Home Education (Home Schooling)

What is Elective Home Education?

Elective Home Education (EHE), also referred to as home education or home schooling,  is the term given to education given outside of a school, usually by families teaching their children at home. You do not need to be a teacher or have any formal qualifications to teach at home.

The Local Authority accepts your right to home school your children and works with parents exercising this right to  develop a positive relationship and mutual respect.

It is vital that in turn every child receives their right to an effective education so it is expected that families understand the necessity to work together with the Local Authority if you choose to home school your children, including regular communication.

Under the law, the Local Authority  has monitoring and welfare responsibilities to your child(ren). It will be necessary to meet with you and your child(ren) at least once a year.  As parents, the Local Authority understand that parents will help them in carrying out their  regulatory duties to look after the best interests of your child(ren), particularly with our statutory safeguarding responsibilities.

How do I register for Elective Home Education (Home Schooling)

If your child is currently at school, you should tell the school if you plan to educate them at home.  The school must accept if you’re taking your child out of school completely.  They can refuse if you want to send your child to school some of the time.  To register that your child is going to be home educated, you will need to complete the online registration form on the Local Authority’s website.

If your child has special educational needs (SEN)

If your child has SEN and attends a special school, you’ll need to get the council’s permission to educate them at home. You do not need the council’s permission if your child attends a mainstream school, even if they have an education, health and care (EHC) plan.

Detailed information and guidance is available for parents and carers in Redbridge on the Local Authority website, including the link to register for Elective Home Education.

The Elective Home Education Support Officer can be contacted via EHE@redbridge.gov.uk or by calling 020 8708 3015.

Further Information

The Department for Education (DfE) has produced guidance for parents:

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill – Home Education

If you already home educate your child, or are thinking about it, there will be some important changes in the Bill, currently going through the House of Lords.  Parents know their children best and it is right that they have a say in the best education for their child, including home education.  But whilst many home educators do a good job, this is not the case for all. It is vital all home education is both suitable and safe.  The Bill will introduce the compulsory Children Not in School registers in every local authority in England, so local authorities can identify all children not in school in their area and ensure that all children are receiving a suitable education.

Parents will no longer have an automatic right to home educate if their child is subject to a child protection investigation or under a child protection plan. For all children, if a local authority deem the education and/or home environment unsuitable, local authorities will now have the power to intervene and require school attendance.

There are many reasons why parents choose to home educate, including when their child has special educational needs. As long as they are providing a good, safe education they can continue to do so. The measures will ensure that the most vulnerable children cannot be withdrawn from school until it is confirmed that this would be in their best interests, and that the education to be provided outside of school is suitable.

Local Authority Contact

If you have a query about educating your child(ren) at home, the Local Authority can be contacted via: