Elective home education

If you decide to educate your child at home we will ask you for evidence that your child is receiving an efficient and suitable education.

What is an "efficient and suitable education"?

The Education Act 1996 states that an education should prepare a child for life in the modern society and enable them to make progress towards their potential.

Schools maintained by the State are required to teach each of the national curriculum subject.

If you are educating your child at home you are not required to follow the National Curriculum. However, it does provide a useful guide and if your child returns to school at a later date it could make re-integration easier. 

Copies of the national curriculum can be found on the Gov.uk website.

When deciding how much time to devote to your child's education you may find it helpful to know that the Department of Education and skills recommends the following weekly teaching hours:

• 21.5 hours for 5-7 year olds
• 23.5 hours for 8-11 year olds
• 24 hours for 12-16 year olds

Pupils are required to attend school for 190 days each year.

What are the ways to show evidence of a suitable education?

You can show evidence of home education in a number of ways:

• Meet EHE representative at home to discuss work and progress
• Meet the EHE representative elsewhere to discuss work and progress
• Write a report
• Provide examples and date work - use a log to record the learning
• Have the work endorsed by a recognised third party
• Provide evidence in any other form

What if it appears that a suitable education is not being provided?

We aim to work in partnership with parents. We find most concerns can be addressed without entering into statutory procedures.

If there are concerns about the education a child is receiving:

• We will inform the parent in writing of these concerns
• There is then an opportunity to adapt the education that is being provided so that it meets requirements
• A further arrangement is then made to review the work that the child is doing. If it then appears that a suitable education is being provided no further steps are taken
• If it then appears that a suitable education is not being provided we are required to make an Attendance Order. This requires parents to register their child at school or a court summons may be issued.

At any stage during this process, parents may produce evidence that they are now providing a suitable education and have any order revoked.