One of the biggest worries for home educators is the Local Authority (LA).
Parents often imagine officials turning up, demanding to see work, inspecting the house, or forcing children back into school.
But the reality is much calmer than that.
In England, the law around home education is much simpler than many people are led to believe.
Local Authorities have a duty to identify children who may not be receiving an education.
But that does not give them the power to monitor home educating families in the way schools are monitored.
For example, the LA:
Many LAs will ask for these things, but they are requests, not legal requirements.
Parents can choose how they respond.
Another common misunderstanding is that learning must produce written work.
But the law does not say that.
Children learn in many ways, including:
A child can be learning perfectly well without filling exercise books.
Learning does not have to leave a paper trail.
If the LA asks about your child’s education, the simplest way to respond is often to provide a short written report.
A report allows you to explain:
It doesn’t need to be complicated.
In fact, many parents find it helpful to use our guide so they don’t overthink it. A simple, clear 1-3 page report is usually enough to explain the provision.
One of the biggest mistakes parents make is thinking the report needs to be long or extremely detailed.
It doesn’t.
Most reports are only one to three pages.
The goal is simply to show that your child is receiving a suitable education.
Another fear parents have is that the LA can suddenly order their child back to school.
That’s not how the law works.
If the LA believes a child may not be receiving a suitable education, there is a legal process that must be followed.
This process involves:
Only after several steps could a School Attendance Order be considered.
Even then, parents still have the right to provide information showing that suitable education is taking place.
In other words, there is a lengthy process. It cannot happen overnight.
The most important thing to understand is this:
The Local Authority does not run your child’s education.
Parents are responsible for providing a suitable education, and they can choose how that education is delivered.
The LA’s role is limited.
They are not inspectors, and they are not supervisors of home education.
They are also not there to support and guide you.
For families who understand the law and the process, dealing with the LA is usually straightforward.
A short, clear report explaining the education being provided is often all that is needed.
If you want guidance on writing that report and understanding your rights as a home educator, clear information can be found throughout our website.
Because once you understand the law, the Local Authority becomes far less intimidating than many parents first imagine.
Make sure to find us on social media.
Staffordshire website design and website SEO by Fellowship Studios.
