Home education
In England, education is compulsory, school is not.
Parents have the right to educate their children at home under section 7 of the Education Act 1996.
Elective home education
Home education that is carefully planned can be a positive and viable alternative to a school placement.
The plan should include:
- who will take responsibility for teaching
- the cost of home education
- the potential impact of any loss of earnings
Educating at home may not work when there is:
- a relationship breakdown with the school
- a special educational need, including social, emotional and mental health (SEMH)
- concern about the literacy levels of a parent or carer
- current or past social care involvement
Policy
The local agreement in place between all schools in East Sussex means that any child receiving an unsuitable home education will return to their original school.
This policy covers the roles and responsibilities of parents, schools and the local authority:
Elective home education policy and procedures
This policy is available on the East Sussex website.
Talking to parents about home education
If a parent is considering home education, meet them to discuss this and find ways to resolve issues in school. Remember to take notes as a record.
Explain they will be responsible for:
- full costs (including all materials and exams)
- providing a full-time education suitable for their child’s age and ability
- supervision by an appropriate adult
- providing opportunities for social interaction.
There is guidance for parents on Home education | East Sussex County Council
Students with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or Statement
Parents of a child with special educational needs (SEN) also have the right to home educate. The local authority still has a duty to ensure the child’s needs are met.
- If a child is enrolled at a special school, they must remain on roll until the local authority is satisfied that the parents can provide a suitable home education.
- The school needs to arrange an emergency annual review. It must inform both the Assessment and Planning Officer (APO) by emailing sen.caseworkassistants@eastsussex.gov.uk and Teaching and Learning Provision (TLP) by emailing TLP@eastsussex.gov.uk
- TLP will inform the parent of the elective home education process and their role and responsibilities.
- The APO will help arrange the annual review and invite an Educational Psychologist (EP) to join where they can advise parents. If the child has not received a recent EP assessment, the APO will arrange this before the meeting.
- The annual review will consider the suitability of the parents' plan to home educate. The provision section is altered to reflect the home environment.
Mainstream schools
If the child with an EHCP attends a mainstream school or facility, the above is not compulsory but is advised. If the child is removed from the school before the annual review, the school will be asked to attend and contribute.
The parent de-registers the child with an off-rolling letter.
The letter must:
- include a parental signature
- be delivered by recorded delivery or by hand
- correctly identify the child
- state clearly that the child will receive elective home education.
The school should email a copy of the parent's de-registration letter to off-rolling@eastsussex.gov.uk
As soon as the child is de-registered, the headteacher should use the off-rolling form to inform the local authority.
Off-rolling system access
You need a Czone account to off-roll a pupil.
If you do not have an account, a colleague with an account can request one for you using the Czone account request form.
Information to include on the form
Complete the form in full and include the following information:
- The reason for off-rolling from your school’s perspective.
- Attach a copy of evidence from a meeting where the parents discussed their request to home educate.
- Any concerns the school has about the suitability of home education. This includes parental literacy, the relationship between parent and child, avoidance of prosecution or other.
- Other agency involvement.
- Any safeguarding concerns. If this request to off-roll triggers a safeguarding concern, follow the usual safeguarding procedures.
Off-rolling form for independent schools
Independent schools should complete this form to off-roll a pupil:
Off-rolling form for independent schools [50.0 KB] [docx]
Email it to off-rolling@eastsussex.gov.uk
School Attendance Order or Education Supervision Order
Before de-registering the child, the parent should seek to have the order revoked by the local authority. This is because the parent is providing a suitable education other than at school.
If they fail to do so, the child will remain on the register and the parents could be prosecuted or issued with a penalty notice.
If you have any concerns that the child will not receive a suitable education, contact Teaching and Learning Provision (TLP).
Phone: 01273 336 888
Email: TLP@eastsussex.gov.uk
How to contact TLP
Area contacts
Lewes and Coastal: 01323 463 414
Wealden: 01273 466 906
Hastings and Rother: 01273 335 973
Eastbourne and Hailsham: 01273 335 496
Was this page helpful?
Click or tap the rating which best represents your experience.
