{"id":5845,"date":"2022-04-12T17:40:35","date_gmt":"2022-04-12T16:40:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beta.devon.gov.uk\/supportforschools\/?page_id=5845"},"modified":"2025-12-16T17:00:27","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T17:00:27","slug":"no-31-elective-home-education","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/safeguarding\/guidance-policy-and-tools-2\/safeguarding-one-minute-guides\/no-31-elective-home-education\/","title":{"rendered":"No. 31 Elective Home Education (EHE)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:25%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Contents<\/h2><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#what-is-elective-home-education\">What is Elective Home Education?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#the-law-relating-to-elective-home-education\">The Law <\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#local-authorities-responsibilities\">Local Authorities\u2019 responsibilities<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#safeguarding\">Safeguarding<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#schools-responsibilities\">Schools responsibilities<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#useful-links-contacts-and-resources\">Useful links, contacts and resources<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"dcc-documents-cpt-fixed dccdocs-sticky dccdocs-hidden\">\r\n    <div class=\"grid-container\">\r\n        <div class=\"grid-x grid-margin-x\">\r\n            <div class=\"cell medium-12\">\r\n                <a class=\"back-to-top hide-for-print\" href=\"#content\"><svg class=\"app-c-back-to-top__icon\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"13\" height=\"17\" viewBox=\"0 0 13 17\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M6.5 0L0 6.5 1.4 8l4-4v12.7h2V4l4.3 4L13 6.4z\"><\/path><\/svg> Contents<\/a>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:75%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:41.333%\"><div class=\"document-meta-acf-block clearfix \" id=\"block_acf-block-69419027b9747\"><div class=\" dcc-documents-meta\"><div class=\"dcc-documents-widget dcc-documents-widget-block\"><div class=\"dcc-documents-widget-box2\"><p class=\"dcc-documents-published\"><span>Published<\/span> <time datetime=\"2022-04-12T17:40:35+00:00\">12\/04\/2022 5:40pm<\/time><\/p><p class=\"dcc-documents-updated\"><span>Last Updated<\/span> <time datetime=\"2025-12-16T17:00:27+00:00\">16\/12\/2025 5:00pm<\/time><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:58.666%\"><div class=\"document-download-acf-block clearfix \" id=\"block_acf-block-69419027b97bf\">\r\n\r\n\t\t<div class=\" dcc-documents-downloads hide-for-print\"><div class=\"dcc-documents-widget dcc-documents-widget-block\"><div class=\"dcc-documents-widget-box2\"><div class=\"content-container\"><div class=\"content-column download-copy\"><h2 class=\"dcc-documents-title\">Document resources<\/strong><\/h2><p class=\"dcc-documents-intro\">These files may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"content-column download-button\"><ul class=\"dcc-documents-widget-dropdown dcc-documents-widget-menu\"><li class=\"dcc-documents-widget-is-dropdown\"><button class=\"button secondary dcc-documents-widget-noarrow dcc-documents-widget-button dcc-documents-widget-download-button\" >Download<\/button><ul id=\"\" class=\"dcc-documents-widget-vertical dcc-documents-widget-menu dcc-documents-widget-is-submenu\" data-disable-hover=\"true\" data-click-open=\"true\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/devoncc.sharepoint.com\/:b:\/s\/PublicDocs\/Education\/ER8YPWTCl39AmM5o-lBLX9kBjMJtzovjeSog0MqvqBwYkA?e=V2eNKJ\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"dcc-documents-widget-text\"><span>No. 31 Elective Home Education (EHE) (Document)<\/span><\/span><span class=\"dcc-documents-widget-size\">203KB<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-is-elective-home-education\">What is Elective Home Education?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Elective Home Education (EHE) is when parents choose to educate their child at home instead of sending them to school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is <strong>different from home tuition or alternative provision arranged by the Local Authority<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Parents may use private tutors, but this is <strong>not a legal requirement<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Learning can take place in various locations and does <strong>not need to follow school hours<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-law-relating-to-elective-home-education\">The Law <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Under <strong>Section 7 of the Education Act 1996<\/strong>, parents have the right to educate their child at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Parents do <strong>not need to register with or seek approval from the Local Authority<\/strong>, except if the child attends a <strong>special school<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Parents must give <strong>written notice to the school<\/strong> so the child can be removed from the school roll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Permission is only required from one parent<\/strong>. Either parent named on the birth certificate can decide to home educate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If parents disagree, the matter must be resolved in <strong>family court<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"local-authorities-responsibilities\">Local Authorities\u2019 responsibilities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The LA has <strong>no routine duty to monitor home education<\/strong>, but must act if it appears the child is <strong>not receiving a suitable education<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The LA cannot <strong>enter homes or insist on seeing the child<\/strong> unless safeguarding concerns exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All new EHE families are offered an <strong>EHE Adviser<\/strong> for advice and support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Home visits<\/strong> may be offered based on need; parents can refuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Contact ranges from <strong>6 weeks for children causing concern<\/strong> to <strong>annual checks for children with significant SEND<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Where there are no concerns, contact is usually by <strong>phone, email, or parent report<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"safeguarding\">Safeguarding<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Schools must share <strong>any safeguarding concerns<\/strong> with the <strong>Front Door <\/strong>and the EHE Service <strong>before removing the child from roll<\/strong> if the child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"schools-responsibilities\">Schools responsibilities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before removing a pupil from roll:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Speak to the child (age-appropriate) about their feelings and concerns.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Complete the <strong>EHE Safeguarding Pupil Form<\/strong> and send to the EHE Service.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Send a copy of the parent\u2019s letter\/email requesting EHE to the EHE Service.<br>If safeguarding concerns exist:<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Complete a <strong>Front Door Request for Support Form<\/strong> and send a copy to the EHE Service.<br>Offer a <strong>School Exit Meeting<\/strong> to discuss responsibilities and ensure EHE is the right decision for the child.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"useful-links-contacts-and-resources\">Useful links, contacts and resources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Professional Lead for Elective Home Education<\/strong><br>\ud83d\udce7 <a href=\"mailto:emma.hitchins@devon.gov.uk\">emma.hitchins@devon.gov.uk<\/a> | 01392 287255<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>EHE Admin Support<\/strong><br>\ud83d\udce7 <a href=\"mailto:educate.educationelectivehomeeducation-mailbox@devon.gov.uk\">educate.educationelectivehomeeducation-mailbox@devon.gov.uk<\/a>| 01392 287230 For forms and further guidance: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/safeguarding\/elective-home-education\/\">Elective home education &#8211; Support for schools and settings<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is Elective Home Education? Elective Home Education (EHE) is when parents choose to educate their child at home instead of sending them to school. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2436,"featured_media":0,"parent":5639,"menu_order":30,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"longdocument-template.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-5845","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"updated":"","dccdocs_documents":[{"title":"No. 31 Elective Home Education (EHE)","file":"https:\/\/devoncc.sharepoint.com\/:b:\/s\/PublicDocs\/Education\/IQASfLEaM3kZRrDV_KhzJBRcAVRFwhxIR2UWY26a2Ulm8Lo?e=MrIKRY","file_size":"","unit_type":"KB","file_type":"Document"}],"section-guidance":"","sections":null},"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-04 18:41:21","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5845","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2436"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5845"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5845\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34987,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5845\/revisions\/34987"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5639"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5845"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}