Every child must have an efficient
full-time education suitable to his or her age, ability, aptitude
and to any special educational needs he or she may have. (Education
Act 1996). However, Parents / Carers can choose to educate their
child / children at home.
Under Section 7 of the Education Act 1996, it is a parent’s
duty:
"to cause (the child) to receive efficient full-time
education suitable to his (or her) age, ability and aptitude and to
any special educational needs he (or she) may have either by
regular attendance at school or otherwise."
It is up to parents to show the Local Education Authority (LEA)
that the programme of work is helping each child to develop
according to his / her age, ability and aptitude and any special
educational needs he / she have are being met.
Most children receive their full-time education in state or
private schools but a small number of parents prefer to educate
their children at home. In these cases, it is the LEA where the
child lives duty to monitor the effectiveness of the education
received at home. Home educators undertake a considerable
commitment and need to consider all of the implications (time,
energy, cost, some isolation, problems with examinations etc) and
discuss them with their child. The decision and the responsibility
to educate at home rests with parents.
The 1996 Education Act makes it clear that parents must ensure
that their children are educated during their statutory school
years. This may be in a state or private school or at home.
If a school age child is not registered at a school, it is
parent’s duty to ensure that child receives efficient, full-time
education suitable to his or her age, ability and aptitude.
The home LEA has a statutory duty to ensure that children who
are educated at home are educated according to the law and that
parents undertake the task appropriately as described above. The
LEA will need evidence that the provision is appropriate. If the
LEA thinks that you are merely encouraging absence from school and
not providing home education, the LEA may consider bringing a
prosecution for truancy. If your child is registered at a school
he/she must attend regularly and punctually.
The length of time when children are being taught at home is not
specified but full-time education in school means that children
spend between 23 and 25 hours on work each week, plus homework,
according to age. Children attending state schools attend for 38
weeks a year.
Download Frequently Asked Questions
here (61.7kb)
Click on the links below for more information on educating your
child at home
DfES: Parents and Home education
Parents centre
Help for parents of SEN children