Homeschooling in Portugal! So debated, but increasingly sought after by parents who want to offer something different to their children.

Well, here at home, we will also start this adventure. Since our daughter Felisberta will start the 1st year, we will see how it goes.

Contrary to what many think, homeschooling is more complex than expected. Especially in the administrative phase. It’s not just about taking the child out of school, putting them at home to learn and that’s it. Quite the opposite!

Within homeschooling itself, there are a variety of models, ranging from the more conservative style (with greater control by the Department of Education) to the freer one, called unschooling (one that does not follow a certain curriculum – also called “natural learning”). In Portugal only the most conservative one is possible, as the school is very present, controlling learning process (not the method, but the content).

Unfortunately, there is still little clear and practical information. The associations and facebook groups that exist allow some information to be shared by more experienced people, but information from the Department of Education is extremely limited.



So I decided to share the steps of the process. I hope this compilation is helpful.

It should be noted that I do not know how quickly other schools deal with the matter. In my daughter’s school everything went much better than I expected. Despite being new for this educational establishment, the whole process was uneventful, clear and timely. So, here I can only talk about my experience in the matter.

So, let’s go!