Fed up of doing battle with the school system? Investigate the ups and downs, as well as the legal ins and outs, of choosing to educate at home.

Most people send their children to school, but it is possible to educate your child at home. In a nutshell, education is compulsory, but going to school is not.

The Education Act of 1996 states that parents of children of compulsory school age are obliged to provide them with "efficient full-time education". This education has to be suitable to the childÂ’s age, ability and aptitude - as well as take into account any special needs they may have.

So the upshot is that legally you have to provide your child with suitable full-time education, but you donÂ’t have to send them to school. Currently around 50,000 families home educate, which means there are around 150,000 children learning from home.

There are many reasons why people choose to educate their kids at home, but dissatisfaction with the education theyÂ’re receiving at school is often high on the list.

Home schooling does have advantages over a conventional education. Children get more individual attention, plus they can learn at their own pace. Supporters of home schooling claim that this makes children more motivated and better at managing their own time.

Children can still sit exams if theyÂ’ve been home schooled. However, home educators do not have to stick to the National Curriculum. Some families see this as an advantage, and allow their childÂ’s interests to dictate to a large extent what they learn and when they learn it.

However, some critics say that this approach doesnÂ’t prepare children sufficiently for exams or for going into higher education.

Deciding to home educate your children is a major decision, so consider the pitfalls as well as the benefits.

Children may miss out on interaction with other kids; they may not make friends as easily or develop social skills. Parents may not be the best people to teach – they may be out of date on educational developments, or may lack the patience or time required. Your home will not have the facilities a school can offer, such as specialist equipment and resources.

If you do decide that home schooling is for you, there are some important steps you will have to take. If your child is already within the school system, you will have to de-register them - this means they are removed from the education authorityÂ’s admissions register. Your Local Education Authority (LEA) will advise you on how you do this.

Your LEA will need to satisfy itself that your child is being educated to a satisfactory standard, and they can do this via meetings and home visits.

ThereÂ’s no financial help for home educators, so if you do choose this path youÂ’ll need to be able to cover all costs yourself.

How you go about home schooling will take some thought and planning. Some parents follow a fairly formal school-like method, while others are more flexible. Whichever you choose, remember to pay some consistent attention to basic literacy, numeracy and social skills.

Where to get help

There are a number of organisations who can offer help and support if you are considering home schooling.

- Home Education Advisory Service
- Home Education UK
- Home Education in the UK
- Visit the home schooling message board