Guidance Document and FAQs Home Education - Milton Keynes ...

The guidance issued makes it clear that the duty does not apply to children who are being
educated at home. Local authorities have no statutory duties in relation to monitoring the
quality of home education on a routine basis.
How do I register to home educate?
If your child has never attended school, no permission or notification is required. If your child
already attends school you must inform the headteacher of your decision in writing to take
your child off the school register in order to home educate them. It is then the duty of the
school to inform the Local Authority within 10 working days under Regulation 13 (3): ‘when
the name of a pupil has been deleted from the admission register in accordance with
regulation 9(1)(c) the proprietor shall make a return to the Local Authority giving the full name
and address of that pupil within the ten school days immediately following the date on which
the pupil's name was so deleted’. The Local Authority maintains a record of children known to
be home educated.
The Local Authority named person for registering home education is:
Marilyn Barby, School Admissions and Transport Manager
schooladmissions@milton-keynes.gov.uk
Telephone: 01908 253242
What should I teach?
Whether provided in school or at home the curriculum includes everything which is done in
order to educate the child. Parents are required to provide an efficient, full-time education
suitable to the age, ability and aptitude of the child. A home educated child's education
should specifically address his or her individual needs. As a home educator it is up to you
and your child what, how and when you study. The type of activity can be varied and flexible.
This is entirely up to you. The law does not prescribe particular subjects, though you must
provide an education suitable to your child's needs. A good starting point will be to make links
with other Home Educators in your area. A list of useful contacts is available at the end of
this document. However, should you want to follow the national curriculum
www.education.gov.uk/schools has details of what is covered in the national curriculum.
At what age is it compulsory for children to have to receive full-time education?
Compulsory school age is defined as beginning from the start of the term commencing after
the child’s fifth birthday. A child continues to be of school age until the last Friday of June in
the school year that they become 18 years old.
What constitutes a 'full time' education?
Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 stipulates that all young people of compulsory
educational age must receive a full time education.
The term 'full time' has never been defined in law. Suffice to say that so long as the parents
are providing an education suitable to the child’s needs that would be deemed to be sufficient
to fulfill their obligations under the law.
Page: 2 of 4
Date issued: 3 April 2013
Review date: 3 April 2014
Prepared by: Miranda Darbyshire
Approved by: Michael Bracey