1. Do children have to go to school?
2. What is the parents’ actual duty?
3. What is ‘compulsory school age’?
4. What is the LA’s duty under the 1996 Education Act?
5. What should my child learn?
6. How should I carry out Home Education?
7. How is the LA involved in education at home?
8. What if the Home-based education Visitor has concerns or reservations about our education at home programme?
9. What if I decide to educate at home and then change my mind?
10. Can my child attend school part-time?
11. What will happen if we decide to move?
12. What should I do if my child has Special Educational Needs?
13. Further considerations
14. Can I register as home educating on-line?
15. Complaints

1. Do children have to go to school?

The 1996 Education Act states that ‘it is the duty of parents to secure an appropriate full time education for their children of compulsory school age’.  Most parents carry out this duty by ensuring their child attends the school which serves their local community.  However, for a wide variety of reasons, some parents/carers decide to take on the duty to educate their children themselves, that is, to educate at home.

2. What is the Parents/carers’ actual duty?

Under section 7 of the 1996 Act, the parents of every child of compulsory school age:

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

3. What is ‘compulsory school age’?

The law requires a child to be educated from the start of the school term following their fifth birthday until the last Friday in June in the school year in which a child reaches sixteen.  If, when you decide to home educate, your child is registered at a state school you should inform the Headteacher, in writing, that you are Home Educating and he/she will inform the LA.

4. What is the LA’s duty under the 1996 Education Act?

The Act places the obligation on LAs to ensure that home educators are providing an efficient education for their children, which takes into account age, ability, aptitude and any special needs that the child may have.  Devon normally undertakes this task by making a home visit at a time that is mutually agreed.  Visits generally do not take place during school holidays and it is helpful to us if they can be arranged during the working day.

5. What should my child learn?

When a child is educated at home it is the decision of the parent/carer as to what and how the child learns.  The education should be such as to prepare the child for life in modern civilised society and enable them to achieve their full potential.

There is no requirement to follow the National Curriculum which applies only to maintained schools, however parents should ensure a broad and balanced curriculum is followed.  You may wish to be aware of the content of the National Curriculum as it does provide a useful framework, especially if you intend to return your child to state education or to pursue more formal qualifications, such as GCSEs.

The National Curriculum subjects are: English, Maths, Science (known as the ‘core’ subjects), History, Geography, Technology, Art, Music, Physical Education and a modern foreign language (from 11 years of age).  A copy of the National Curriculum is available on the Internet at www.nc.uk.net/home.html or from the Department for Education and Skills.  Many published textbooks in shops and libraries are also based on it.  At present, textbook costs range from £3 upwards.  Some publishers will give reductions to home educators.

6. How should I carry out Home Education?

Learning support may be provided by the parents, small groups of home-educating families, or private tutors.  Irrespective of how the child’s education is arranged it will be up to the parent to demonstrate to the LA that a suitable education is being provided.

Some home educators have a timetable showing the normal planned activities over a period of time such as you would find in a school.  Other parents choose to follow a form of ‘discovery’ education where the interests of the child are followed.  Yet others use a mixture of these methods.  The LA’s interest is in establishing that a suitable education is taking place, rather than endorsing any particular method.

7. How is the LA involved in education at home?

If required, the LA, through the visitor, is happy to offer help and advice.  However, the LA is unable to offer direct teaching or to provide materials for children being educated at home.  You will also be responsible for organising, and insuring for, any work experience placements, should you wish this.  Similarly, should you wish your child to take formal qualifications, you would have to find an exam centre willing to take a private candidate, pay for any examination registration fees and assessment of course work by an accredited person.  At the time of writing, the registration fee for a GCSE exam is approximately £25.

Many parents provide evidence of suitable education by means of a home visit.  This allows you and the HBE Visitor to get to know one another  and discussed your hopes for your child and the style of education you are providing.  No discussion or advice on the education you are providing will take place unless an appointment has been made in advance.  However, occasionally, an Education Welfare Officer for your area may contact you to clarify the situation with regard to your child's current education.

