Guidance for Parents and Carers in Redbridge
Introduction
This information has been prepared to assist families in The London Borough of Redbridge in coming to a decision about Elective Home Education.
It aims to set out the legal position on Elective Home Education and the duties, roles and responsibilities of families and the Local Authority. It will also explain some of the processes involved and highlight areas of support available.
Please also refer to the Department of Education Elective Home Education Guidance for parents published in April 2019 :
EHE Team June 2019
What is Elective Home Education?
Elective Home Education (EHE) is education provided other than at school, usually by families teaching their child/ren at home. You do not need to be a teacher or have any formal qualifications to be a home educator.
The London Borough of Redbridge accepts the rights of families to home educate their children and believes in developing positive relationships and mutual respect between parties, but in order that the right of every child to receive an effective education is ensured, the London Borough of Redbridge expects families to understand the necessity to work in partnership and allow for communication on a regular basis.
The Local Authority has monitoring and welfare responsibilities under legislation, therefore we are sure you will understand that it will be necessary, as part of our duty, to meet with you and your child/ren at least once a year.
As responsible parents, we are sure that you will enable the London Borough of Redbridge, to carry out its responsibilities effectively to maintain the best interests of your child, particularly in relation to our statutory safeguarding responsibilities.
What is the role of the Local Authority?
The London Borough of Redbridge has a duty* to ensure that all children are being suitably educated and have access to the universal services to which they are entitled and MUST act if it appears that any child is not being suitably educated.
[*This is the statutory duty under s.436A of the Education Act 1996 to make arrangements to enable it to establish the identities, so far as it is possible to do so, of children in its area who are not receiving a suitable education.]
So that the London Borough of Redbridge can meet these responsibilities, it discharges this duty by ensuring that all children in Redbridge are offered a school place. The London Borough of Redbridge also makes enquiries of all home educating parents, asking them to give information to show that they are meeting their responsibilities.
In order that the London Borough of Redbridge can fulfil its duty, we expect you to complete our online registration form and provide us with information about your home education programme. Once we have these details, we will write to you to arrange a visit with our Home Education Support Officer who will offer to meet with you and your child at a venue of your choice.
All children being Electively Home Educated in the London Borough of Redbridge are offered contact with our Home Education Support Officer, who is an experienced teacher. They can offer you a range of strategies and advice to support the educational provision you are making. However, the Home Education Support Officer will not provide a programme of work or resources; neither will they offer any teaching.
Continuity of contact should help to develop a positive and supportive relationship with the Home Education Support Officer and feel assured that they have an understanding of the needs of your child and what you are both working to achieve. We therefore think it is important that the Home Education Support Officer has an opportunity to meet with both you and your child.
The allocated time from your Home Education Support Officer can be used in any of the following ways:
- Discussion about your child’s programme of study
- Resolving difficulties within a curriculum area – assisting you or arranging to contact someone with specialist knowledge
We are aware that when children produce work they are particularly proud of, they may wish to share their success with others. Our Home Education Support Officer will make themselves available to celebrate this work in some way. Your Home Education Support Officer’s time allocation will include, in consultation with you, a monitoring report that will comment on the breadth of the provision, highlight particular strengths and explore any areas which may need further development.
It is the duty of parents and carers to ensure that the education provided is efficient and full time. The Home Education Support Officer will provide parents and carers with the opportunity to show evidence of their child’s home learning experience and continuing educational progress. Once the local authority is satisfied that your child is receiving a suitable education, contact will be made to discuss the current EHE provision in place on an annual basis by the Home Education Support Officer.
What does the Law say about educating my child at home?
The responsibility for a child's education rests with their parents. The Law allows for diversity in education and parents have a right to have their child(ren) educated in accordance with their own beliefs and values, but the education must be efficient and full-time and must be suitable to the young person's age, ability, aptitude and any special needs.
Section 7 of the 1996 Education Act imposes a duty on parents or those responsible for the child, to secure education for their children of “compulsory school age” (5 to 16 years).
