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EHE Q&A's

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The law does not currently require you to notify your local authority of your intentions to EHE. However, the local authority does have a legal duty to ensure its resident children are in receipt of a suitable education. It is therefore 'recommended' that you register your intentions. Please read the full guidance for parents.

Do you need permission to home educate?

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What steps do I have to take to remove my child from school and home educate him or her?

You should write to the headteacher of your child’s school. A template is provided here:

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Headteacher’s Name

Address

Date

Dear [Headteacher’s name]

RE: [child’s name and date of birth]

I wish to withdraw [child’s name] from school in order to home educate him or her.

I wish for his or her name to be removed from the admissions register under Regulation 8(1)(d) of the Education (Pupil Registration) Regulations 2006

Yours Sincerely

[Your name]

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Once the school has received written notification from the parent that a pupil is receiving education otherwise than at school, they must delete the child’s name from the school roll. 

The school must inform the Local Authority under Regulation 12(3) Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 of any pupil who is going to be removed from the admissions register where the child will be home educated. You should be copied into this correspondence. Once the child is removed from the school roll, the Local Authority is no longer under a duty to provide education and this duty falls to the parent.

What is Section 7 of the 1996 education Act?

Section 7 Education Act 1996 places a duty on parents to ensure that their child of compulsory school age receives a suitable education, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.

What is the purpose of home education?

To engage children's interests. Child led home educating lets the parent/home educator to decide what is taught and how it is taught, allowing children's interests to become the focus of home teaching sessions. It is not a legal requirement to teach your child curriculum work. It is a legal requirement to ensure your child gets an education suitable for their age, aptitude and ability and meet any special educational needs they may have. 

What are the expected standards of home education?

If you choose to home educate your child:

  • there is no obligation to follow the national curriculum or the same syllabus/topics as a school;

  • there is no obligation to have rooms or premises equipped to a particular standard;

  • the school day does not need to match school terms, days or hours and you do not have to have a scheduled timetable;

  • there is no need to be registered with the Department for Education or be inspected by Ofsted.

However Local Authorities can expect the following:

  • consistent involvement of parents or other significant carers;

  • recognition of the child’s needs, attitudes and aspirations;

  • opportunities for the child to be stimulated by their learning experiences;

  • access to resources/materials required to provide home education for the child.

What can the Local Authority do to check the standard of home education?

Each Local Authority should have a clear written policy about elective home education. 

Under section 436A Education and Inspections Act 2006, Local Authorities must make arrangements to identify children of compulsory school age in their area who are not registered pupils at a school and are not receiving suitable education otherwise than at school. For more information, see the page on Education for Children Out of School.

Local Authorities do not have any statutory duties to routinely monitor the quality of home education. Case law has held that Local Authorities cannot insist on inspecting parents and children in their home or elsewhere. If a parent refuses to let the Local Authority enter the home or speak to the child, this cannot constitute, on its own, a ground for concern about the education provision. Local Authorities can make informal enquiries but cannot insist on evidence from the parents in any prescribed form.

We would advise you to cooperate with the Local Authority as much as possible if they are making enquiries about home education, so that you can resolve the matter informally. 

Will I receive any financial support to educate my child at home?

The parent assumes full financial responsibility for the home education of their child, including the costs of any public examinations. However, Local Authorities can provide support in some circumstances, for example:

  • a library to lend books;

  • free/discounted admission to Local Authority sports facilities;

  • national curriculum materials;

  • information about educational visits and work experience.

It is advisable to check with your Local Authority about the support available in your area.

If you wish your child to return to school,  you can apply for schools at any point during the academic year. See School Admissions for more information.

What about GCSE's / Qualifications?

GCSE's are not mandatory, nor is teaching the curriculum. Home education gives us and our children the freedom and flexibility to learn what they have interests in. There is no law that states their learning must lead to a formal qualification, however, it is important to recognise that if your child's interests means the requirements for that specific college course or job role requires a specific qualification, it is worth checking with them what you need to obtain to access that specific course/role. You can still study and sit your GCSE's privately and some collages have different entry requirements for Home Educated children, some including key skills courses for those who didn't meet the GCSE requirements.

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