8. What if the Home-based education Visitor has concerns or reservations about our education at home programme?

After the initial visit and any subsequent visits a short report will be sent to you.  The second and subsequent visit reports will include one of three recommendations to the LA.

1. That the education at that time is satisfactory and generally a further visit will not take place until a year has elapsed.
2. That the education at that time is potentially satisfactory.  In this case there will be need of a further visit, perhaps with a different person, at a future date.  Reasons and an approximate time-scale will be given.
3. That the education at that time is unsatisfactory for the reasons given.

If the LA is not satisfied that a suitable education is taking place then further visits and/or consultations may be offered with the aim of helping you to overcome the difficulties within a mutually agreed time scale.  If, in the end, the LA still considers that your child is receiving a less than satisfactory education then it is our duty to issue a School Attendance Order.  This will require you to send your child to a school named on the Order (Section 437, Education Act 1996).

Please note that at any stage following the issue of a School Attendance Order process you may present evidence to the LA that you are now providing a suitable education and apply to have the Order revoked.

9. What if I decide to educate at home and then change my mind?

If at any time you should wish your child to enter or re-enter the school system (or are unsure about how to do this); you may either contact your local school, in the first instance, or contact the Senior Administrators for Admissions on 01392-383459/383841. You may also discuss this with your Home-based Education Visitor if you wish.

10. Can my child attend school part-time?

In Devon children generally attend school full-time, except if there is a planned programme of re-integration.  However, a parent may request that a Headteacher admit his/her child part-time.  This arrangement would be at the discretion of the Headteacher and Governors of the school, and the responsibility for the cover and assessment of the National Curriculum would be theirs.

11. What will happen if we decide to move?

We would be grateful if you let the Education Other Than at School Service know your new address in writing or by phone:

Great Moor House
Bittern Road
Exeter
EX2 7NL

(01392 383916)

12. What should I do if my child has Special Educational Needs?

If you are concerned that your child has Special Educational Needs (which are described in the Education Act 1993 as ‘learning difficulties that may require special educational provision’) then please write to the County Special Education Team at: One Capital Court, Bittern Road, Exeter EX2 7FW.  They will put you in touch with the relevant specialist service that will advise you further.

Please note that if your child attends a Special School the consent of the LA should be sought before removing your child from school to home educate.

13. Further considerations

Deciding to educate your child at home is a major step that, as you know, not only involves commitment but also a tremendous investment in time and energy.  There are a wide variety of reasons for parents choosing to home educate, but if it is due to an unresolved dispute with a school, the LA strongly suggests a dialogue first with the school to attempt to resolve any dispute.  It is also well worth talking to someone who has experience of the highs and lows of home education before finally making the decision.  Independent support agency addresses are given at the end of this leaflet, which might be of help.  If your child is aged 13 or over, you may wish to contact Connexions, who provide support for future training, careers and further education opportunities.  For further information, please telephone 0800 9755111.

Education at home can be a happy and constructive experience for both you and your child. If you decide to take this on the LA wishes you well and will do what it can to ensure that a suitable education is provided.

14. Can I register as home educating on-line?

Yes, simply click here to register for home educating and you will be able to complete the relevant forms on-line.  We will then contact you to discuss the educational provision you intend to make for your child.

15. Complaints

If you have a complaint about any aspect of the work of the Education Out of School Service, please contact the Head of EOTAS, Great Moor House, Bittern Road, Exeter EX2 7NL. Alternatively you may wish to address your complaint to:

Executive Director of Children and Young Poeple Services
Devon County Council
County Hall
Exeter EX2 4QJ

We will do our utmost to acknowledge receipt of your complaint within three working days, and to have dealt with it within fifteen working days.  Where this is not possible we will keep you informed of progress.

(April 05)