Some parents choose to educate their children at home, for a variety of reasons. We support the right of parents to educate their child at home and work in partnership with parents to ensure the child receives a suitable education that takes into account their age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs they may have.

What should you do if you want to educate your child at home?

Parents making this decision should inform the head teacher of their child's school. The school are then required to inform us. If the child has never attended school parents are asked to inform us of their decision to educate the child at home but are under no obligation to do so.

What are parents' responsibilities?

The responsibility of the parent is clearly set out in Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 which states:

The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him/her to receive efficient full time education suitable:

• to his/her age, ability and aptitude
• to any special educational needs he/she may have

either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.

Education has been held to be 'efficient' if it achieves what it sets out to achieve and is 'suitable' if it prepares the child for life in our society, and also enables the child to achieve his/her full potential.

There is no requirement for parents to follow the National Curriculum or to have premises equipped to any particular standard.

What should this council, as the Local Authority, do?

Under section 437(1) of the Act, the Local Authority (LA) must satisfy itself that parents are fulfilling their duties if evidence is not provided of this. The LA will make informal enquiries before considering the need for further action.

Where these informal enquiries are not successful and it appears that a child is not receiving a suitable education the LA will serve a notice on their parent. This notice requires the parent to satisfy the LA that the child is receiving suitable education.

If this order is not complied with within the timescale the LA will serve a School Attendance Order on the parent naming a school at which the child must attend.

What if the child has special educational needs?

For a child with a Statement of Special Educational Need (SEN) whose statement names a special school, the situation is different and the LA must be consulted and must give it's permission for education at home.

The LA must also take responsibility for ensuring that the statement is reviewed once a year.

The Area SEN Officer is responsible for assessing suitability of a programme of elective home education for a child with a statement and advising Education Welfare of the outcome of this assessment.

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