Flexi-School and Home Education
How do children access forest school ?
A growing number of organisations offer forest school sessions across Glasgow.
Forest school can be accessed through a child’s school, Saturday clubs, during school holidays.
Many of these organisations cater to the increasing number of parents opting to home educate or set up flexi school arrangements.
In Scotland, all children of school age (from 5 - 16) must receive an efficient education suitable to their age, ability, and aptitude.
As a parent, you have the right to provide this education either by sending your child to school or by "other means."
This includes home education, and, more recently, flexi-school.
What is Home Education?
Elective home education is when a parent or carer takes full legal responsibility for their child's education outside of a registered school.
Your Right
Parents have the right to choose to home educate.
The Law
You must provide an "efficient and suitable" education.
There is no requirement to follow the national curriculum, adhere to school hours/terms, or have a fixed timetable.
The Process
If your child is currently enrolled in public school, you must seek your local authority's (Glasgow City Council's) consent to withdraw them.
Consent must not be refused without good reason
Support
Your local council is not legally responsible for providing resources.
What is Flexi-School?
Flexi-school is an official, agreed arrangement where a child is registered as a full-time pupil at a school but attends school part-time, with the remaining time being educated at home by the parent.
Joint Responsibility
The parent and the local authority/school agree to share educational responsibility.
No Legal Right
There is no specific legal right to demand flexi-schooling.
It is granted at the discretion of the school and the local authority. You need to apply to your chosen school to explore this option.
The Benefit
It offers the best of both worlds, providing a flexible schedule while maintaining a formal link to the school system.
Note
For detailed guidance and up-to-date legal information on both options, we recommend consulting the Scottish Government's guidance on Home Education and contacting Glasgow City Council's Education Department to find out more about flexi-school contracts.
Community Resources and Forest School Directory
We believe building strong connections around home education and flexi-school will provide a diverse learning experience for children in Glasgow.
The benefits will then ripple out into our communities.
External community resources:
Flexi-Schooling Map
A community-compiled map of schools in Scotland that are known to offer flexi-school arrangements. View the map here
Parent Groups
Join the Scottish Home Education and Flexi-Schooling Facebook Group to connect with other families and share experiences. Join the group here.
Blog
Gina Lundy-Clark’s blog on her experiences with applying for flexi school arrangements. Read the blog here.
Glasgow Forest School Directory
Glasgow Forest School is compiling a comprehensive, up-to-date directory of small charities and organisations across Glasgow that provide high-quality Forest School or accredited outdoor learning sessions specifically catering to the needs of home education and flexi-school families.
Our Goal: To make it easier for parents to find, contact, and access a variety of outdoor educational provision throughout the city.
How to be Included: Are you a small provider running sessions? Join our city-wide woodland community by contacting us with your interest. Get in touch here.
Launch Date: Check back here in Spring 2026 for the full directory.
Glasgow Forest School
Glasgow Forest School nurtures a love of nature through woodland play, outdoor learning and connection in Glasgow.
We Are Wonder
We Are Wonder is a Glasgow-based outdoor learning community that creates space for children, teens and adults to explore, play and connect in nature.