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Home educating your child with SEND

Instead of sending your child to school, you can choose to educate your child at home. This is known as elective home education (EHE).

There's information on Hertfordshire's Educating your child at home page to help you decide whether home educating is right for you and your child, and what steps you need to take if you decide to home educate.

Home educating without an EHCP

Letting your school know

If you decide to home educate, you should inform the headteacher in writing with the date that you would like your child removed from roll for home education. They will inform the council and then the EHE team will contact you to make enquiries about the education you are providing.

Providing home education

The education you provide must be full time and suitable to any special educational needs your child may have. You will be financially responsible for the education of your child and will not receive any funding from the local authority. This includes for example, exam arrangements, tutors or workbooks. It's important you consider the full cost and time implications of elective home education and whether this approach is appropriate for you and your family.

If you are home educating and wish to apply for an EHC needs assessment, you can make the application yourself and also seek support from SENDIASS.

Home educating with an EHCP

Letting your school know

Mainstream school

If you decide to home educate, you should inform the headteacher in writing with the date that you would like your child removed from roll for home education. They will inform the council and then the EHE team will contact you to make enquiries about the education you are providing.

Special school

The headteacher has to get permission from the local authority to de-register your child. If you wish to home educate, you should put your request for EHE in writing to the headteacher and your EHC Coordinator. They will inform the EHE team who will make enquiries about the education that you would provide. If the local authority considers that the home education to be provided would meet your child’s special educational needs and gives their consent, your child’s name will be deleted from the school’s admissions register. Until consent is given, your child's name will remain on the school roll and your child must continue to attend school.

Providing home education

Once your child is recorded as EHE and the provision is considered full time and suitable to your child’s needs, their EHCP will be amended to reflect your decision to home educate. EHE means you take full responsibility for your child’s education including financial and if we are satisfied that the arrangements you are making are suitable, we (the council) are under no duty to provide the special educational provision set out in the plan.

If you change your mind about home educating

Without an EHCP

If you remove your child from school to home educate but decide that you'd like them to go back to school at a later date, you will need to make an In Year application whilst you continue to home educate. We (the council) will consider your school preferences and if a space is available, will offer it to you.

If you inform us that you are no longer home educating, we will refer your child to the Children Missing Education (CME) Officer and then we must find your child a school place. However, you will not be guaranteed a place at your local or preferred school.

With an EHCP

If you remove your child from school to home educate but decide that you'd like them to go back to school at a later date, you will need to contact the EHC Coordinator. They will work with you to find appropriate provision for your child to name in Section I whilst you continue to home educate.

If you inform us that you are no longer home educating, we will refer your child to the Children Missing Education (CME) Officer and the EHC Coordinator will work with you to find appropriate provision for your child to name in Section I.

Contact the Elective Home Education Team

If you have any further questions you can contact us to speak to a member of Elective Home Education:

Call: 0300 123 4043 

Contact us using our form

Support and advice for home educating

Our EHE Officers aim to build positive relationships with home educating parents. They can offer advice and guidance to help you to provide a suitable education for your child. They can signpost you to a variety of resources and offer educational ideas that you could explore.

Opportunties for home educated young people aged 12 - 16 (Services for Young People)

Services for Young People (SfYP) provides advice, support and personal development opportunities for young people aged 12 -19 (up to 25 with learning difficulties or disabilities). Their Raising Aspirations Project is for young people aged 12 - 16 who are home educated or not in formal education. It focuses on building interpersonal and teamwork skills, confidence and resilience. Through interactive workshops and activities, young people can explore topics such as managing their mental and physical wellbeing and setting goals for the future.

Support for home educated young people from SfYP

There are also independent organisations who can help with support and advice:

Home Education Advisory Service

Education Otherwise

Gov.uk on home educating

You can read detailed guidance on home educating.

Herts SENDIASS

IPSEA

Trusted legal information about home education from IPSEA.

Ed Yourself

Delivering Special Provision Locally (DSPL)

There are 9 DSPL areas in Hertfordshire. They support families and schools across Hertfordshire with SEND provision and support for children and young people. Contact your DSPL to see how they can support you with home education.

 

Page was last updated on: 02/06/2025 12:20:39

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