I registered my child as being home educated, why am I being contacted?
All local authorities are required to be able to identify children who are not receiving a suitable education. To check that children that are home educated are receiving a suitable education we request that information from their parent/s. This information is requested at least annually.
Why do I have to provide evidence of education?
Local authorities are required to issue a notice to a parent to satisfy them that their child is receiving a suitable education. We will always try to get this information by contacting the parent and offering them a range of ways of doing this. If a parent does provided the necessary information then we are required to issue a notice that requires this information within 15 days.
I received a letter asking for me to provide evidence of education, what do I need to do next?
Follow the information in the letter, you can provide the evidence of education for it to be assessed for suitability. If your child is not currently in suitable education let us know and we can support you to get your child back into suitable education.
I received an intention to serve a school attendance order letter, what do I need to do next?
Follow the information in the letter, you can provide the evidence of education for it to be assessed for suitability if you believe they are receiving a suitable education. If you are unable to provide evidence, you should contact the school where a place is being held for your child to arrange their start date. If you have applied for a different school and have received an offer of a place you can request that the school named on the order be changed.
I received a letter with a school attendance order, what do I do now?
It is important that you follow the advice in the letter and contact the named school to arrange for your child to go on roll. This needs to be done within the 10 working days given, the date is provided in the letter.
If you have evidence of education that can be provided on request and wish to continue educating your child other than at school, you must contact us as soon as possible and apply to have the Order revoked.
If my child has a School Attendance Order, can I ask the school to take them off role?
A school will need to check this with the local authority. A school is unable to remove a child from their roll if a SAO naming their school is still in place.
What should I do if I want the order changed or revoked?
If you have been offered a place at an alternative school, including one outside of the borough, you must apply to have the school on the Order changed. To apply to have the order revoked, you must by give evidence to the local authority that satisfactory arrangements have been made for suitable education to be provided. All applications will be assessed to check the education to be provided will be suitable before the Order is revoked.