Elective Home Education Welcome Pack for Parents

Elective Home Education Information Pack

This pack aims to: -

• Give you information to help you make an informed decision about whether home education is right for your family.
• Provide information – to clarify the Local Authority and parents/carers duties and responsibilities with regards to EHE.
• Provide advice on how our service can assist and support you.

It is our intention to establish effective partnerships with parents/carers who home educate their children and young people.

If you require any further information or have any queries regarding Elective Home Education, that is not addressed within this pack, please do not hesitate to contact us.

http://www.sandwell.gov.uk

Sandwell Elective Home Education

Elective Home Education Advisory Team
home_education@sandwell.gov.uk
0121 569 8147

Home Education and the Law

Education is a fundamental right for every child and we recognise that parents/carers have the right to choose to educate their child at home rather than at school.

The Parent’s Responsibility

In England and Wales Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 makes it the parent’s duty:

• ‘to cause the child (children) to receive efficient full-time education suitable to his/her age, ability and aptitude and with regard to any special educational needs he or she may have, either by regular school attendance or otherwise’

For lots of children this means attending school within their local community or a school specifically chosen by their parent/carer. However, parents/carers may choose to educate their child/ren themselves.

The Local Authority’s Duty

Local Authority has a duty to:

• Investigate if a child of compulsory school age in this area is not receiving a suitable education.

This law makes education compulsory, NOT schooling.

Parents do not have to be qualified teachers or hold any specific qualification.

The education provided must be ‘efficient’ and ‘suitable’.

The Local Authority may take action if it believes that a young person is not being educated ‘satisfactorily’. Please see link for guidance:

What is deemed as ‘efficient’, ‘suitable’ or satisfactory?

• Providing opportunities for the child/ren to access learning across all areas of the curriculum (Maths, English, Science, Topic area, Arts and Crafts)
• Using a variety of resources and materials to assist your child/ren to learn (workbooks, games, worksheets, use of educational websites, membership in/access to educational settings/home tutors, outings, group meetings, life skills and much more)
• Ensuring learning meets the needs of the child – including age, development and specific needs e.g. learning disability or physical impairment.
• Ensuring that the learning environment is safe and free from harm
• Ensuring that the child’s wishes are respected and they want to be home school educated.
• Having a clear plan for learning, such as when it takes place, what is being taught and being able to show progress in learning is taking place may be useful.

What is deemed as unsatisfactory?

• Lack of evidence to show there is a variety of learning across the curriculum areas
• Little or no resources being used
• Use of resources that are not suitable for the child’s need, age or development e.g. not providing overlays and other visual aids if a child’s identified plan states this is required.
• Providing learning that is not suitable for the child’s age, aptitude or ability or is too advanced for their understanding. In many cases this will be deemed as a safeguarding issue.
• If learning is taking place in a setting that is deemed as unsafe, dangerous or is putting a child at risk of harm.
• Where a child makes clear statements that home schooling is not what they wish and it is deemed that this is having significant effect upon their wellbeing.
• If it is believed that the person delivering education is not capable or equipped to do so to ensure child/ren make progress. 

Please note these are examples and are not an exhaustive list of how a Local Authority may decide if a suitable education is taking place.  When decisions are made parents/carers are always informed of the reasons and assistance is offered to address areas for development. 

Considering home education

Before starting to home educate it is important that you consider all the factors involved in educating at home. It is a significant responsibility involving time, commitment and energy that can also be very mutually rewarding.

Whilst the law clearly states it is a parent’s/carers responsibility to ensure education takes place it is equally important to consider the child/ren’s voice.

Article 12 of The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) states,

• ‘Every child has the right to have a say in all matters affecting them, and to have their views taken seriously’

The Convention also states within Article 3 that we must consider the best interest of the child,

• ‘The best interests of the child must be a top priority in all things that affect children’  

There are several reasons why you may be considering home education for your child. Considerations may include cultural, religious or philosophical beliefs or the desire to develop a particular ability in your child.

We find that some parents may take their child/ren out of school, not because they particularly want to home educate, but because they are unable to resolve problems any other way. If you would like to discuss your reasons for taking your child out of school, the Attendance Service will be pleased to call and see you or speak with you on the phone. There may be other options available.

Making a complaint/seeking support around a school issue that may prevent the decision to home educate

Sometimes it is worth exploring if the issue can be resolved in school. The usual way is to speak to the head teacher and if this does not work to go through the governing board and if this does not work you can contact the Local Authority.

For further information please see following links:

How to raise concerns with your child's school
Feedback and Complaints

The phone line [0121 569 8385] is open from 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Thursday, and 9am to 4pm on Friday; There is also an out of hours voicemail facility plus parents and carers can also email their enquiries or concerns to children_families@sandwell.gov.uk

Financial Support

Before deciding to home educate it is important to consider the costs involved.

There is no financial support available from central or local government for parent/carers who electively home educate. You must be prepared to fully finance your child’s education including the costs of any public examinations (costs can range from £12- £200 for each exam subject and often more additional administration fees on top).

It is also important to consider the cost of buying of equipment, study materials, memberships to educational groups and website subscriptions etc. 

However, there are resources available to you often at little or no cost. For example, libraries which often have free access to computers and study materials. Home education groups, meetings, online resources.

There is useful information included in this pack. Sometimes other organisations can put you in touch with parent groups in your area who successfully home educate.

The Government believes that, in general, school is the best place for most children to receive their education, and therefore government funding is devoted to maintaining the state system of school.

Consequently, there are no funds directly available from central or local government for parents who decide to home educate their children.

Beginning to home educate

If you make the decision to educate your child at home and they are already enrolled at school you must follow certain procedures;

Pre-School age child/ren/child not yet on roll or allocated a place at school

You do not need to inform anyone of your choice to home educate. If you would like advice or support from the Local Authority then you would need to let us know you are home educating your child when they reach five.

Child/ren currently on roll at a mainstream school

If you wish to withdraw him/her to home educate it is required that the parent/carer inform the school, you MUST do so in writing so that your child’s name can be removed from the school register. This prevents action being taken against you for non-attendance.

Informing the Local Authority

Although it is not a current legal requirement for a parent to inform the Local Authority of their intention to home educate new guidance is stating that in the future you will be required to inform your local authority that you are doing so. In the meantime, we would love to hear from you.

In Sandwell we invite you to meet with one of the Home Education Team. This enables us to touch base, help with any immediate concerns and will give you an opportunity to discuss any plans and get advice and guidance if required. This meeting can be at a convenient location or even a phone call at a time to suit you.

What’s next?

Once you have decided to home educate, someone from the LA Home Education Team will contact you to discuss the education you are planning / delivering to your child. This is often referred to by us as an “initial consultation”. They may visit you at home, or elsewhere if preferred. Alternatively, they might have a telephone and/or virtual conversation with you.

Initial consultations / support contacts

Initial consultations are an opportunity to discuss your plans, and ask any questions you may have re: home education. We may discuss:

• How are you planning to deliver your child’s education?
• What are your short- and longer-term plans?
• Have you thought what subjects will be studied?
• Will you need advice to support your delivery?
• Are you thinking of using a tutor for specific subjects?
• Do you need advice on availability of commercial resources?
• How do you provide for your child’s physical development?
• How do you arrange for your child to meet and play with others?
• How you might record your child’s progress/difficulties?

As a home educator, you are not required to:

• follow the National Curriculum (this only applies to state schools)
• follow a set timetable or to keep to school hours.
• take part in the SATS

It is important however that as a parent/carer you provide an education for your child during compulsory school age, which means educating your child between the ages of five and sixteen years. In reality home educators often start earlier and go on for longer. Some choose not to take school holidays and are flexible with learning times and days.

