Parents may decide to educate their children at home for a variety of reasons. Some of the most common reasons include:

• Lifestyle preferences,
• Financial, health or other needs,
• Religious and cultural beliefs,
• Supporting children with particular educational needs,
• Anxiousness or phobias about attending school,
• Other reasons related to the child not thriving in the school setting.

The decision to home educate is not a "once-for-all" decision. For example, many parents decide on home education until:

• The child decides to (re)enter mainstream school,
• The child wishes to study a particular qualification,
• A place at a preferred school becomes available.