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Home education means providing your child’s learning outside of a mainstream or special school setting.
Parents may choose to home educate for personal, philosophical or practical reasons, or because school has become unsuitable for their child’s needs.
In England, it is legal to educate your child at home as long as the education is full-time, efficient and suitable to their age, ability and aptitude.
Elective Home Education (EHE) is when a parent chooses to take full responsibility for their child’s education.
You do not need permission to start, but you must formally deregister your child from school in writing.
Under EHE:
EHE can be flexible, creative and personalised, but it is not funded or overseen by the state.
EOTAS (Education Otherwise Than At School) is not elective — it is arranged and funded by the local authority when a child cannot attend any school because of their special educational needs or health condition.
EOTAS is written into the child’s Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and must specify:
EOTAS is a statutory duty, meaning the local authority must deliver what is listed in Section F of the EHCP.
Feature | Elective Home Education (EHE) | Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS) |
Who decides | Parent | Local authority |
Who funds it | Parent | Local authority |
Legal basis | Parental right to home educate | Section 61, Children and Families Act 2014 |
EHCP required | Not required | Required |
Inspection or monitoring | Informal checks by LA | Legally monitored and reviewed |
Purpose | Chosen approach | Alternative where school is unsuitable |
Local authorities must ensure that:
They should also provide clear written policies on EHE and EOTAS and offer points of contact for parents.
For home education to be considered suitable, it should:
include opportunities for social interaction and physical activity
You may wish to keep a written record of your plan, learning evidence, and progress reviews.
Many families use tutors, therapists or learning mentors to support home education or EOTAS provision.
They can provide:
When hiring professionals, check:
