Guidance Document and FAQs Home Education - Milton Keynes ...
Guidance Document and FAQs Home Education - Milton Keynes ...
Guidance Document and FAQs Home Education - Milton Keynes ...
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
<strong>Home</strong> <strong>Education</strong><br />
<strong>Guidance</strong> <strong>Document</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>FAQs</strong><br />
Parents’ duty<br />
Parents have a duty to ensure that their children receive a suitable full time education either<br />
by regular attendance at school or otherwise (under Section 7 of the <strong>Education</strong> Act 1996).<br />
Some parents decide, as they are entitled, to provide suitable education by educating their<br />
children at home or otherwise.<br />
Why home educate<br />
<strong>Home</strong> education is an option that families from any background may consider to meet the<br />
needs of their children.<br />
It can be chosen for a variety of reasons including:<br />
• A strong desire for an alternative form of education<br />
• Religious or cultural beliefs<br />
• Bullying<br />
• A short term intervention<br />
• Child’s unwillingness or inability to go to school<br />
• Special educational needs<br />
• Parents’/carers’ desire for a close relationship with their children<br />
• A special talent<br />
<strong>Home</strong> education can be selected by some as a permanent arrangement <strong>and</strong> for others it may<br />
be a temporary solution, where the child will return to school at a later stage.<br />
The Local Authorities’ responsibilities<br />
Local authorities have a statutory duty under section 436A of the <strong>Education</strong> Act 1996,<br />
inserted by the <strong>Education</strong> <strong>and</strong> Inspections Act 2006, to make arrangements to enable them<br />
to establish the identities of children in their area who are not receiving a suitable education.<br />
The duty applies in relation to children of compulsory school age who are not on a school roll,<br />
<strong>and</strong> who are not receiving a suitable education otherwise than being at school (for example,<br />
at home, privately, or in alternative provision).<br />
Page: 1 of 4<br />
Date issued: 3 April 2013<br />
Review date: 3 April 2014<br />
Prepared by: Mir<strong>and</strong>a Darbyshire<br />
Approved by: Michael Bracey
The guidance issued makes it clear that the duty does not apply to children who are being<br />
educated at home. Local authorities have no statutory duties in relation to monitoring the<br />
quality of home education on a routine basis.<br />
How do I register to home educate?<br />
If your child has never attended school, no permission or notification is required. If your child<br />
already attends school you must inform the headteacher of your decision in writing to take<br />
your child off the school register in order to home educate them. It is then the duty of the<br />
school to inform the Local Authority within 10 working days under Regulation 13 (3): ‘when<br />
the name of a pupil has been deleted from the admission register in accordance with<br />
regulation 9(1)(c) the proprietor shall make a return to the Local Authority giving the full name<br />
<strong>and</strong> address of that pupil within the ten school days immediately following the date on which<br />
the pupil's name was so deleted’. The Local Authority maintains a record of children known to<br />
be home educated.<br />
The Local Authority named person for registering home education is:<br />
Marilyn Barby, School Admissions <strong>and</strong> Transport Manager<br />
schooladmissions@milton-keynes.gov.uk<br />
Telephone: 01908 253242<br />
What should I teach?<br />
Whether provided in school or at home the curriculum includes everything which is done in<br />
order to educate the child. Parents are required to provide an efficient, full-time education<br />
suitable to the age, ability <strong>and</strong> aptitude of the child. A home educated child's education<br />
should specifically address his or her individual needs. As a home educator it is up to you<br />
<strong>and</strong> your child what, how <strong>and</strong> when you study. The type of activity can be varied <strong>and</strong> flexible.<br />
This is entirely up to you. The law does not prescribe particular subjects, though you must<br />
provide an education suitable to your child's needs. A good starting point will be to make links<br />
with other <strong>Home</strong> Educators in your area. A list of useful contacts is available at the end of<br />
this document. However, should you want to follow the national curriculum<br />
www.education.gov.uk/schools has details of what is covered in the national curriculum.<br />
At what age is it compulsory for children to have to receive full-time education?<br />
Compulsory school age is defined as beginning from the start of the term commencing after<br />
the child’s fifth birthday. A child continues to be of school age until the last Friday of June in<br />
the school year that they become 18 years old.<br />
What constitutes a 'full time' education?<br />
Section 7 of the <strong>Education</strong> Act 1996 stipulates that all young people of compulsory<br />
educational age must receive a full time education.<br />
The term 'full time' has never been defined in law. Suffice to say that so long as the parents<br />
are providing an education suitable to the child’s needs that would be deemed to be sufficient<br />
to fulfill their obligations under the law.<br />
Page: 2 of 4<br />
Date issued: 3 April 2013<br />
Review date: 3 April 2014<br />
Prepared by: Mir<strong>and</strong>a Darbyshire<br />
Approved by: Michael Bracey
