A

Awareverse

Free Resource

School Deregistration
Letter

Northern Ireland

Template letter to deregister your child from school

Free to download, print and share 💜
awareverse.co.uk

Practical support for neurodivergent people, families and learnersawareverse.co.uk

School Deregistration Letter — Northern Ireland

Use this template to formally deregister your child from school to home educate. Governed by Article 45 of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986.

You do not need the school or Education Authority's permission to home educate. You simply need to notify the school in writing. The school must remove your child from the register within 15 days of receiving your letter.

Important: If your child has a Statement of Special Educational Needs, you must also notify the Education Authority directly. The Education Authority retains responsibility for your child's Statement even during home education.

📝 Your details

Your full name

Your address

Your phone number

Your email address

Child's full name

Child's date of birth

Child's year group

Date of last day at school

School name

Head teacher name

School address Today's date

School Deregistration Letter — Northern Irelandawareverse.co.uk

📄 Letter template — copy and personalise

Fill in your details above, then use this as your letter. You can copy it into an email or print and post it. Keep a copy.

Re: Deregistration of from school roll

Dear ,

I am writing to formally notify you that I am withdrawing my child, , date of birth , from with effect from .

I intend to provide education otherwise than at school, as is my right under Article 45 of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986.

I ask that you remove my child from the school register within 15 days of receiving this letter and confirm this to me in writing.

Please provide me with any records, reports and documents relating to my child's education, including any SEND documentation, within 15 school days.

Yours sincerely,

School Deregistration Letter — Northern Irelandawareverse.co.uk

✅ After you send the letter

Keep a copy of your letter and proof of sending (email receipt or recorded delivery)

The school must confirm removal from register — chase if not received within 15 days

Request all SEND records including reports, assessments, and any Statement documents

If your child has a Statement — notify the Education Authority separately in writing

Connect with your local home education community for support

Start your learning log to document your home education from day one

⚠️ If your child has a Statement

The Education Authority retains responsibility for your child's Statement during home education. They must continue to maintain the plan and review it annually. You can still request changes to the Statement and appeal to SENDIST Northern Ireland if needed.

Date Education Authority notified about home education Name of Education Authority caseworker Notes / response from Education Authority

Home education in Northern Ireland is legal and your right. You do not need a reason, qualifications, or approval. You just need to provide a suitable full-time education.

School Deregistration Letter — Northern Irelandawareverse.co.uk

Need more in-depth support?

This free tool is a starting point. Our guides go much deeper — written in plain English from lived experience.

A free quick tool gives you the basics. A proper guide gives you the knowledge to advocate confidently.

📋

EHCP Support Guide

Understanding the process, your rights, and how to challenge decisions.

⚖️

Going to SEND Tribunal

What to expect, how to prepare, and what your rights are.

🏫

SEN Support Without a Plan

What schools must provide and how to get it.

📣

Advocating Without Burning Out

How to keep fighting for your child without losing yourself.

All Awareverse guides are written from lived experience — plain English, no jargon, no gatekeeping.

Browse all Awareverse guides →

Share this free resource with anyone who needs it 💜 — awareverse.co.uk/downloads