Homeschooling in Ireland:

Homeschooling in Ireland is growing

Across Europe, more and more families are choosing to educate their children from home — for the flexibility, for travel, for wellbeing, or simply because it fits their child better than a traditional classroom.

In Ireland, educating your child from home — known locally as Home education — comes with its own rules, which we walk through below. Increasingly, families meet them by enrolling in an accredited online school, so their child still gets live teaching, structure, and real friendships.

If you’re exploring your options, here’s what you need to know — and how bina can help if you’d rather not figure it all out on your own.

Is schooling from home legal in Ireland?

Yes. Article 42 of the Irish Constitution recognises the family as the primary educator of the child and protects the right to educate children at home, rather than in a recognised school. The State's condition is that every child receives "a certain minimum education" — moral, intellectual and social — suited to the child's age, ability and aptitude.

Educating outside a recognised school is not automatic, though. Under Section 14 of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, parents have a legal obligation to apply to place their child on the national register of children educated outside recognised schools. This register is maintained by Tusla's Alternative Education Assessment and Registration Service (AEARS). You apply with the R1 form, and an AEARS assessor carries out a preliminary assessment to confirm the education is suitable. Most families are registered at this stage; only a small number are referred for a more detailed comprehensive assessment.

Enrolling in a recognised online school such as bina is a clean way to evidence that "minimum education" standard. bina provides a full, structured curriculum with live teachers, which gives AEARS clear, documented evidence of a broad and balanced education when you apply — while your child still learns from home. Note that the legal obligation to register with Tusla remains with you as the parent; enrolling in an online school supports your application but does not replace it.

What are the steps to school from home in Ireland?

1. Confirm whether your child needs to be registered — Registration applies to children aged 6 to 16 who are not attending a recognised school (and to 16-18 year-olds who have not completed three years of post-primary education). Below age 6 there is no obligation, though you can still begin home learning.
2. Decide how you'll provide the education — You do not need teaching qualifications and you are not required to follow the national curriculum — but you must provide a balanced education suited to your child's age, ability and aptitude. Many families use a structured online school like bina to anchor this with live teachers and a recognised programme.
3. Submit the R1 application to Tusla AEARS — Complete the R1 home-education application form, describing the learning environment, materials and how you'll cover the areas of learning. Send it with a certified copy of your child's birth certificate and the consent of all legal guardians. A separate form is completed for each child.
4. Take part in the AEARS assessment — An assessor carries out a preliminary assessment to confirm the education meets the minimum standard, and will meet your child to hear their views. Sharing your bina enrolment, curriculum and reports makes this straightforward. You'll then receive a report and, in most cases, your child is placed on the Section 14 register.
5. Keep records and plan for any exams — Keep evidence of your child's learning and progress. If your child later wants to sit State exams (such as the Junior Cycle or Leaving Certificate), they can apply to the State Examinations Commission as an external candidate.

An accredited online school like bina makes much of this simpler: we provide the curriculum, the live teaching, and the progress records your authority may ask to see — so you can focus on being the parent.