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What is Elective Home Education?
Elective Home Education (EHE) is used to describe parents’ decision to provide education for their children at home instead of sending them to school. This is different from home tuition or alternative provision provided by the local authority. Some parents may choose to engage private tutors but there is no requirement for them to do so. Learning may take place in a variety of locations, not just in the family home. Learning does not have to take place at set times of the day.
Gypsy, Roma, Traveller & Showmen Home Education
Data from the Department for Education has found that since 2010, on average, only 51% of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children in state-funded primary schools go on to attend secondary school, as compared to 97% of non Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children.
Gypsy, Roma, Traveller & Showmen parents often make the decision to home educate when the child is in, or about to join, secondary school. This is partly due to primary schools being seen as nurturing places where the regular contact with teachers helps to facilitate cultural understanding and reduce the risk of bullying. By contrast, secondary schools are often perceived as impersonal institutions that lack understanding of Gypsy, Roma, Traveller & Showmen heritage and cultures.
There is a danger that for some Gypsy, Roma, Traveller & Showmen children, being electively home educated results in a very limited formal education with minimal access to resources and no opportunity to gain formal qualifications. This also minimises occasions to socialise with young people from different communities, making these children further isolated.
A Gypsy/Traveller perspective on Home Education
For Gypsy and Traveller families, home education is seen as vital for preserving their identity and safeguarding their children. Home education enables a balance of academic learning with the acquisition of practical skills unique to the community’s cultural values.
It’s not just about culture, though. Schools have often been viewed as hostile environments for Gypsy and Traveller children. Numerous studies indicate that they face high levels of racism, prejudice, bullying, and exclusion. According to a 2023 briefing by Friends, Families & Travellers, Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller pupils continue to have the lowest educational attainment at all key stages up to and including KS4, compared to any other ethnic groups in the UK
In the 2021-2022 school year:
- Only 15% of Gypsy/Roma pupils and 16% of Irish Traveller pupils met the expected standard in KS2 reading, writing, and maths, compared to 59% of all pupils
- At the GCSE level, only 8.5% of Gypsy/Roma pupils and 14.4% of Irish Traveller pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and Maths, compared to 49.8% for all pupils
- Gypsy/Roma (67%) and Irish Traveller (72%) pupils were the least likely to stay in education after GCSEs
Additionally, Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller children have some of the highest rates of exclusions among all ethnic groups in the UK. With many families reporting that schools fail to provide a safe environment, leaving them with no choice but to withdraw their children for their wellbeing. These statistics highlight the vast ongoing educational challenges faced by Gypsy and Traveller communities.
Additionally, formal schooling and the contents of the National Curriculum can conflict with the deeply held values of Gypsy and Traveller communities. Many parents worry about the influence of non-Traveller cultures on their children, especially in secondary school, where exposure to drugs, alcohol, and early sexualisation is a growing concern. For them, home education is not a rejection of learning but a rejection of a system that has consistently failed to understand or respect their needs.
Schools responsibilities
Before the pupil is removed from roll the Designated Safeguarding Lead should:
- Depending on the age of the child, speak to them alone about how they feel about being educated at home and whether they have any concerns
- Complete the EHE Safeguarding Pupil form and return it to the EHE Service (this includes gathering the views of the child independent of parents)
- Send a copy of the letter / email from parent stating their decision to Electively Home Educate to the EHE Service
If you have any safeguarding concerns you should,
- Complete a request for support form stating the concerns and of the decision to home-educate
- Send a copy of the request for support to the EHE service
A School Exit form should also be completed. This ensures that parents are clear of their responsibilities when home educating. It also provides the opportunity for school and parents to discuss the reasons for home education and ensure that it is the right decision for the child.
If a child is not transferring to secondary education and schools are aware of this decision, schools should direct parents to the Elective Home Education voluntary registration form and offer to help them complete it.
Useful websites and contacts
For more information visit Elective home education – Education and Families (devon.gov.uk)
Other information
The Issue of Elective Home Education | TM (travellermovement.org.uk)