Elective home education

Elective Home Education (EHE) is where a parent1 chooses to provide their child’s education outside the school system, in line with section 7 of the Education Act 1996. This means that the parent is entirely responsible for the approach, structure, content and cost of all education provision; and have a duty to ensure that they are providing an efficient, full-time and suitable education, having regard to age, ability, aptitude and any relevant special educational needs.

EHE is not home tuition provided by the Local Authority or where the Local Authority provides education otherwise than at a school.

It is up to you, to provide your child with a full time education. You will have to cover the costs for this, including finding and buying resources, private tutors and future exam costs.

Parents must ensure that the child gets a full time, suitable education. This needs a great deal of personal and financial commitment.

Parents are advised to discuss EHE before taking their child out of school. Children who have an EHCP can also be educated at home. If your child attends a special school, you need the permission of the local council before removing them from the school roll.

If you withdraw your child from school to home educate, there is no guarantee will get a place back at the same school, if you decide you no longer wish to home educate.

If your child gets free school meals, they will no longer have access to this service.

The Education Welfare Service is able to support parents considering home education, offering advice and guidance as appropriate.

If a parent chooses to educate their child at home from the start of compulsory education, or at any stage during their education, they should inform the local council. They can register by using the form in the EHE guide for Parents.

If the child is currently on roll at a school, the parent must formally withdraw their child from their school place. This is done by putting this in writing to the head teacher. The school must send this letter to the Education Welfare Service.

Please note: Parents are encouraged to make an informed decision before choosing EHE.

If you decide to educate your child at home, please complete the form in our EHE guide for parents.

This can be sent to the Education Welfare Service at ehe@wakefield.gov.uk

You can also find an accessible version of the EHE guide for parents here.

Home educators are not legally required to follow the national curriculum. However we recommend that they are aware of its contents. This is available online at https://www.gov.uk/national-curriculum