Some parents educate their child or young person at home, this can be referred to as 'homeschooling' or 'elective home education'.
Parents who educate their children at home are expected to help them receive a suitable full-time education if they are of compulsory school age. For parents of neurodivergent children with complex needs, full-time education may be unrealistic due to extra healthcare appointments or their child's ability to participate in education.
Some children are educated at home because their parents have chosen this for them, other children learn at home because they cannot attend school due to a particular reason, such as ill health.
Elective Home Education (EHE) is when a parent does not send their child to school full-time, but assumes responsibility for making sure their child receives a full-time education other than at school. Some children are electively home-educated from age 5 and may never attend school, others may be removed from a school's roll for EHE.
Educating a child at home can work well when it is a positive choice and carried out with proper regard for the needs of your child. In many cases, elective home education can be appropriate and well-delivered, but it involves considerable commitment on behalf of you as a parent.
Parents should not be placed under pressure by schools to electively home-educate their children. This is a form of 'off-rolling' and is not acceptable. If you feel under pressure to keep your child at home and educate your child yourself rather than sending them back to school full-time, we recommend you discuss this with your local authority.
If your child is unable to attend school for any reason and you have not chosen to home-educate them, make it clear to the local authority (LA). They have a legal duty to secure suitable, full-time education for all children, whether they have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or not.
Education Otherwise Than at School
If your child is not able to access learning within an educational setting and you have not chosen to home-educate them, the LA must provide an alternative. They can arrange for your child to have their special educational provision delivered elsewhere and have it written into your child's EHCP. The LA would then be responsible for continuing to fund that provision. This is often called 'Education Otherwise Than At School' (EOTAS).
You may take your child out of school to home-educate them, you do not need the permission of the school or local authority to do so.
All parents, even those who home educate may make a request for an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA). It's an opportunity to identify all your child's special educational needs and work out what support they need.
Local Authorities (LA) should fund support for special educational needs of home-educated children where it is appropriate to do so, however, the LA does not have a legal duty to provide special educational provision.
The local authority no longer has a legal duty to secure any special educational provision in a child's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) if they are being home-educated. This is because the LA is likely to decide that as parents, you are making suitable alternative arrangements.
The LA should not stop an EHCP because a child is being home-educated and the LA must still review the plan annually to ensure that your child's special educational needs are being met.
If you wish to home-educate your child, rather than having the local authority secure special educational provisions, you do not need the school's permission. However, you should write to:
Let us know what you think!
We've been working together in Norfolk and Waveney with families and professionals to put together information, advice and resources that are helpful to families. Let us know what you think, and anything we could change or add to make it even better.
If you live in Norfolk
You can contact the Healthy Child Service team by calling Just One Number on 0300 300 0123 or texting Parentline on 07520 631590. Our opening hours are 8am-6pm Monday-Friday (excluding bank holidays) and 9am-1pm on Saturdays.
If you are 11-19 you can text ChatHealth on 07480 635060 for confidential advice from one of our team.
If you live in Waveney
Norfolk SEND Local Offer provide information and advice on services for young people with additional needs in Norfolk.
Suffolk SEND Local Offer provide information and advice on services for young people with additional needs in Waveney.
Mencap is a national charity who support people with learning disabilities. They offer a free Learning Disability Helpline with advice and guidance. Call 0808 808 1111 to speak to a trained professional.
Kooth offers online counselling, advice and emotional well-being support for anyone aged 10-18, seven days a week until 10pm.
Also in this section...
The Department of Education 'Education Hub Blog' provides information about homeschooling
Norfolk & Waveney Museums
Norfolk County Council publishes a newsletter for parents who are home-educating with upcoming dates of events and activities. 
It's important to decide which examinations your young person wishes to take based on their future aspirations. It can be helpful to speak to your young person and consider:
