Elective Home Education

Welcome to our on-line information and support service for families who are considering or are already home educating their children.

The Education Act 1996 clearly states that the responsibility for a child’s education rests with their parents. Therefore, parents have the duty to ensure that their children receive “efficient full-time education suitable to their age, ability and aptitude and to any special educational needs they may have either by regular attendance at school or otherwise”.

Our aim at Westminster City Council is to engage in a constructive and positive manner with home educators, building a relationship that is rooted in mutual understanding. We therefore fully recognise and respect:

• The decision of parents to educate their child in accordance with their philosophical, ideological or religious views.
  
  
• The rights of the child to a suitable and efficient education.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

The document ‘Elective Home Education – Guidance for Parent’ provides useful information on what you need to know and do in home educating your child. A few common questions and answers are provided below.

Must I inform the Local Authority I am home educating my child?

If your child is registered in a school, you will have to inform the head teacher in writing that you are de-registering from the school roll to home educate (sample de-registration letter). The school will then inform us. If however your child is registered at a special school, you will have to write to us for a permission to de-register your child in order to home educate.

If your child is of statutory school age but is not registered at a school, then you do not have a duty to inform the local authority if you are home educating him or her. However, we encourage all parents to endeavour to inform us so we can provide information and advice when needed.

Are grants available from the Local Authority for EHE?

No funding is available from the local authority to support home education other than free resources which are provided in libraries.  If your child has to do GCSE, the cost of registering him/her as a private candidate will be borne by the parent.

What if my child has special educational needs?

You have to decide if you want the local authority to be involved in supporting your special needs child or not. Should you want this to happen, please contact the Special Educational & Additional Needs team on 020 7641 5347.

What should my child learn?

It is the parent’s responsibility to determine what and how their child is taught.

Do I have to follow the National Curriculum?

No. However you may find the National Curriculum beneficial especially if in the future you decide to return your child to school or if he/she needs to take a formal qualification.

Where can I get advice about careers and qualifications?

A full range of information and guidance on careers and qualifications is available from the Department of Education

What is the local authority’s duty to my home educated child?

Under the Education Act 1996, the local authority will intervene if it seems parents are not providing a suitable education to their child. ‘Suitable’ education is defined by law as education that equips a child for life in the community of which he is a member but which also allows him some other form of life if he so chooses later in life.