The following document was provided by the DfEE in June '98, to some home-educators, with the following 'memo'. If you wish to find out more information, please contact the DfEE, or the School Exclusion Unit. Please let me know of any relevant correspondence that may ensue.

[Quote:]
Ministers have now decided that it would not be appropriate to issue detailed guidance now. The Social Exclusion Unit Report on 'Truancy and School Exclusion' has impacted on the text of our three circulars that we were going to issue for consultation.

We now intend to revise the draft and consult in the autumn term. As an interim measure, on 8 May, we issued a short letter to schools and LEAs on the changes in the Education Act 1997 (none of which impact on home education).

The "status" of 11/94 is a guidance circular. It does not constitute an authoritative legal interpretation of the provisions of the Education Acts or other enactments and regulations; that is exclusively a matter for the Courts. Under section 47 of the Education Act 1997, from September 1998, LEAs will have to have regard to any guidance given by the Secretary of State when they arrange education otherwise.

The guidance is intended for LEAs who have specific duties to fulfil for the children for whom they are responsible. It will not go into great detail about every option available.

As requested, I attach a version of our information leaflet [Word6 format, Word7 format, or as plain text]

[Department for Education and Employment]
[June '98]
[End Quote]

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    ENGLAND AND WALES

    EDUCATING CHILDREN AT HOME

    1. Parents must ensure that their child receives an efficient full time education, suitable to his or her age, ability and aptitude, and to any special needs the child may have, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.
    2. Although parents are not legally required to inform the Local Education Authority (LEA) where they decide to educate their child at home, it is helpful if they do this. Parents should also inform the LEA of any significant change in circumstance, or a change of address. <3>The LEA will need to satisfy itself that a child is receiving suitable education at home, and will arrange to visit the child at home, to talk to the parent and child, and to look at examples of work. The LEA will need to be satisfied that the parent is willing and able to provide a suitable education. At this initial meeting the nature and frequency of future contact should be agreed.
    3. LEAs, however, have no automatic right of access to the parent's home. Parents may refuse a meeting in the home, if they can offer an alternative way of demonstrating that they are providing a suitable education, for example, through showing examples of work and agreeing to a meeting at another venue.
    4. Where it appears to an LEA that a child of compulsory school age is not receiving efficient or suitable full time education, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise, they are under a duty to serve a notice on the parent requiring them to satisfy the authority that their child is receiving suitable education "otherwise than at school". If the parents' reply is unsatisfactory, or if they fail to reply, the LEA may issue a school attendance order.
    5. Traveller children make up a significant group of those whose parents choose to educate them at home. For this group specialist support in securing children's integration into schools and continuity of learning may be available through an LEA Traveller Education Service.

    CONTACTS FOR PARENTS WHO CHOOSE TO EDUCATE THEIR CHILDREN AT HOME

    You may find it useful to contact Education Otherwise, a voluntary organisation which offers advice about home teaching. Education Otherwise's legal advisers keep detailed records of all the cases relating to home education and advise members who request information or support. Decisions relating to policy are made at local meetings and each area in the country has a local volunteer co-ordinator. They can be contacted at:- Education Otherwise
    PO Box 7420
    London
    N9 9SG
    Tel: 01283-523547

    Emergency tel: 0891-518303

    http://www.netlink.co.uk/users/e_o/





    You could also contact :

    The Home Education Advisory Service
    P O Box 98
    Welwyn Garden City
    Hertfordshire
    AL8 6AN

    Tel/Fax 01707 371854

    email [email protected]

    http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/home_ed_advisory_srv /





    The Home Education Advisory service is not opposed to schools, but believes that every parent should have information about the option of home education.

    Other information:

    DfEE publications are available from Prolog, Tel: 0845 602 2260

    National Curriculum Guide for Teachers from Christians, Tel: 0171 277 0988

    The Association of Home Tutors, Tel: 01604 624171

    SCOTLAND, NORTHERN IRELAND AND OTHER COUNTRIES

    Not all countries allow parents to educate their children at home. If you are considering home education because you are moving out of England or Wales, you should contact the relevant Embassy or Education Department to find out what rules apply.

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