Elective home education

Elective home education (EHE) is when parents choose to educate their children at home instead of sending them to school full-time. This means the parents take full responsibility for ensuring their child receives a suitable education.

Here are some key points about elective home education:

• Parental Responsibility: Parents must ensure their child receives a full-time education from the age of 5. This education does not have to follow the national curriculum
• Local Authority Role:  The county council has no legal power or duty to monitor home education on a routine basis though will make enquiries if it is not clear that a child is receiving suitable education
• Special Educational Needs (SEN): If a child with SEN attends a special school, parents need the council’s permission to educate them at home

Further information

• Oxfordshire County Council: Elective home education policy and procedure
• Department for Education:
  • Elective home education: departmental guidance for local authorities (publishing.service.gov.uk)
  • Elective home education: guide for parents (publishing.service.gov.uk)
  • Educating your child at home – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)