Welcome To Wirral

Educating Your Child At Home

Can I educate my child at home?

Section 7 of the 1996 Education Act says that, "The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him/her to receive efficient full-time education suitable to his/her age, ability and aptitude and to any special educational needs which he/she may have, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise." "Or otherwise" generally means at home.

Whom do I have to tell that I want to educate my child at home?

If your child is in school, you have to tell the Headteacher in writing that you are withdrawing him or her from school and that you are going to educate him or her at home. The Headteacher will then take your child's name off roll and will inform the Authority. If your child has never attended school, you are asked to inform the Director of Children's Services directly.

What is "efficient education"?

There is no absolute definition of an "efficient education", but a school must provide a curriculum which:

• promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of children, and
• prepares children for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life.

For pupils attending authority schools, the Authority has a policy which states that every child should be educated in accordance with the National Curriculum and in the case of religious education in accordance with the locally endorsed agreed syllabus. These directions ensure that children's education is broad and balanced. At primary level, every child should be taught English, Mathematics, Science, Information and Communications Technology, Design Technology, History, Geography, Physical Education, Art and Music. At secondary level, that is at the age of 11, a modern foreign language should be added. Religious education is provided throughout a child's education, unless parents choose that it should not be taught to their child. A child's education should also cover personal and social education, including health and sex education, environmental education, economic and industrial understanding, careers education, education for citizenship, multi-cultural education and equal opportunities issues.

Is there a guide to this curriculum policy?

Documents on the National Curriculum, including the National Strategies for Literacy and Numeracy, are available from HMSO bookshops. The Agreed Syllabus of Religious Education in Wirral is available from the Children & Young People's Department, Hamilton Building, Conway Street, Birkenhead, CH41 4FD.

How are children assessed?

When in schools children are assessed in accordance with national requirements at the ages of 5, 7, 11, 14 and 16. The assessments are partly carried out by teachers and partly by Standard Attainment Tests or Tasks. Together, they provide a guide as to how well a child is progressing at school.

Will I need to have my child assessed?

Parents educating their child at home do not have to conform with the national requirements for assessment. Parents who have difficulty in gauging their child's progress relative to other children of the same age may choose to make their own arrangements for this to take place.

What is compulsory school age?

Children have to start their education at the beginning of the school term following their fifth birthday. They can finish their education on the last Friday in June of the academic year in which their 16th birthday falls.

Can I educate my child at home if he or she has a Statement of Special Educational Needs?

Yes, but the LA must be satisfied that the child’s special needs are being met. It will still be necessary to hold an Annual Review of the Statement. Further information on the assessment of children's special needs is available from the LA or from the SEN Parent Partnership Co-ordinator, Charing Cross Neighbourhood Centre, Birkenhead Tel: 0151 647 6631.

Do parents have to employ tutors?

Parents' obligation is to provide an efficient education. They can do this by employing tutors but they are not obliged to do so if they believe they can offer their children an efficient education themselves.

What is the role of the Authority?

The Authority has a duty to ensure that children are being educated and it will check to see that children who are being educated at home are receiving an efficient education.

How will the Authority do this?

Generally, parents will first receive a visit from an Education Social Worker (ESW) who will check that it is the parents' intention to educate their child at home. If it is, he or she will inform the Senior Inspector (SI) who will assign a General Inspector (GI) to make a home visit. The GI will look at the child's programme of work and will want to talk to the child as well as to the parent and, if appropriate, to others who teach the child.

 What information will parents have to provide?

Parents will have to provide:

• some basic information about their child, eg name, date of birth;
• a copy of the child's education schedule showing what he/she is taught and when;
• teaching plans;
• examples of the books and resources which are used in the child's education;
• evidence of the child's work in as many areas of the curriculum as possible to demonstrate that he or she is experiencing a balanced set of experiences. It will be particularly important to provide evidence that skills in literacy and numeracy are being developed appropriately for the age of the child.
• a record of the work completed by the child.

 

Will the Inspector write a report on the visits?

The Inspector will complete a Pupil Report form. Parents will receive a set of recommendations which may help them in future provision for their child.

Will the Inspector give parents advice?

It is not the Inspector's job to advise on how to teach children at home, but he/she may recommend documents for parents to see or use and may make recommendations.

How often will the Inspector visit?

At least once per year for secondary age pupils. More frequent visits may be made for primary age children. If there is concern about the efficiency of the education provided then this will trigger more frequent visits. All visits will be by appointment; the date and time will be negotiated with parents. It is expected that parents will co-operate with this requirement.

What will happen if the child is not receiving an efficient education?

If the inspector has concerns, parents will be expected to take seriously any recommendation made. Recommendations are always made in the interests of the child based on the judgements of specialist and experienced inspectors. If the child is not receiving an efficient education, the Authority has the right to serve upon parents a School Attendance Order directing that the child attends a school named in the Order.

Points to Ponder

• It is very difficult for parents to be able to provide the range of facilities and equipment that a school will possess, especially in Science and Technology. Parents are urged to visit a local primary or secondary school to see the kind of facilities which are available to school children today. Headteachers are asked by the Authority to co-operate in this process.
• It is important that children develop socially as well as intellectually; they must learn to mix with other children and adults and to learn alongside others. They should have the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.
• Some children have special educational needs, that is, needs which are different from those of most of their peer group: for instance, they might be slow learners or have specific learning difficulties. The Authority employs special teachers and educational psychologists who can help such children and it is important that children with special needs are identified as early as possible so that steps can be taken to help them. Parents do not always recognise when their children have learning difficulties and this can sometimes delay the help that the children need.
• Educating children at home requires great commitment and stamina as well as a considerable investment in resources. Very careful consideration should be given to the question before making a decision. Parents may wish to contact ACE, the Advisory Centre for Education Ltd, 1b Aberdeen Studios, 22 Highbury Grove, London N5 2DQ, Tel: 0207 354 8321 or Education Otherwise, PO Box 325, Kings Lynn, Norfolk PE34 3XW , for further information.

February 2004

Parents may also wish to contact:

Home Education Advisory Service
PO Box 98,
Welwyn Garden City,
Herts AL8 6AN

Tel/Fax: 01707 371854
E-mail: admin@heas.org.uk

and

Education Otherwise
PO Box 325,
Kings Lynn,
Norfolk
PE34 3XW

Telephone: 08454 786 345

Email: eoemailhelpline@education-otherwise.org