What you need to consider when deciding to homeschool your child.

Parents have the right to educate their child at home, including those with an EHCP, providing the learning meets the criteria as set out in Section 7 of the Education Act 1996, which states:

“The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause them to receive efficient full-time education suitable-

  1. to their age, ability, aptitude, and
  2. to any special educational needs, they may have, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.”

If a parent/carer wishes to home educate their child, the following steps must be considered:

  • If the child has an EHCP and is currently in a mainstream school, an annual review must be held, unless it has taken place recently then a meeting should be held with the EHE Officer and SEND officer.
     
  • If the child attends a school specific for those with SEN, agreement to home educate must be given by SENSTART team.
     
  • The placement on the EHCP needs to be updated from a school base to EHE.
     
  • The EHE team work closely with the named SEND caseworker for those with an EHCP.
     
  • The Local Authority will continue to review the plan annually to ensure that the child’s needs are being met. The EHE Officer is likely to attend these meetings.
     
  • The Local Authority will provide advice and support to help parents understand how to meet their child’s needs at home.

When a child has an EHCP, it is the Local Authorities duty to ensure that the educational provision specified in the plan is made available to the child.

When a parent/carer chooses to home educate, the responsibility for that provision sits solely with parents to provide it. It is important to understand there is no financial support for children who are home educated.

To find out more and view  Elective Home Education (EHE) guide for Parents/Carers visit Electing to Home Educate - City Of Wolverhampton Council.

View Resources to support at home for parents and carers.

For further help about making this decision you can contact Wolverhampton Information, Advice and Support Service.