‘The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him to receive efficient full-time education suitable;
- to his age, ability and aptitude, and
- to any special educational needs he may have, either by regular attendance at school or ’
What is an “efficient and suitable education”?
An “efficient” and “suitable” education is not defined in the 1996 Act. An interpretation in case law of these words in the Education Act 1996, is that an ‘efficient’ education is one that ‘achieves what it sets out to achieve’, and a ‘suitable’ education, is one that prepares a child for life in modern society and enables them to make progress towards their potential.
Do I need to follow the National Curriculum or a formal timetable?
As home educators you are allowed to educate your children in the way you think most appropriate. You are not required to follow the National Curriculum nor do your children have to sit examinations. You do not have to have a timetable or set hours during which education will take place, nor do you have to employ a qualified tutor to deliver tuition, although, of course, you are welcome to do any, or all of these. You may, however, find that the National Curriculum is a useful basis around which to plan your child’s programme of study. Copies of the National Curriculum are available from the Department for Education (DfE).
When deciding how much time to devote to your child’s education you may find it useful to note that the DfE recommends the following weekly teaching hours:
There is no legal definition of “full-time” in terms of education at home, or at school. Children attending school normally have about five hours tuition a day for 190 days a year, spread over about 38 weeks. However, home education does not have to mirror this.
You may also wish to consider how the education you provide will help your child to develop:
- Communication skills
- Observation and awareness skills
- Problem solving and thinking skills
- Creative and imaginative skills
- Literacy and numerical skills
- Physical, personal and social skills
In today’s environment, children and young people also need to be given the tools to develop strengths, acquire skills to cope, recover from hardships, and be prepared for future challenges. They need to be resilient in order to succeed in life. We can learn to be more resilient by changing how we think about challenges and adversities.
Can my child still take exams?
Your child may wish to have the opportunity to take formal examinations. If they intend to undertake GCSE or IGCSE (International GCSE) examinations for example, this will affect the work which you plan to undertake together. Having identified the examination board and subject(s), you will need to obtain the syllabus of work to be followed for each course in sufficient time to be able to complete the programme of study. When contacting the examination boards, you should ask for the section dealing with ‘Private Candidates’. All this can be done successfully but it does take time. If you decide on this course of action, there are distance learning providers who may be able to assist you, but we would strongly recommend you check the total charges for using these providers.
How much does Elective Home Education cost?
Educational funding only applies to children who are registered at a school. When making a decision to provide education at home for your family you will need to recognise you will have to meet the full cost, including books and all other resources, exam and course fees.
Neither local authorities nor central government provide any financial assistance to home educators, so inevitably parents and carers will incur some expense. Although computers are by no means essential, they and Internet access are a very useful resource for both parents and young people. There are many sources of help and information available these days, especially via the Internet. Internet access and many other resources are available at libraries and community facilities throughout the borough.
If you can afford them, an extensive range of educational publications and study programmes can be bought from bookshops. Some suppliers and venues will offer discounts to home educators and there is a wide range of informative public broadcasting material and much can be learned from everyday experiences and projects that cost very little.
Families are strongly encouraged to plan ahead and think carefully about the associated costs of home education, as material resources, employment of a tutor and examination entries can be expensive.
What if my child has a learning difficulty or a disability?
Parents have the same rights to home educate a child with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC Plan) but an EHC Plan is a legal document imposing certain duties upon the Local Authority and must remain in force. There will need to be close consultation between parents and the Local Authority to ensure that the needs identified in the EHC Plan are being met.
Where a child/young person has an EHC Plan and it is agreed by both the Local Authority and the parents that home education is the appropriate provision, the EHC Plan will make it clear that the child/young person will be educated at home. The Local Authority will then arrange the special educational provision set out in the EHC Plan.
In cases where a school has been identified in the EHC Plan as being where the child/young person will be educated, the Local Authority will not be under a duty to make the special educational provision outlined in the EHC Plan if the parents decide to provide home education studies. However, the Local Authority will need to satisfy itself that the parents’ arrangements are suitable. If the Local Authority is satisfied that the parents’ arrangements are suitable, then the EHC Plan will be amended to name the type of school the Local Authority considers suitable but will also state that the parents have made their own arrangements under Section 7 of the Education Act 1996.
The Local Authority retains a duty to ensure the child's needs are met, to maintain the EHC plan and to review it annually, following the procedures set out in the SEN and Disability Code of Practice 2015.
There is no requirement for parents to seek the Local Authority’s consent to educate at home where the child is in a mainstream school. A letter needs to be sent to the school notifying them of the parents’ intention to home educate. Given its statutory responsibility of ensuring the suitability of the parents’ arrangement, the Local Authority will expect the school to bring this to its attention. This will enable the local authority to work with the parents to determine suitability and also agree on review arrangements.
However, where the child or young person is in a Special School, then the permission of the local authority must be obtained before his or her name can be removed from the admission register.
Should I choose to Electively Home Educate if my choice of school is unavailable?
No. The London Borough of Redbridge understands that parents can sometimes be disappointed when their preferred choice of school is not available, but choosing to home educate is not a short term solution to this problem.
Parents often underestimate the length of time it may take to be offered their school of choice, and in the meantime, their child/ren will be missing out on vital education.
The London Borough of Redbridge wish to make it clear, that the decision to home educate is a complex one and requires full consideration and long term commitment.
How would I begin to Electively Home Educate a child who is below compulsory school age or who has never been registered at a school?
If your child has never been registered at a school then you are not legally required to inform the Local Authority but, the London Borough of Redbridge asks that you let the Elective Home Education team know of your intentions. Email: ehe@redbridge.gov.uk
How would I begin to Electively Home Educate a child who is a pupil at a school?
If your child is registered at a school you should write to the school's Head teacher, saying that you are now educating your child at home, and you wish your child's name to be removed from the school roll. The Head teacher must then remove the child's name from the school roll. They must also inform Children's Services that the child has been de- registered. It is important that you complete the de-registration process for your child, otherwise the child will still be expected to attend school regularly and you are at risk of prosecution if they do not.
It is worth recognising that home education is not suitable for every young person or every family or for all of the time. If at any time you conclude that your child's best interests would be served by going to school, the London Borough of Redbridge will be happy to help you find a suitable place.
Think long and hard about Elective Home Education. It is both rewarding and a great responsibility that will demand a considerable commitment of your time and energy. Only you and your family can make this important decision but please do talk to other families with experience of home education. There are contact details of support group and organisations on our Elective Home Education page.
How can I show evidence of a ‘suitable’ education?
We also want to give you the opportunity to present evidence of the systematic learning experience which your child is receiving and to demonstrate your child’s continuing educational progress. Examples of this may be presented in whatever form you find most convenient - the choice is yours. You can decide how best to show evidence of your child’s education. You could do this in a number of ways and the list below is not exhaustive.
You may for example:
- Meet the Home Education Support Officer, to discuss work and
- Write a report, provide examples of dated work or use a log to record
- Have the work endorsed by a recognised third
- Provide evidence in any other form
What if it appears to the London Borough of Redbridge that a ‘suitable’ education is not being provided?
As stated previously, the London Borough of Redbridge wishes to work in partnership with parents. However, if there are concerns about the education a child is receiving, and these concerns cannot be addressed informally, then:
The Local Authority, under section 437(1) of the Education Act 1996 will inform the parent in writing of these concerns by serving a section 437(1) notice on the parent, requiring them to satisfy the Local Authority within the period specified in the notice (not less than 15 days on the day the notice is served) that the child is receiving such education.
Once a parent receives such a notice, they will then have the opportunity to adapt the education being provided, so that it meets the necessary requirements and satisfies the Local Authority that the education provided is ‘efficient and suitable’.
A further arrangement is then made to review the work that the child is doing. If it appears to the Local Authority that the education being provided is ‘efficient and suitable’, then no further steps are taken. Elective Home Education can continue.
However, if it appears that an ‘efficient and suitable’ education is still not being provided, the Local Authority has a legal obligation to serve on the parents a School Attendance Order. This requires parents to register their child at school. Failure to comply with a School Attendance Order could result in a prosecution.
