Deciding whether to travel is much harder when your kids are in school. I know one of our biggest fears was whether we were being selfish and if our choice would have a negative impact on our kid’s lives now and their future. In this article, we will answer some of the most common questions and share some insights that helped us. Such as….
- Can you legally take your kids out of school to travel?
- Should You Take Your Kids Out of School
- Clarify your Goals for Childhood and Life
- Do your kids want to leave school? (Ask them, Travelling as a family doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
- Will world schooling stop them from going to university?
- Do Other People Do It, and How?
- Is there support?
- How to do it your way.
Can you legally take your kids out of school to travel?
Yes as long as the child’s needs are being met.
In the UK: “You must make sure your child receives a full-time education from the age of 5, but you do not have to follow the national curriculum.”
(Source:https://www.gov.uk/home-education)
Local councils step in only if there is a welfare concern. Once kids are deregistered from school (ask your head teacher), how you educate your family is your choice and your responsibility. Don’t worry, though. There is a huge amount of support, communities, and resources available to match your needs. You can learn more about home education laws here: (https://www.gov.uk/home-education)
Should You Take Your Kids Out of School?
School can be a fantastic resource, but it’s just that—a resource. It’s one possible path, not the destination. Take a moment to reflect: Why do you send your child to school? And more importantly, why might you consider taking them out?
Think about what you truly want for your child’s childhood and education.
For example
- To have, amazing experiences that will give them a well-rounded character, understanding and appreciation of the world?
- Help them become the best version of themselves.
- Teach them essential skills like reading, writing, and problem-solving.
- Prepare them for a future career.
- Provide opportunities to develop strong social skills.
There are no right or wrong answers.
You don’t need to have it all figured out or make the “perfect” decision on the first try. As parents, you have the freedom—and responsibility—to explore what’s best for your child and your family. Growth often comes from experimenting, learning from mistakes, and adjusting along the way.
Clarify your Goals for Childhood and Life
Try This Exercise First
Deciding the best educational path for your child—whether world schooling, home education, or traditional schooling—starts with clarifying what you want for their childhood and beyond. This simple framework is a hangover for how we used to develop sessions at our outdoor education centre but we found it useful as a tool to discuss and express what was important to us. I hope it helps you organize your thoughts:
AIM: What is the ultimate goal for your child’s childhood?
Objectives: What specific experiences, skills, or milestones will support this aim?
Here’s an example of how we’ve applied this framework:
AIM: To ensure our children grow up with happy, healthy lives.
Objective 1: Learning
Encourage curiosity and a love of learning by allowing them to explore their interests. Build their confidence by helping them embrace mistakes as valuable lessons, rather than setbacks.
Objective 2: Relationships
Foster strong family connections by making the most of our time together. Demonstrate kindness and empathy to model healthy relationships and set realistic expectations for their future connections. Experience and engage with diversity to not limit their self-perception.
Objective 3: Safety
Help our children develop the skills to navigate the world safely. Teach them to make sound, independent judgments in areas such as technology use, personal boundaries, and interactions with others by making them risk-aware rather than risk-averse.
Objective 4: Enjoyment
Encourage them to find joy and wonder in the world. Support the development of healthy relationships with food, culture, and leisure, while nurturing their ability to explore and enjoy life in a balanced and fulfilling way.
Using this framework can help you evaluate different educational paths and decide which aligns best with your family’s values and your child’s unique needs. Whether it’s the flexibility of world schooling, the tailored approach of home education, or the structure of traditional schooling, the key is finding what fits your goals for your child’s future.
Now ask yourself:
- How would you achieve these goals if you had unlimited time and money?
Next, involve your family in the conversation. Encourage everyone to dream big and think creatively.
Avoid limiting yourself to the easiest option or worrying about others’ opinions. Instead, focus on what aligns with your family’s unique values and dreams.
Remember: The goal isn’t to follow the crowd—it’s to create a childhood full of growth, adventure, and possibility.
