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Home educating your child with SEND

Instead of sending your child to school, you can choose to educate your child at home. This is known as elective home education (EHE).

There's information on Hertfordshire's Educating your child at home page to help you decide whether home educating is right for you and your child, and what steps you need to take if you decide to home educate.

On this page we'll look at how choosing to home educate affects the support you are entitled to for a child with SEND.


Home educating and EHCP

Any child with an EHCP will have been assessed and a decision will have been made about the most appropriate school for your child based on their needs. If your EHCP names a school, but you have decided to home educate instead, we are under no duty to provide the special educational provision set out in the plan - provided we are satisfied the arrangements you are making are suitable. You will need to inform the headteacher in writing, to let them know of your decision to home educate.

If your child is enrolled in a special school, the headteacher is required to get permission from the local authority to de-register your child from the roll. You should put your request in writing to the headteacher and your SEND Officer, who will inform the Elective Home Education team. If the local authority gives their consent, your child's EHCP will be updated to state that they will be educated at home.

The EHCP will continue to be reviewed annually to ensure the provision set out in the plan continues to be appropriate and that your child’s special education needs continue to be met.

Flexi- schooling

You may wish to discuss ‘flexi-schooling’ arrangements with school, where your child is registered at school and parent/ carers take responsibility for providing education at home for agreed times of the week. Any request must be in the interest of your child and you will need to get agreement from your school for this. It’s important to remember that Headteachers are not obliged to say yes - so this may not be possible.

Education otherwise than at school (EOTAS)

If you have an EHCP, and it's been a joint decision between yourself and the local authority SEND Team that the best course of action is for your child to be educated at home, then we will work with you to help supply the provision set out in the EHCP. This is called Education otherwise than at school (EOTAS).

If we've been notified that you're home educating your child, you'll be able to access support and advice from the Elective Home Education (EHE) Team.

If you change your mind about home educating

If you remove your child from school to home educate but decide that you'd like them to go back to school at a later date, we (the council) must find your child a school place. However- you will not be guaranteed a place at your local or preferred school.

Where can I go for support?

Many home educating families find support, inspiration and encouragement from their local home educating community. You could check online for support groups in your area, and you may find that there's lots of information, resources, ideas and help from fellow home educating parents.

There are also independent organisations who can help with support and advice:

Services for Young People

SFYP provides advice, support and personal development opportunities for young people aged 13 -19 (up to 25 with learning difficulties or disabilities). Young people being home educated can be supported by the service.

Home Education Advisory Service

Education Otherwise

Home education in the UK - special educational needs

HE Special is a group of families who are home educating their children with SEND either full time or part time. They have a mailing list and useful articles to support you.

Gov.uk on home educating

You can read detailed guidance for a more general overview of home educating.

 

Page was last updated on: 11/12/2023 16:25:33

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