The article deals with the historical process of formation of educational and legal support for the activities of out-of-school educational institutions during the independence of Ukraine. Based on the formulated socio-cultural, cognitive, educational and legal criteria of the intensity of qualitative changes in the legislative and legal support of educational activities of out-of-school educational institutions, 3 main stages of this period were identified. The first stage (1991-1999) was characterised as a transition from the old Soviet to the new Ukrainian system of out-of-school educational institutions. It was noted that during this period, the foundations of the legislation were formed, the international experience of providing the development of extracurricular education was attracted, the results of foreign scholars’ scientific researches were processed, scientific researches were conducted by domestic scientists. Instead, the second stage (2000-2009) was marked by the active development of the regulatory and legal support of the out-of-school education system. It was emphasised that the adoption of the Law on Extracurricular Education, which regulates state policy in the field of extracurricular education, was of great importance. The dynamics of quantitative indicators and tendencies of development of out-of-school educational institutions, directions of Ukrainian scientists’ scientific researches on the problems related to out-of-school education are characterised. The beginning of the process of forming legislation on the issues regarding children with special needs is highlighted. It is emphasised that at the third stage (2010-2019), the principles of inclusive education were adopted, legal support was provided for the quality education of all children without exception. It is emphasised that for the period of 1991-2019, there was intensive development and modernisation of the legal support of the out-of-school education system, and the model of inclusive education of children with special educational needs in out-of-school educational institutions was involved.