Contact with parents and children

We acknowledge that learning takes place in a wide variety of environments and not only in the home. However, if it appears that a suitable education is not being provided, we will seek to gather any relevant information that may assist us in reaching a properly informed judgment. This will include seeking from the parents any further information that they wish to provide which explains how they are providing a suitable education. Parents will always be given the opportunity to address any specific concerns that the authority has. The child involved will also be given the opportunity, but is not required, to attend any meeting that may be arranged or invited to express his or her views in some other way. Please note that parents are under no duty to respond to our requests for information or a meeting, but it would be sensible for them to do so because until the local authority is satisfied that a home educating child is receiving a suitable full-time education, then the child being educated at home falls under the scope of the powers and duties in relation to children missing education.

There is no definition of ‘suitable’ education in statute law, although as stated in s.7 as quoted above, it must be suitable to the age, ability and aptitudes of the child, and any special educational needs. This means that it must be age-appropriate, enable the child to make progress according to his or her particular level of ability, and should take account of any specific aptitudes (for example if a child is very good at mathematics, it might focus more on that than some other subjects). More generally, you should bear in mind that:

• even if there is no specific link with the National Curriculum or other external curricula, there should be an appropriate minimum standard which is aimed at, and the education should aim at enabling the child, when grown-up, to function as an independent citizen in the UK - and furthermore, beyond the community in which he or she was brought up, if that is the choice made in later life by the child;
• to be ‘suitable’, education at home should not directly conflict with the Fundamental British Values as defined in government guidance (link at end of document), although there is no requirement to teach these;
• local authorities may use minimum expectations for literacy and numeracy in assessing suitability, whilst bearing in mind the age, ability and aptitude of the child and any special educational needs he or she may have;
• education may not be ‘suitable’ even if it is satisfactory in terms of content and teaching, if it is delivered in circumstances which make it very difficult to work (for example in very noisy premises). This might also affect whether it is ‘efficient’ and indeed, whether it is ‘received’ at all for the purposes of s.7; and
• education may also not be deemed suitable if it leads to excessive isolation from the child’s peers, and thus impedes social development.

There are no legal requirements for you as parents educating a child at home to do any of the following:

• acquire specific qualifications for the task
• have premises equipped to any particular standard
• aim for the child to acquire any specific qualifications
• teach the National Curriculum
• provide a ‘broad and balanced’ curriculum
• make detailed lesson plans in advance
• give formal lessons
• mark work done by the child
• formally assess progress, or set development objectives
• reproduce school type peer group socialisation
• match school-based, age-specific standards

However, many home-educating families do some of these, at least, by choice.
Furthermore, it is likely to be much easier for a parent to show that the education provided is suitable if attention has been paid to the breadth of the curriculum and its content, and the concepts of progress and assessment in relation to your child’s ability.

If it appears to us that a child is not receiving a suitable education we will write to parents to discuss their ongoing home education provision. This letter will offer a range of ways in which you can choose to tell us about your provision. We would prefer that an officer from our service meets with you in order to discuss your arrangements, however the letter does give alternative options.

Some parents may welcome the opportunity to discuss the provision that they are making for the child's education during a home visit but parents are not legally required to give us access to their home.

You may choose to meet an officer at a mutually convenient and neutral location instead, with or without the child being present, or choose not to meet at all. Where a parent elects not to allow access to their home or their child, this will not of itself constitute a ground for concern about the education provision being made. Where we are not able to visit the home, we should be able to discuss and evaluate the educational provision by alternative means.

If you choose to meet an officer, you will be asked to provide evidence that you are providing a suitable education. If we do ask you for information, you are under no duty to comply although it would be sensible for you to do so given that the LA must be satisfied of suitable education. Following any review of your home education provision, you will receive a short notification from us. If we are satisfied that the education is suitable, you will be notified and advised that we will contact you again in a year's time. If we are not satisfied, you will be notified and given a maximum of 3 months to put plans in place and demonstrate the suitability of education. If we remain dissatisfied, we may take statutory action as set out above.