

Once the register is in force, your child becomes eligible when they live in an English council's area, are of compulsory school age and are not on a school roll. You would then have 15 days to notify.

Your providers

If your child keeps the same online tutor after a move, the tutor will need your new address. A council notice can ask a provider for it.

A checklist for moving day

• note the date you moved
• update your council, or councils, in writing
• update your providers
• keep copies

Sources

• Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, section 38 (new sections 436B to 436D)
• Department for Education: elective home education guidance for local authorities
• Scottish Government: home education guidance, section 3
• Education Authority Northern Ireland: educating your child at home