Considering home education for secondary school due to my son’s speech disorder, new rules? Etc

[Pinkleopardprint33]

My son is mid way through primary school so I am really thinking ahead here.
He has a severe speech disorder which he is aware of. I worry myself sick about high school. He is on the spectrum (diagnosed) and also struggles with toilet issues which of course could resolve before then.

I know I’m thinking ahead but I want to be prepared. I want to home school him for high school. I have looked at online school, tutors etc. He already does alot of extra curricular activities which he will continue to do.
I have read online that new rules have come in etc, would I still be able to homeschool him?
I am a stay at home mum so will be able to be completely devoted.
just looking for some advice and support
thank you

Are you in England/Wales? The government is trying to pass new legislation here which would introduce additional restrictions on home education. The bill has not yet passed but is very likely to in some form. It would come into force probably mid 2027 or later.

The proposed new rules would add some new hurdles for deregistration, which might not apply to you if your son finishes primary and doesn't go on to secondary, because he wouldn't need to be deregistered. It would also mean that eventually, home educating parents would have to allow home visits from Local Authority staff. You can follow its progress on Fiona Nicholson's excellent EdYourself website. She does a great job of quoting direct sources so you can confirm it is accurate; there are a LOT of wild rumours around the bill!

For most home educators the proposed new regime will be more of an inconvenience than a deal-breaker. For some, it will be very problematic. One of the main issues is that Local Authorities have no effective oversight - the Local Government Ombudsman never intervenes even in the most shocking cases - and LAs already overstep the law in many cases. There is no mandatory training, and most staff have a very poor understanding of special needs and of home education. So it is something of a postcode lottery. Giving additional powers to LAs without introducing an effective complaints system is bound to cause problems.

My suggestion would be that you wait until closer to the time, and ask on your local home ed group about how people's experiences with your particular LA have been. (It's too early to do that now, as staff change.) If it turns out that your LA are a nightmare to deal with, you might actually consider moving over the border so you fall under a better LA. I know that sounds extreme, but of course people do move for better schools, so if that is what it takes to be able to home educate, why not? That's what I'd do.

For what it's worth, home education has been the making of my special-needs daughter. She is 19 now, confident, happy, and well educated. She has always been able to be herself and be accepted. Her self esteem is high. There has been a whole host of benefits to her, many of which I wouldn't have anticipated. I could rabbit on all day.

Have you got an EHCP? If so you can in some circumstances get EOTAS, and the LA cover the costs and are still responsible for maintaining the plan. Given what you’ve said here, I’d strongly recommend that, rather than elective home education as then you absolve the LA of any and all responsibility.

I second @Saracen’s post about looking for accurate information about the bill going through. There is a lot of misinformation around about it.

Does DS have an EHCP? Have you considered other options including specialist schools? Can you afford any therapies such as SALT and OT that DS needs? An EHCP can fund them but the LA is unlikely to fund if you EHE. EOTAS is only legally possible if it is inappropriate for provision to be made in a school.

You’re not overthinking this at all — you’re doing what a lot of parents of neurodivergent children do, which is trying to plan ahead so things don’t become a crisis later. That’s a strength, not a flaw.
I’ve seen quite a few children with speech and communication difficulties really struggle with the jump to secondary, not because they can’t cope academically, but because the environment becomes so much bigger, louder, and less forgiving. Add toileting worries into that and it’s completely understandable that you’d be anxious about how supported he’ll actually feel day to day.
Home education at secondary level doesn’t have to look like replicating school at home (which is what terrified me when I first looked into it). Many families I know take a much more flexible approach — mixing tutors, online learning, and interest‑led subjects — especially for children who need time, calm, and confidence to develop at their own pace. Socially, a lot of home‑educated children do surprisingly well through clubs, activities, and smaller groups where communication isn’t under constant pressure.
In terms of rules, home education is still legal, though there’s definitely more discussion and guidance floating around, which can make it feel confusing and intimidating. Most families I know found it helpful to connect with local home ed groups or charities early on, just to understand what’s expected and what support exists.
One thing that helped a friend of mine with a child on the spectrum was focusing on areas where their child could feel capable and confident, rather than constantly “catching up”. Creative activities were a big part of that — not as therapy, but as a way to rebuild self‑belief. She tried a free taster session at Start Creative Gym at one point, which gave her child a safe, low‑pressure space to engage and succeed without comparison. It wasn’t about fixing everything, but it helped her child feel more secure in themselves.
Whatever route you take, the fact that you’re thinking about this now — and that you’re available to be present — puts your son in a really strong position. There are lots of ways to do secondary education well outside of the traditional school system, especially for children who need something more individual and humane.

The ECHP questions - might be worth checking whether having one inhibits your ability to deregister from school at any stage. I may be wrong but seem to recollect something along these lines.

Nothing is officially law yet, the best resource I've been using to keep up to date has been:

https://www.homeschooly.app/resources/childrens-wellbeing-bill

On the same site, there are also details on how to deregister:

https://www.homeschooly.app/resources/deregister-child-from-school

At the moment, if in mainstream, having an EHCP does not prevent a parent deregistering their DC. They can deregister like someone without an EHCP. At the moment, if in special/specialist school, compulsory school age and funded by the LA, parents need consent to deregister, but this must not be unreasonably withheld and if refused parents can go to the Secretary of State.