Frequently Asked Questions about Home Education in Ireland

What is home schooling or home education or home-based education?

Home education is where parents choose to take full responsibility for the education of their children, educating them in their home instead of sending them to a school. Home education is a viable alternative to school which can legally be availed of by any family.

Why do people choose home education?

There are probably as many reasons as families! The reasons may be due to the family's lifestyle, they may be philosophical or religious or they may relate to the particular needs and personality of the child. In many cases parents enjoy the close involvement with their children's education or feel they have more to offer than any available schools.

Is it legal in Ireland?

Yes. You can read more about the legal issues here.

Must parents who teach their children at home follow the National Curriculum?

No, you can follow any curriculum you want or none at all.

There are a number of methods of education and curricula that can be used or from which ideas can be taken. Really it is up to each parent to decide what is most suitable for their children.

My Child is already in a school, is it too late to start now?

No, you can remove your child from school and begin educating at home at any point in a child's education. For a more in depth discussion of this see Starting Home Education.

My child is unhappy at school, is home education the answer?

That depends. There are so many different reasons for a child being unsettled in school - home education is not a panacea and is not suitable for all families.

Do I need any special qualifications to teach my child at home?

No, anyone can educate a child at home. Motivation, perseverance and a desire to make it work are more important than education level or qualifications. It is perfectly possible to teach children subjects in which you are not especially expert.

Won't a home educated child be at a disadvantage for entry to Third Level Education?

If a child does not sit state examinations then entry to third level education in Ireland is difficult. However many home educated children do sit state exams. Others have aptitudes and skills in areas that do not require a third level education. In other countries there are provisions made by many colleges to assess and offer places to home educated applicants, in fact many encourage such applications. Perhaps in time Irish educational institutions will follow suit.