Think big, and let your imagination guide the way! By doing the above exercise first you should be in a better position to discuss with your kids and (if necessary) wider family.
Do your kids want to leave school? Ask them: Travelling as a family doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
The freedom of time, finances, and geography allows space for everyone’s ideas and passions. It’s important to involve your kids in the decision—if they feel forced to leave everything they know and love, including school, resistance and even long-term resentment may arise.
For many parents, leaving school is a mixed bag of emotions—feeling like you’re saving your kids one moment and robbing them the next. That’s the paradox of parenting. Travelling offers unique opportunities for family bonding and personal growth, but it doesn’t have to be a permanent choice. We’ve done extended trips and also spent a year in the UK learning from home with smaller adventures.
The essence of travel is freedom: the freedom to explore, make mistakes, and try new things together. Let your kids decide what they want to experience, and support them. Most importantly explore what works for you as a family and as individuals. Make sure they know that travelling isn’t a one-way street—they can return to school or familiar routines if they choose. Having this flexibility creates a sense of security and control.
When we first started travelling, we worried that coming home might feel like a failure, but that’s simply not true. Sometimes you’ll want to pause or reset, and that’s okay. We’ve always assured our kids that if they decide they want to go to school, we’ll support them. For me, travelling allowed me to explore my interest in smallholdings and permaculture—something I’d pursue if we ever want or need to settle down.
Above all, Travelling is about exploring and sharing everyone’s unique interests firsthand. Education doesn’t stop at 18; it’s a lifelong journey you can share with them.
Will it stop them from going to university?
No many universities actively seek out home-educated students because of their diversity, self-motivation and independence. there’s a great article here: https://cambridgeschoolonline.com/do-universities-accept-homeschooled-students/
Do Other People Do It, and How? (different approaches)
There’s no single “right” way to educate—what matters most is finding an approach that works for your family and meets the unique needs of your kids.
That said, it’s always helpful to draw inspiration and ideas from others. We’ll share what works for us and introduce you to other families, resources, and institutions that can help guide your journey.
Broadly speaking, there are four main approaches to alternative education. Some are loosely defined, while others follow more structured philosophies:
- Homeschooling: A structured approach with subject-based lessons, often aligned with a traditional curriculum.
- Home Education: A more flexible approach, often based on a child’s interests and loosely inspired by Steiner or similar principles.
- World Education: This philosophy embraces the idea of making the whole world your classroom. It’s about learning through immersion, exploration, and first-hand experiences, rather than being confined to traditional schooling.
- Unschooling: A child-led approach where learning happens naturally through curiosity, play, and real-life experiences, with no fixed curriculum or formal lessons.
Whatever path you choose, remember that education is a living, evolving process. Explore different methods, you’ll discover what resonates most with your family’s values and lifestyle.
Is there support?
When we decided to leave traditional schooling, the school was incredibly supportive. However, it’s important to understand that once you deregister your child, the school no longer has any legal responsibility or jurisdiction over their education.
Another pleasant surprise was, how vibrant and supportive the alternative education community is. Leaving school was what we thought was best for our family at the time. However, we soon discovered countless families have been navigating their own path for years.
We’re now planning to attend a world-schooling meet-up, where families gather in different locations around the world to share resources and give kids the opportunity to socialize with others. These meet-ups are an amazing way to connect with like-minded people, exchange ideas, and build a sense of community.
What’s great about these spaces is that you can adopt what works for your family and leave behind what doesn’t. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Mainstream curriculums, Steiner schools, home education groups—they all have their merits. However, when these approaches are treated as rigid, stand-alone systems or businesses, they can sometimes become institutionalized and lose their flexibility and vitality.
Ultimately, the key is to stay open, explore different options, and create a learning environment that evolves with your family’s needs.
Do it your way.
In case we haven’t made it abundantly clear
There is no right or wrong.
Make mistakes.
Try different things.
Find your way.
