Elective Home Education (EHE)

What must I do before I start home education?

It is important to talk with your child’s school about why you are thinking about home education, particularly if there are issues that can be resolved to make you child’s school experience better.
If after speaking with the school, you choose to home educate your child, you should inform the Headteacher of your decision in writing – either by letter or email. When doing this, you should clearly state:
• Your child’s name and date of birth
• Your intention to home educate
• The date from which you intend to home educate.
Schools can only remove a child from their roll when this information has been received.

A template you can use is here:

When the school receives formal written notice from you that you are withdrawing your child to home educate them, the school will apply a 14 day ‘cooling off’ period, enabling you to return your child to the school if you change your mind within this timeframe. Once a child is removed from the school roll, the duty of providing education for your child falls to you.
If you start home educating your child without informing the school, your child will remain on the school’s roll. This could result in legal action being taken against you by the Local Authority for your child’s absence from school.
Schools have a legal responsibility to protection children from harm (safeguard) and will pass on any concerns they have about a child being at home for their education.

What you need to know

EHE requires parents/carers to take full responsibility for their child’s education, including all associated costs.
A child’s social skills, confidence and self-esteem may be adversely affected by working at home on their own.
You will need to plan and create all resources and lesson materials.
Schools are not required to provide any support to parents/carer who have withdrawn their child for EHE. Support provided by Local Authorities (LA) is discretionary, including support for a child’s special educational needs. Any SEND concerns or EHCP applications will need to be processed by you.
If you wish for your child to be entered for a public exam, such as a GCSE, it is your responsibility to approach local exam centres who accept private candidates to arrange this and you will need to cover the exam entry costs.
You will be responsible for completing and submitting all post-16 and college applications.
Once a child is educated at home, your Local Authority will begin making enquiries as to how suitable the education being provided is. Failure to satisfy the enquiry may result in you being issued with a School Attendance Order and/or the court may make an Education Supervision Order.

Returning to school

The majority of elective home education decisions result in parents/carers wanting their child to return to school. You should be aware that your school will not keep your child’s place open for them and if you wish your child to return to school, you will need to complete an in-year admission application. You should be aware it is likely your child will not be able to return to the same school due to the high demand for school places.

Relevant guidance for parents/carers

DfE Elective Home Education guidance: Elective home education: guide for parents
Devon Council Elective Home Education guidance: DCC Elective Home Education
Elective Home Education - Devon Information Advice and Support 
Somerset Council Elective Home Education guidance: SCC Elective home education