MADE FOR FAMILIES IN IRELAND
Home education in Ireland, planned for you
Tell Kuraplan your children's ages and what Ireland expects. It writes lessons, worksheets and the records you need, in the language of the Primary Curriculum.
Home education in Ireland: the rules, the registration and a plan that works
Ireland's Constitution recognises the family as the primary educator and explicitly allows education in the home. The Education (Welfare) Act 2000 requires parents educating a child at home to apply to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, for the child to be entered on the register of children receiving education outside recognised schools. Tusla assesses the application, usually with a home visit, and can register with or without conditions.
There is no required curriculum, no testing and no funding, and the assessment looks for a 'certain minimum education' rather than school equivalence. This guide covers the application, what the assessor looks for, the register, and the Junior and Leaving Certificate routes.
Last reviewed 2026-09-07. Informational, not legal advice. Verify with Tusla: Alternative Education Assessment and Registration Service before acting.
Step by step
How to start home education in Ireland
- 1
Apply to Tusla
Submit the application form (Form for Registration of a Child Receiving Education Outside a Recognised School) for each child aged six to sixteen, describing the education: your approach, subjects, resources, and how you will monitor progress. The Guidelines on the Assessment of Education in Places Other than Recognised Schools set out what is expected.
- 2
The assessment
A Tusla assessor reviews the application and usually arranges a home visit or meeting to discuss the education and see the learning environment. They assess whether a 'certain minimum education' is being provided.
- 3
Registration
Tusla registers the child, sometimes with conditions (such as a follow-up review). Registration continues while the child is home educated; a further assessment may follow if conditions apply.
- 4
Plan the state exams if wanted
Home-educated students can sit the Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate as external candidates through the State Examinations Commission, or take alternatives (British GCSEs and A-levels, QQI courses). Third-level entry is possible through the CAO with the Leaving Cert or via mature and alternative routes.
Ireland requirements at a glance
Legal basis: Constitution of Ireland Article 42; Education (Welfare) Act 2000 s.14.
- Registration
- Application to Tusla for entry on the register for each child 6–16; assessment with a likely home visit.
- Curriculum
- None prescribed; a 'certain minimum education' judged against the Guidelines.
- Hours
- None set.
- Assessment
- Tusla assessment at registration; further reviews if conditions attached.
- Records
- Advisable for the assessment.
Dates to put on your calendar
- Apply when the child turns six or when withdrawing from school; the child may be home educated while the application is processed.
- External candidate applications for Junior Cycle and Leaving Cert: typically by early in the year of the exam.
Curriculum
The Primary Curriculum and Junior Cycle are optional references. Tusla assesses the education against its own Guidelines, not against the school curriculum.
Assessment
Tusla assessment at registration and any conditional review; no compulsory testing.
Funding
None.
Plan it with Kuraplan
Turn the rules into a week that works
Kuraplan knows the Primary Curriculum. Tell it your children's ages and it builds lessons, worksheets and the plan or report your Tusla paperwork asks for.
Plans in Primary Curriculum terms
Learning plans, program summaries and progress reports written in the vocabulary your regulator expects, ready to edit and submit.
Lessons for every child at once
One family topic, output at each child's level: a drawing task, a paragraph, an essay. Printables included.
Records without the scramble
Keep completed work together so the annual review, report or portfolio is a summary, not a reconstruction.
One lesson. All your kids.
$49/yr flat, no per-child fees
Write one family lesson, then adjust the reading level, the practice and the response format for each child without rebuilding the day.
Ireland home education FAQ
Is homeschooling legal in Ireland?
Yes. The Constitution recognises the family's right to provide education at home, and the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 provides for registration with Tusla for children aged six to sixteen.
How do I register for home education with Tusla?
Submit the registration application describing your approach, subjects, resources and progress monitoring. A Tusla assessor reviews it, usually with a home visit, and enters the child on the register, with or without conditions.
Does Tusla inspect homeschoolers?
There is an assessment at registration, typically including a home visit or meeting. Further reviews follow only if conditions are attached to registration. The assessment checks for a 'certain minimum education', not school equivalence.
Do I have to follow the Irish curriculum?
No. The Primary Curriculum and Junior Cycle are optional references. Tusla assesses against its Guidelines on the Assessment of Education in Places Other than Recognised Schools.
Can home-educated children sit the Leaving Cert?
Yes, as external candidates through the State Examinations Commission, subject to arrangements for practical and oral components. Many home-educated students also use British GCSEs and A-levels or QQI courses.
Informational, not legal advice. Rules and forms change; verify with Tusla: Alternative Education Assessment and Registration Service before acting. Reviewed 2026-09-07.
Homeschool guides for other countries
Your Ireland home education year, in one place
Plan lessons, make printables, and keep each child's completed work organised for the records you need to keep.
Plan with Kuraplan