EHCP: Elective Home Education
Overview
Please note, the 'Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill' is currently passing through parliament. This bill proposes changes to the home educating process. We will keep home educating families updated with any changes to our role as a result of the bill. You can find out more by visiting the UK Parliament website:
Home Education is officially known as Elective Home Education (EHE). EHE refers to the choice by parents to provide full-time education for their children. This is instead of sending them to school. This might be through making a positive choice to home educate, or in response to circumstances. Both journeys are referred to as Elective Home Education.
Your child might have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and you would like to educate them at home. If this is the case, the process is different depending on the type of school your child attends. This page explains this in more detail.
Where EHE is agreed, the Local Authority is relieved of its duty to secure the provision outlined in the EHC plan. This means that the parent becomes solely responsible for the delivery of the provision.
If your child doesn’t have an EHCP, the process is different. You can visit the main East Sussex County Council website for more information:
Our directory provides more information about services mentioned on this page. You can find out more by visiting 1Space:
- Assessment and Planning (A&P) | East Sussex 1Space
- Elective Home Education (EHE) | East Sussex 1Space
- Educational Psychologist Service (EPS) | East Sussex 1Space
Mainstream School and Specialist Facilities
The process for requesting Elective Home Education (EHE) if your child has an EHCP and is attending a mainstream school or a school with a specialist facility is as follows:
- Please tell your child's Assessment and Planning Officer (APO) about your intention to home educate your child.
- Please also contact your child’s school asking them to off-roll your child as you are intending to home educate. The school will do this.
- The EHE service will contact you to discuss the responsibilities of electively home educating your child. They will also offer advice and guidance.
- Your APO will amend section I of your child’s EHCP. This will record that they are being electively home educated.
- The EHE service will arrange a meeting with you within three months. This will be to ensure the home education is full-time and suitable. At this meeting, you will need to show evidence that you can meet your child’s needs and the provision that is in their EHCP. The outcome of this will be shared with the APO.
If home education is not appropriate for your child:
Your APO will arrange an annual review immediately to discuss the EHCP and next steps.
If home education is appropriate for your child:
Your APO will arrange the next annual review. The review will take place within:
- 12 months of the EHCP being issued,
- 12 months of the last review of the EHCP, or
- 6 months of elective home education being agreed.
The review will be whichever occurs the soonest.
We will decide whether home education continues to be appropriate for your child at every annual review.
Special School
The process for requesting Elective Home Education (EHE) if your child has an EHCP and is attending a special school is as follows:
- Please tell your child’s Assessment and Planning Officer (APO) about your intention to home educate your child.
- Please contact your child’s school asking to home educate. The school will not off-roll at this point.
The school will arrange a meeting with:
- You
- Your Assessment and Planning Officer (APO)
- An Educational Psychologist (EP)
- An Elective Home Education (EHE) service representative
- Any other relevant professionals
At this meeting, you will need to show evidence that you can meet your child’s needs and the provision that is in their EHCP. You will not be told the decision at this point as we need to consider your request following the meeting.
If home education is not appropriate for your child:
Your child will remain on roll of the special school.
If home education is appropriate for your child:
Your APO will amend section I of your child’s EHC plan. This will record that they are being electively home educated. The school will remove your child from roll.
An EHE service representative will make an initial home visit within three months. This will be to ensure the home education is suitable.
If home education is no longer appropriate for your child:
Your APO will arrange an annual review immediately to discuss the EHC plan and next steps.
If home education is still appropriate for your child:
Your APO will arrange the next annual review. The review will take place within:
- 12 months of the EHCP being issued,
- 12 months of the last review of the EHCP, or
- 6 months of elective home education being agreed.
The review will be whichever occurs the soonest.
We will decide whether home education continues to be appropriate for your child at every annual review.
Post-16 Home Education
The EHE service would not be involved in the initial meeting to discuss suitability, if:
- your child is in or above National Curriculum (NC) Year 12.
However, an EHE service team member can join annual reviews. This would be as a relevant educational professional.
Additional Help and Support
Assessment & Planning Officer (APO)
Your APO will be able to support you with any concerns. The APO will contact you if there are any delays, or any information that you should know, as things arise.
Some of our APOs work part-time and may not be available immediately if you telephone or email them. However, if you leave a message, they will always respond to your contact as soon as they are able. You will find their direct telephone number on any of the letters you have received.
You can also contact the Assessment & Planning admin team by:
- Phone: 01273 336 740
- Email: sen.caseworkassistants@eastsussex.gov.uk
We will return all contact within the Customer Promise. You can learn more about this on the main East Sussex County Council website:
Amaze SENDIASS
Amaze SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service) are a local charity. They offer free, independent, and impartial advice for all matters relating to SEND. Contact Amaze SENDIASS by:
- Phone - 01273 772 289
- Email - sendiass@amazesussex.org.uk
Visit the Amaze SENDIASS web page.
Amaze also have a page on their website about children not in school:
You can also view the Amaze EHC Plans Fact Sheet PDF.
East Sussex Local Offer directory of services
You can visit our SEND-specific online directory, hosted on East Sussex 1Space. The directory lists many different services both throughout the county and online. Services cover many topics, including:
- Advice, Guidance and Support Groups
- Activities and Events
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Support
Visit the East Sussex Local Offer directory.
NHS - Health A to Z
The East Sussex Local Offer aims to provide as much information as possible. There may be some conditions that aren't covered in thorough detail. The NHS website has pages that list all conditions. These pages provide information and advice on how to get extra support:
Visit the NHS Health A to Z web page.
Glossary of East Sussex SEND Terms
We explain some of the terms used on this website on our page, Glossary of East Sussex SEND Terms.