How we support you and when we might contact you
Checking on your child’s education
Section 437(1) Education Act 1996 stipulates that:
“if it appears to a local education authority that a child of compulsory school age in their area is not receiving suitable education, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise, they shall serve a notice in writing on the parent requiring him (or her) to satisfy them within the period specified in the notice that the child is receiving such education.”
We have a duty to act if it appears that a child is not receiving a suitable education. We will be in touch with you from time to time to make sure your child is getting the education to meet their needs and allow them to progress their learning.
If at any time, concerns are shared with the local authority which indicate that a child may not be in receipt of a suitable education, the local authority will make informal enquiries to ascertain if these concerns are justified. Parents are under no duty to respond to such informal enquiries; however the Department for Education advise that it would be sensible for them to do so.
We follow the Department for Education’s guidance (dated April 2019) which requires local authorities to make contact with their home educating families, on at least an annual basis, to seek an update about their home education provision. Please note that we will make contact with the parent or parents with whom the child ordinarily resides to seek such updates. If requested, we will share the outcome of our assessment with others who hold parental responsibility for the child, (for example, whether we have deemed the home education provision to be suitable or not).