Before deciding to home educate it is important to plan what you intend to do with your child. This can be achieved by establishing  a “programme of learning” which should include everything which is done to educate your child. It should cater for the child’s physical, intellectual, social, emotional and spiritual development.

It is recommended by the Department for Education that the curriculum in schools should be “broad, balanced, relevant and differentiated” and you may also decide to apply these principles:

• Broad - It should introduce the child to a wide range of knowledge understanding and skills.
• Balanced - Each part of the curriculum should be given sufficient time to make its specialist contribution but not so much that it squeezes out other essential parts of the learning.
• Relevant - Subjects should be taught to show their application to the child’s own experience and to adult life and what practical uses they have.
• Differentiated - What is taught, and how it is taught needs to be matched to the child’s abilities and aptitude. It should also be sufficiently challenging so that the child can show that progress is being made.

Children learn in many ways, and at different times and speeds. You are advised to explain your teaching style by showing your short- and long-term plans and processes for achieving a suitable education.

It is important that you prepare your child for adult life so they will be able to compete effectively in the careers market and for places at university or colleges, if this is their wish.

In school, children are taught the National Curriculum and study English, Mathematics, Religious Education, Science, Technology, History, Geography, Information Technology, PSE, Art, Music, Physical Education and a Foreign Language.

It is recommended by the DfE that these subjects are also taught at home. The method of teaching is in fact entirely up to you and may include visits to museums, galleries, libraries, trips in this country and abroad etc. It is also suggested that your child is taught:

• Health Education
• Outdoor and Environmental Education
• Economic and Industrial understanding
• Citizenship/ Community and Careers

Learning should include opportunities to socialise with children from a variety of backgrounds. It is vital for your child to interact appropriately in society and to build self- esteem This may be achieved by allowing your child to attend recreational groups for example sports clubs or youth organisations etc.  

Some models of education do not necessarily require written work, which is why discussion with you and your child may be more appropriate. Whilst you continue with your child’s EHE journey, support, guidance and advice will continue to be offered to you and your child/ren:

In later contacts, you may be asked to talk to us about how home education is progressing either through sharing your programme of work and/or via examples of work completed etc. Including your child in discussions can also be beneficial. 

At a minimum, we will make contact on an annual basis to review /update progress. If, however you require additional support or the child/ren’s educational needs are not being met, we may suggest additional contacts.

If you decide that your child will be best educated back in a school setting we can help with this also. Returning a child to school may also be recommended by us if the child is not progressing or being educated according to their age, ability and aptitude.

You will be given every opportunity to provide evidence where required. We will offer support and/or advice to minimise the chances of a return to school. Where there is insufficient evidence available, the Local Authority may conclude that it “appears” that your child is not being efficiently educated” and the school attendance order process may be implemented.

Special Educational Needs

The right to home educate applies equally to children with a Statement/EHC plan of Special Educational Needs (SEN). Where a child has a EHC plan of SEN and is educated at home, it remains the duty of the Local Authority to ensure that the child’s needs are met. The statement/EHC plan must remain in place and it is the Local Authority’s statutory duty to undertake an annual review of the plan.

This review includes assessing whether the statement/EHC plan is still appropriate, requires amendment or might cease to be maintained.

If a child is withdrawn from a special school, the SEN Team from within the Local Authority must be informed as the Local Authority retains responsibility for reviewing all EHCPs. Sandwell’s SEN Team will organise annual reviews, for home educated children with statements of special needs/EHC plans.

A review of the statement/EHC plan may conclude that the education being offered to the child may need resources from the Local Authority or that the Local Authority needs to continue to monitor provision. Parents have a right to appeal against the provisions of a statement/EHCP plan.

Further information on SEN is included in part 2 of this pack. Advice is also available from Sandwell SEN department: 0121 569 8240 or by email at SEN_Team@sandwell.gov.uk