What do I do if I want my child to return to school at a later stage?<br />
You can at any time apply for a school place through the Council’s in year admissions<br />
procedure. Information about the admissions procedures <strong>and</strong> access to the application form<br />
is available on the Council’s website at www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/schooladmissions.<br />
What if my child is due to go to the next phase of education?<br />
The School Admissions Team may write to you advising you of the process subject to the<br />
information in the database being current, although if you have moved since home education<br />
began we will not have that detail.<br />
Alternatively parents can go to the website, address in the section above, <strong>and</strong> click on the<br />
primary or secondary page where they can view the information booklets <strong>and</strong> complete an<br />
online application, noting that this facility is open from early September to 31 October for<br />
secondary transfer <strong>and</strong> until 15 January for primary admissions for children starting school<br />
for the first time or transferring at 7+ from an infant school. Once the closing date has been<br />
reached parents should contact the School Admissions Team to request a paper application.<br />
Information can be obtained from the School Admissions Team:<br />
schooladmissions@milton-keynes.gov.uk<br />
01908 252338<br />
Can I home educate my child who has a Statement of Special <strong>Education</strong>al Needs?<br />
Yes. A child with a Statement is no different from any other child. Section 7 of the <strong>Education</strong><br />
Act 1996 requires parents to take into account any special educational needs when they<br />
educate otherwise than at school. If you do wish to home educate you will need to notify the<br />
school as above <strong>and</strong> also contact the Special <strong>Education</strong>al Needs team.<br />
The Local Authority contact is: 01908 253414<br />
Will there be an annual Statement review?<br />
It is m<strong>and</strong>atory that a Statement is reviewed annually by the local authority. However, it is not<br />
m<strong>and</strong>atory for the parents or carers to attend. Although, you should be aware that the review<br />
may still go ahead without parents or carers being present.<br />
Can I home educate my child who is currently at a Special School?<br />
Where a child is registered at a special school under arrangements made by the local<br />
authority, the local authority consent is required to remove the child from the school register.<br />
You will need to notify the school as above <strong>and</strong> ask the school to inform you of when it has<br />
been done. If you have not made the decision to remove your child from a special school <strong>and</strong><br />
are considering it we would primarily recommend you request for an annual review with a<br />
local authority officer present. Please note if you choose to home educate you need to be<br />
aware that your young persons special school place will be released <strong>and</strong> given to another<br />
young person. Please be sure that this is the right decision for you <strong>and</strong> your child.<br />
Refer to Page 4 for useful links<br />
Page: 3 of 4<br />
Date issued: 3 April 2013<br />
Review date: 3 April 2014<br />
Prepared by: Mir<strong>and</strong>a Darbyshire<br />
Approved by: Michael Bracey
Useful Links:<br />
www.he-mk.org.uk<br />
MK <strong>Home</strong> Educators Network. A group for home-educators in <strong>Milton</strong> <strong>Keynes</strong> <strong>and</strong> the<br />
surrounding areas. You can join the group if you are actively home-educating your child, or<br />
are considering home-education for your child.<br />
www.freerangeeducation.org<br />
Free Range <strong>Education</strong> is a Social Enterprise based in <strong>Milton</strong> <strong>Keynes</strong>, set up to offer <strong>Home</strong><br />
Educators an impressive variety of different educational, sporting <strong>and</strong> social activities <strong>and</strong><br />
events. In addition Free Range <strong>Education</strong> also provides an array of information to support<br />
those taking exams.<br />
Email: sarah@freerangeeducation.org<br />
Tel: 07725039981<br />
www.PLACE-Project.org<br />
The PLACE Programme is a partnership between parents, Bedford Borough Council (BBC) <strong>and</strong><br />
Biddenham International School <strong>and</strong> Sports College (BISSC), supporting local home-based<br />
learners. Those living within a 25-mile radius of the Borough are eligible to join.<br />
Email: Info@PLACE-Project.org<br />
Tel: 01234 342521/07988846124<br />
www.home-education.org.uk<br />
Information <strong>and</strong> advice regarding <strong>Home</strong> <strong>Education</strong><br />
www.educationotherwise.net<br />
Membership organisation providing support <strong>and</strong> information both locally <strong>and</strong> nationally for<br />
families with children who are being educated outside school<br />
http://www.ahomeeducation.co.uk<br />
Information <strong>and</strong> advice for <strong>Home</strong> Educators<br />
http://www.heas.org.uk<br />
National home education charity based in the United Kingdom. Providing advice <strong>and</strong> practical<br />
support for families who wish to educate their children at home<br />
http://www.he-special.org.uk<br />
A group of families who <strong>Home</strong> Educate children with Special <strong>Education</strong>al Needs<br />
Page: 4 of 4<br />
Date issued: 3 April 2013<br />
Review date: 3 April 2014<br />
Prepared by: Mir<strong>and</strong>a Darbyshire<br />
Approved by: Michael Bracey
Change language