No. 31: Elective Home Education
Contents
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.
The law relating to elective home education
Parents have a right to educate their children at home under Section 7 of the Education Act 1996.
Parents are not required to register with or seek approval from the local authority to educate their children at home (except children on the roll of a special school), however, they are required to give written notification of their intention to home educate to the school so their child can be deleted from the school roll. Permission is only required from one parent. Either parent can decide to home educate a child without the other parent’s consent if their name is on the child’s birth certificate. In cases where the decision is disputed by the other parent, this would need to be challenged in the family courts.
Local Authorities’ responsibilities
The Local Authority (LA) has no statutory duties in relation to monitoring the quality of home education on a routine basis. However, the LA is required to intervene if it appears that parents are not providing a suitable education.
The LA has a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children. However, the LA does not have the power to enter the homes of, or otherwise see, children for the purposes of monitoring the provision of elective home education. This means that the child may not be seen by any professional or adult outside the immediate family for weeks, months or years.
All new EHE parents are allocated an EHE Adviser to provide any advice and support required. Home visits are undertaken depending on identified needs. Parents can refuse the offer of a home visit. Visits range from 6 weeks for students causing concern to at least annually for students with significant special educational needs. Where there are no known concerns on-going contact is usually by telephone, email updates or parent report.
It is vital that schools share their safeguarding concerns before the pupil is removed from roll to the Front Door (formerly known as MASH) if the child is suffering, or is likely to suffer significant harm, and the EHE service.
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 Front Door Request for Support form stating the concerns and of the decision to home-educate
- Send a copy of the Request for Support form 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.
Useful links, contacts and resources
Professional Lead for Elective Home Education / Children Missing Education
Email: emma.l.hitchins@devon.gov.uk
Tel: 01392 287255
Elective Home Education / Children Missing Education Officer
Email: georgina.bennett@devon.gov.uk
Tel: 01392 287230
Elective Home Education – admin support
Email: electivehomeeducation@devon.gov.uk
Tel: 01392 287230
Visit our Elective Home Education page for the:
- EHE Safeguarding Pupil form
- School Exit form
- EHE Guidance for Schools