Elective Home Education – things to consider, responsibility and next steps
Concerns at current school
If you are worried about anxiety, bullying or other school concerns please talk to the school. You can request to meet with the headteacher. You also have the right to apply for a place for your child at a different school.
Waiting for your preferred school
A child who is home educated does not give them any priority when applying for a school place.
Slough schools are heavily oversubscribed, and you may have to home educate for several months or a year before a place at your preferred school becomes available.
Responsibility for your child’s education if you choose Elective Home Education (EHE)
Please note, we the council:
- do not provide a tutor or any educational resources and
- we have a duty to know which children are EHE and confirm if the provision is satisfactory.
If you choose EHE, you, as a parent or person with parental responsibility, are responsible for your child's education. You will need to:
- enter and pay for any exams your child may take.
- seek out curriculum guidance and fund any resources you need.
- check the qualifications and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate of tutors that you employ.
Next steps for EHE
If your child is not in school, you will need to email attendance@slough.gov.uk to inform us of your decision to EHE.
If your child is in school, you need to put your request for EHE in writing to the school’s headteacher. They will refer your child to our attendance service, who will then contact you.
Once your child has been added to the EHE register:
- our home education assessor will arrange a visit with you and your child to assess the education you have in place
- the EHE home visit will be carried out annually and
- if the EHE is assessed as inadequate the council may make a School Attendance Order (SAO) to direct you to send your child back to a mainstream school.