At any stage during this process, parents may present evidence that they are now providing an ‘efficient and suitable’ education and have the School Attendance Order revoked. If the Local Authority refuses to revoke the School Attendance Order, parents can choose to refer the matter to the Secretary of State. If the Local Authority prosecutes the parents for not complying with the School Attendance Order, it will be for a court to decide whether or not the education being provided is ‘suitable and efficient’. The court can revoke the School Attendance Order if it is satisfied that the parent is fulfilling his or her duty.
Child Welfare
Under Section 175(1) of the Education Act 2002 and Section 11 of the 2004 Children Act, Local Authorities have a duty to promote and safeguard the welfare of all young people.
It is a sad and disturbing fact that a small number of people in our society abuse children and young people. It is also unfortunately true that some of those people will get access to the young people they abuse through their employment and they are very expert at concealing their intentions and their acts. All adults who work with children and young people should now have checks made about them with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) before they can be employed.
Although this gives no absolute guarantees, it does provide an additional safeguard that the people who are entrusted with the welfare and safety of children and young people do not present any known risk to them. Parents are responsible for the safety of their children at all times, and while not wishing to raise undue alarm, it is recommended that anyone who you engage to help in your child/ren’s education, who has not been subject to a recent check, should undergo one as soon as possible.
Whilst education law is primarily written in terms of the rights of parents and carers, the 2004 Children Act is clear in its expectation that children and young people will be involved in decisions about themselves, and that age appropriate weight will be given to their views. Where children and young people are of sufficient age and understanding, it is important that they should have given informed consent to decisions affecting their health, education and welfare.
Employment Law – Young people
For information concerning youth employment, the links below provide comprehensive advice and guidance.
Anti-social behaviour and links with other agencies
If it becomes apparent from other agencies, for example, Police, Youth Offending Service or any substantiated report by members of the local community, that a home educated pupil is participating in anti-social activities during the normal school day, then the London Borough of Redbridge will act and contact parents in order to review their child’s educational progress.
Investigations into anti-social activities carried out by Community Protection could carry a hefty fine.
If my child is not at school, how can I ensure that they are fully protected against diseases and receive regular immunisations?
Advice and support regarding immunisations is available through your local GP.
Currently, scheduled immunisations are given in school Years 8 and 9, height and weight screening is undertaken in Reception and Year 6 and new entrant screening (Height, weight, vision and hearing) is undertaken in Reception or Year 1 depending on the age of the child. If you have a concern regarding your child’s height, weight, or hearing, you can access advice via your GP and/or arrange a vision test with a local optician.
What do I do if I want my child to return to school?
Quite often, children, young people and/or their parents find that home education is not for them. It is a great responsibility and involves a considerable commitment of time and energy. If you do decide that you wish your child to return to school please contact admissions@redbridge.gov.uk and we will provide you with assistance to get your child back in school.
It is also possible for children aged 14-16 who are educated at home for most of the time to attend state-funded FE colleges or sixth form colleges on a part-time basis, to receive tuition in specific subjects. If you are interested in this you should ask the college concerned if it has any such arrangements. Again, however, the college is under no obligation to make such provision.
What if I am unhappy with any aspect of the Elective Home Education Service?
If you are unhappy with any aspect of the Elective Home Education Service, please let us know as soon as possible by emailing us at ehe@redbridge.gov.uk.
You can also write to us at:
The Children Services Complaint Team
Lynton House
255 – 259 High Road
Ilford
1G1 1NY
Confidentiality and Data Protection
The London Borough of Redbridge fully adheres to the Data Protection Act and the Human Rights Act and respects your right to confidentiality. The London Borough of Redbridge is registered as a data controller on the Data Protection Register. Our registration no is Z546078X.
Information provided by you to the Council will only be used for the specific purpose of providing you with help, advice and services in relation to Elective Home Education. It will not be shared or processed for any other unrelated purpose without your express prior consent. Information can only be shared without your consent in exceptional circumstances and where there are statutory grounds to do so, for example to safeguard a child at risk or to detect or prevent crime.
