Parents/carers have a right to educate their child at home. As a parent/carer you must ensure your child receives a full time education from the age of five.

If your child is of pre-school age then you do not need to do anything, although it will help us keep track of those who are being educated at home if you could write to the LEA stating that you intend educating your child at home from a particular date, giving their name, date of birth, address and telephone number.

Withdrawing your child from school

The first step
Once the decision has been made to go ahead with home education the first step is to withdraw your child from the school that he/she is attending. Many people like to start home education at the end of the school term, but if you are faced with a serious problem at school you may wish to start straight away. This is perfectly acceptable as long as you notify the school in writing immediately. If you do not inform the school your child's absences may be considered as truancy, and this is an offence for which the parent may be prosecuted.

The following points to consider

• Think long and hard about your decision to home educate, it is a major step which will commit you considerably as far as time and energy are concerned.
• Look at the cost involved - Books, resources and educational visits.
• Consider the social side of growing up, the need to provide opportunities for your child to be involved in social activities and contact with other children.
• Home education should not be seen as a solution to the problem of getting a reluctant child to school. An Attendance Officer would be very happy to help with this problem.

The facts about home education are:

1. You need to notify the school in writing if you are withdrawing your child from school
2. Your child is not obliged to follow the national curriculum or take national tests, but parents are required by law under "Section 7(1) of The Education Act 1996 to ensure their child receives a full time education suitable to their age, ability and aptitude".
3. You do not need to be a qualified teacher to educate your child at home.
4. Although home - educated child(ren) are not legally required to follow the National Curriculum it is considered good practice especially if the home - educated child has a sibling attending mainstream school.
5. When parents/carers elect to home-educate their child(ren) they assume financial responsibility for their child's education. There are no funds directly available from central government for parents who decide to educate their child(ren) at home.

The role of the LEA
Local education authorities (LEAs) will make informal enquiries of parents who are educating their children at home to establish that a suitable education is being provided.

Normally the education adviser will contact you once you have had a few weeks in which to make your arrangements and begin home education. The Adviser's remit is to check that you are providing an appropriate education.

Generally the meeting takes place in the family's home with the child(ren) present. Most parents do not have any objections to a home visit as it helps to place the education in context. If for any reason you would prefer not to meet at home you have the right to ask for an appointment at the education offices. A few parents choose to provide their information by sending a report instead of meeting the Adviser. This is perfectly legal but you should bear in mind that it may be difficult to present a full picture of your arrangements in this way.

If the education is deemed to be unsatisfactory then parents are given a set of action points and a timetable within which to make the necessary improvement. In the case of education remaining unsatisfactorily the matter is referred to the Education Attendance Service in order to allocate the child(ren) a school place.

If the education is satisfactory the aim is to visit the family at least every six months to offer advice.

For further information and advice contact:

Links
http://www.direct.gov.uk

Information and advice about educating at home:
www.parentscentre.gov.uk

Important Documents:

Elective Home Education - Latest Guidance (March 2009)
Form: Parents' statement of arrangements made for education of child
Supplementary Schools Directory (2008-09)
Information for Parents: Policy and Procedures for Children Educated at Home By Their Parents