There is no definition of ‘fulltime’; however a child that receives an education within a school is expected to be engaged in educational activities for 23 to 25 hours per week depending on their age. Parents who elect to home educate are not obliged to offer such education within ‘school hours’ or on ‘school days’. The law and guidance relating to elective home education allows for a more flexible approach.
Frequently asked questions
We've put together a list of questions we frequently get asked.
Click on any question below to view the response:
How many hours of education will I be expected to offer my child?
What is ‘suitable’ and ‘efficient’ education?
The courts have considered home education arrangements and have provided some guidance on what is considered to be ‘suitable’ and ‘efficient’ education. They have said that education is efficient if it is 'achieving that which it sets out to achieve' and is suitable if it 'prepares the child for life in a modern civilised society and enables the child to achieve his (or her) full potential'.
Will I receive any funding from the local authority to support with the education of my child at home?
No. By electing to home educate, you have chosen to accept full financial responsibility for the education of your child and will not receive any funding in this respect from the local authority.
Parents are advised to consider the full cost implications of elective home education when making a decision about the appropriateness of this for their child and family. The cost of resources (for example, exercise books, text books, educational visits or trips, writing equipment, computers or laptops, private tutors, etc.) should be factored into such considerations, alongside any costs that may be incurred if you wish for your child to sit public examinations.
Will the Local Authority provide a tutor to educate my child at home?
No. Elective home education is different to home tuition, which is paid for and provided, on a temporary basis, by the local authority when a child is not able to attend school, for example due to medical reasons. However, you can choose to employ a tutor to assist you in meeting your duty to ensure that your child receives an efficient, full-time education which is suitable to his or her age, ability and aptitude. The local authority would advise that you ensure that any tutors that you employ hold a valid Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate, formally known as a CRB clearance.
What will happen if the education that parents are providing is deemed unsuitable?
The local authority has a statutory duty to instigate formal School Attendance Order proceedings if a parent, after informal enquiries and warnings, is unable to satisfy the local authority that they are providing a suitable education for their child. This means that if it appears that the education is not suitable, we will work with parents to support them to find a suitable school that they may register their child with, without delay. In Essex, where a secondary aged child needs to return to school following a period of elective home education, there is a local agreement that the child returns to the last school at which they were on roll.
If a parent then fails to enrol their child at a school, the local authority will be forced to issue a School Attendance Order which will name a specific school at which parents must register their child. This order will remain in place for the remainder of the child’s compulsory school age entitlement. If parents do not comply with the School Attendance Order, the case will be presented before the Magistrates Court and parent or parents may face a fine of up to £1000.