Home education in Scotland:

A complete guide for 2025

A clear, simple guide for families exploring their options.

Home education is lawful in Scotland.

If your child already attends a public school, you must obtain your Local Authority’s consent before withdrawing. Parents must provide an education suitable to the child’s age, ability and aptitude; authorities should be reasonable and proportionate in their engagement.
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Local Authority (LA) means your council’s education service.

Is schooling from home legal in Scotland?

Yes. Consent is required to withdraw a child from a public school (not required if the child has never attended or is moving between schools). The LA may request an outline of your provision and evidence of progress, but should respect your preferred way of providing it (e.g., in writing).

What are the steps?

1
If enrolled in a public school, request consent from the LA to withdraw; include a brief education plan.
2
Keep records (portfolio, reading lists, progress summaries).
3
Provide reasonable evidence when the LA requests it (written overview, meeting, or — if you agree — a home visit).
4
Arrange exams privately if you want your child to take formal qualifications later.
In England, bina supports your legal duty to provide a “suitable” education by delivering structured teaching, progress tracking, and regular reports you can share with your LA. You keep full parental control; we handle day-to-day teaching and documentation aligned to UK expectations.
That’s where
helps

What is bina and how is it different?

bina is a global, accredited online school for children ages 4–12.

We offer live, interactive, small-group learning that brings the energy and connection of a great classroom into your home.

Small, live classes with caring teachers

Classes are capped at 7 students, so teachers know your child’s name, learning style, and interests. You stay as involved as you want to be while we handle the teaching and structure.

A curriculum that fits your child

Your child learns at a pace that works for them, with space to explore their interests and the support they need to thrive. Our accredited programme is internationally recognised, giving you peace of mind that they’re learning what matters.

Friendships and belonging

Children make genuine friends with classmates from around the world. In small groups, they build confidence, practise social skills, and feel part of a real community — all from the safety of home.

You stay in the know

You’ll get weekly updates on what your child is learning and quarterly progress reports. A dedicated family success manager works with you to make sure everything fits your goals as a parent.
For legal purposes, families in Scotland are considered to be home educating. Parents hold the duty to provide a suitable education, but with bina you don’t have to do the teaching yourself — we provide the full school experience.

What parents say

"bina has helped us navigate SEL in a fun way and develop her independence and confidence!"

Lorena Marden

"My grandson is a hands on and visual learner. Where we live there are no real learning programs geared towards different learning styles. bina has been a blessing for Aydin and our family. The worry and stress have eased tremendously."

Diedre Shakir

“Lily’s love for learning and creativity really gets to shine at bina. As her parents, we are inspired knowing her weekly goals and progress as discussed with us by her teachers and support team.”

Rae Bram

“We spent all of 2023 traveling through all 7 continents. We tried homeschooling, world schooling and even unschooling. Finding bina helped us to bridge the gap we were missing with the other education options we tried.”

Sarah Schmirl

"bina has helped us navigate SEL in a fun way and develop her independence and confidence!"

Lorena Marden

"My grandson is a hands on and visual learner. Where we live there are no real learning programs geared towards different learning styles. bina has been a blessing for Aydin and our family. The worry and stress have eased tremendously."

Diedre Shakir

“Lily’s love for learning and creativity really gets to shine at bina. As her parents, we are inspired knowing her weekly goals and progress as discussed with us by her teachers and support team.”

Rae Bram

“We spent all of 2023 traveling through all 7 continents. We tried homeschooling, world schooling and even unschooling. Finding bina helped us to bridge the gap we were missing with the other education options we tried.”

Sarah Schmirl

Find out if bina is right for you

1
Book a free consultation to see how bina can fit your family’s goals, schedule, and lifestyle.
2
Join a bina adventure with your child and walk away with tailored growth insights — no strings attached.
We’re happy to answer your questions and help you figure out what’s possible for your family.
Whether you’re ready to make a change or just gathering information, we’re here to help.

The questions we hear most from parents like you.

Will my child keep up with the local curriculum?

Yes. bina’s accredited programme meets or exceeds primary expectations. We share clear progress so you always know what’s next.

Will my child make friends if we learn from home?

Small, interactive classes and clubs help children connect quickly across countries and time zones.

How much of my time will this take as a parent?

We teach live and handle the curriculum and structure. You support your child, but you are not expected to be their teacher.

Can we return to a local or international school later?

Yes. Our documentation supports smooth transitions back into recognised schools.

What about screens?

Short blocks, movement and off‑screen activities are built into each day.

Do I need to meet the LA in person?

Not necessarily. Many families provide written evidence; LAs should be proportionate and reasonable.

Can bina’s reports help with LA reviews?

Yes. We provide clear weekly updates and termly documentation you can share during engagement.