The Elective Home Education officers working within the Inclusion Service will become involved when:
• Parent/carer removes child/young person from a school roll to educate at home.
• If school informs that a parent/carer is considering home education.
• If parent/carer informs the LA that they are considering home education.
If school are aware that a parent/carer is considering elective home education, it is the agreed local protocol that the school would contact the Inclusion team without delay. After notification, an EHE/Inclusion Officer will contact the parent/carer to discuss why they are considering elective home education. The officer may, if necessary, facilitate a meeting with the school and parent/carers to explore any matters to seek reasonable solutions and to maintain the child/young person on the school roll. The officer will also talk parents through the legal rights of a child/young person to have an education and the role of the local authority in ensuring this.
Once a parent/carer has submitted a written letter to the school to inform them of their intention to electively home educate, it is the parent/carer’s responsibility to meet the child/young person’s educational needs according to their age; aptitude and ability and any financial costs incurred in relation to this. The EHE officer will always seek to work alongside parents/carers in a supportive manner to achieve this former aim.
The head teacher at school is required to immediately inform Admissions of any child on their school roll whose parents have confirmed in writing their intention to electively home educate. The head teacher should formally write to the parents to encourage them to reconsider their decision to electively home educate. The head teacher should also encourage the parents to send their child to school for a period of 10 days whilst the Inclusion Service continues to engage with parents and school to explore the reasons why the right to home educate is being followed by parents. Again, this contact will determine if the reasons cited are those that can be resolved with the school so that the child can stay on roll. The child’s name will not be removed from the school roll until a period of 10 consecutive school days have expired after the written notification has been received. This will allow for parents to reconsider their decision or further options to be explored. Once this period has expired the school should formally notify the local authority that it has removed the child’s name from roll.
If a child/young person has an Education, Health and Care plan and attends a specialist provision the local authority follows a different route when parent/carers express that they would like to electively home educate their child. This application is made to the SEN Team and must be agreed at the Multi-agency Education, Health, and Care Panel so that the local authority is assured the parent/carer can meet the needs of their child as set out in their Education, Health, and Care plan.
The decision to enter Elective Home Education should not be taken lightly. When working alongside parent/carers, either directly through face-to-face visits or through information shared via post, the EHE officer will signpost and advise.
After each face-to-face visit, the EHE officer will produce a written report on their view as to whether the education is satisfactory – meets the needs, ability and aptitude of the child/young person and comment on the welfare of the child/young person.
If parents/carers choose to submit information via post, the EHE officer will evaluate the information provided in the same regard and produce a report.
If the EHE officer is not assured, then they have a process to ensure that every child/young person receives a suitable education that meets their needs, aptitude, and ability – up to and including issuing a school attendance order.
See below for team contact information
Angela Henderson Education Development Advisor - Inclusion angela.henderson@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk
Emily Bowey Exclusion/CME/EHE Officer Emily.bowey@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk
Victoria Ogden Exclusion/CME/EHE Officer Victoria.ogden@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk