EHCP Homeschooling: Everything You Need to Know
Home education can be a transformative option for families looking to tailor their child’s learning experience, especially for children with special educational needs (SEN). Elective home education refers to the choice parents have to educate their children at home, including those with special educational needs, under the legal framework that outlines the responsibilities of parents and local authorities. For parents of children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), homeschooling brings unique opportunities and responsibilities. In this blog, we’ll explore the relationship between EHCPs and home education, the process of homeschooling a child with an EHCP, the local authority and the entitlements and considerations involved.
EHCP and Elective Home Education
An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is a legal document in the UK designed to support a child or young person with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). It outlines the child’s needs, the support required, and the desired outcomes across education, health, and care.
Key Points About EHCPs
Legal Framework: The EHCP is governed by the Children and Families Act 2014 and the Education Act 1996, which ensures that children with SEND receive the support they need. The Education Act outlines parental responsibilities to provide suitable education and the legal measures local authorities can take if these responsibilities are not met.
Education Beyond School: The EHCP is not exclusive to school settings. It can also be applied to home education, enabling families to meet their child’s needs in a more flexible environment.
Annual Reviews: Local authorities must review EHCPs annually to ensure that the provisions remain appropriate and are being met effectively.
Homeschooling with an EHCP allows parents to create a customised learning environment for their child’s education while ensuring that the specified support in the plan is delivered.
Can You Homeschool a Child with an EHCP?
Yes, parents in the UK can legally homeschool a child with an EHCP. Compulsory school age is defined as the period from when a child turns 5 until the end of the school year in which they turn 16, during which parents have a duty under Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 to ensure suitable education. However, there are specific processes and considerations to keep in mind.
Steps to Homeschool a Child with an EHCP
Informing the School and Local Authority:
If your child is currently attending a school, you must inform the child’s school (including head teacher) in writing about your decision to home educate and take your child off the school roll.
For children in a special school, additional consent from the local authority is required before deregistration.
Responsibility for Provision:
Once a child with an EHCP is homeschooled / home educated, parents assume responsibility for delivering the educational aspects of the plan.
The local authority remains responsible for providing health and care support, such as speech and language therapy or occupational therapy, as outlined in the EHCP.
Accessing Support Services:
Parents can request continued access to resources and services specified in the EHCP, even in a home education setting.
What Does an EHCP Entitle You To?
An EHCP provides a comprehensive framework for addressing a child’s educational, health, and care needs, including the educational provision required. Even in a homeschooling context, the entitlements within the EHCP remain applicable. So whether you’re child is in the school environment or not, you are still entited to support!
Special Educational Provision
Tailored Learning Objectives:
The EHCP outlines specific learning goals for the child, which parents can use as a guide to structure their homeschooling curriculum. These goals ensure that a suitable education is being provided, meeting the criteria defined by the child’s age, ability, and any special educational needs.
Specialist Teaching Resources:
The plan may include access to specialist teaching resources, assistive technology, or adapted learning materials.
Health and Care Services
Therapies:
Services such as speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, or counseling must still be provided by the local authority or relevant health services to address the young person’s special educational needs.
Specialist Equipment:
The EHCP may specify equipment needed to support the young person’s special educational needs, such as sensory aids or communication devices.
Funding and Budgets
Personal Budget: Parents can request a personal budget to manage the costs of specific provisions in the EHCP, such as hiring tutors or purchasing educational resources. This budget can also cover the costs associated with securing special educational provision, ensuring that children with special educational needs receive the tailored support they require when home educating.
Can I Deregister My Child with an EHCP?
Parents have the right to deregister a child with an EHCP from a mainstream school, but the process differs slightly depending on the type of school the child attends and the proposed educational provision at home.
1. Mainstream Schools
Process:
Inform the school in writing of your decision to home educate.
The school will notify the local authority of the child’s deregistration. Whether a child attends school full-time, part-time, or under any other arrangement, accurate notification is crucial to ensure proper educational provision.
Local Authority Role:
The local authority may request information about your homeschooling approach to ensure that the child’s educational needs are being met.
2. Special Schools
Additional Consent:
If your child attends a special school, you must obtain permission from the local authority before deregistering. This is particularly important as the child’s age, ability, aptitude, and special educational needs (SEN) must be taken into account before jumping into home educating.
Why?
This ensures that the child’s complex needs are fully considered and that any necessary support transitions smoothly into the home education setup.
Maintaining the EHCP
Annual Reviews:
Even after deregistration, the local authority remains responsible for conducting annual reviews of the EHCP.
Ensuring Support:
Parents should work closely with the local authority to ensure that the health and care provisions in the EHCP continue to be delivered effectively.
Benefits of Homeschooling with an EHCP
Homeschooling a child with an EHCP offers several advantages in terms of home education provision, including:
1. Personalised Education
The child’s parent can tailor the curriculum to the specific needs of the child, ensuring that learning objectives align with the child’s abilities and interests. If they require alternative arrangements / extra support such as a tutor to help plan the academic side of home education, then that is also fine!
2. Flexibility
Homeschooling allows families to create schedules and routines that suit the child’s individual needs, including accommodating therapy sessions or medical appointments.
3. Safe Learning Environment
For children who struggle in traditional school settings due to anxiety, sensory issues, or bullying, homeschooling provides a secure and supportive space.
Challenges of Homeschooling with an EHCP
While homeschooling with an EHCP offers flexibility, it also comes with challenges that parents should prepare for, especially when children are unable to attend school due to medical conditions or other reasons.
1. Responsibility for Education
Parents must ensure that the educational provisions in the EHCP are met, which requires significant time and effort.
2. Social Interaction
Ensuring the child has opportunities to interact with peers and develop social skills may require additional effort, such as joining homeschooling groups or participating in community activities. Social interaction is crucial as whilst attending school your child may have had a lot of it and home education can be the polar opposite in terms of social exposure. Forming friendships with other young people is crucial for your child at home.
3. Navigating Local Authority Support
Working with local authorities to maintain access to health and care services can be complex, requiring clear communication and persistence. Further information about your specific local authority’s EHCP guidelines and support can be found on their gov.uk website 😊
Conclusion – EHCP Homeschooling
Homeschooling a child or young person with an EHCP is a legal and viable option in the UK, offering families the flexibility to create a tailored and supportive learning environment. However, it also requires careful planning, collaboration with local authorities, and a commitment to meeting the provisions outlined in the EHCP.
By understanding the entitlements provided by the EHCP, the process of deregistration, and the resources available, parents can ensure a smooth transition to home education while continuing to meet their child’s needs. For families ready to embrace this journey, homeschooling with an EHCP can be an empowering and transformative experience, unlocking new opportunities for growth and learning.