Your Child’s Education
As a parent, you have a legal responsibility to ensure your child receives a suitable full-time education if they are of compulsory school age.
This education may be provided through:
- Attendance at school.
- Elective Home Education (home education).
- Other suitable educational arrangements.
The local authority has a duty to identify children who may not be receiving a suitable education and to make enquiries where concerns arise.
Why Have I Been Contacted?
If we believe your child may not be receiving a suitable education, we will contact you to ask for information about the educational provision in place.
We will usually try to resolve matters informally first by:
- Telephone.
- Email.
- Letter.
- Home visits where appropriate.
We may ask you to provide information or evidence to demonstrate that your child is receiving a suitable full-time education.
What Happens if I Do Not Provide Information?
If we do not receive sufficient information, or if the information provided does not demonstrate that your child is receiving a suitable education, we must begin the formal School Attendance Order process.
The first formal step is a notice under Section 437(1) of the Education Act 1996.
This notice requires you to satisfy the local authority that your child is receiving:
- A full-time education.
- An efficient education.
- A suitable education for their age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs.
You will have 15 days to respond.
The local authority will carefully consider any information and evidence you provide before deciding whether further action is required.
What is a School Attendance Order?
A School Attendance Order (SAO) is a legal notice requiring a parent to register their child at a named school.
A School Attendance Order may be issued if:
- The local authority is not satisfied that a child is receiving a suitable education; and
- It considers that attendance at school is necessary.
The Order will name a school and give a date by which your child must be registered and attending.
If a School Attendance Order is Issued
If an SAO is issued, you must comply with it.
Failure to comply with a School Attendance Order is a criminal offence and may result in legal proceedings.
If your child begins attending the named school, you may still apply for a place at a different school. If a place is available, the local authority may amend the Order accordingly.
Alternatively, you may ask for the Order to be revoked by providing evidence that suitable educational arrangements have been made for your child.
The School Attendance Order Process
