Educating your child at home

The aim of this page is to offer you, the parent, all the information you need when choosing to educate your child at home in Kent. There are many different styles of home education and you are free to use the method which is right for you and your child.

When your child should be educated

You can either ask a school to educate your child, or you can do it yourself.

Your child's education must be efficient and full time, and it must be suitable to their age, ability and aptitude. If your child has special educational needs, their education should suit those needs. (Section 7 of The Education Act 1996).

If you have children of school age, you must ensure that they receive education.

School age is from the start date of a school term following a child's 5th birthday to the last Friday in June when the child's 16th birthday is before the 1st September. For more information visit our school term dates page. 

Getting permission to educate at home

If your child has never been to school, you don't need to tell anyone or ask anyone's permission to educate them at home.

If your child is attending a school and you decide to home educate them instead, you must tell the school in writing so they can remove your child's name from the school register. The school will then tell us of your decision. You don't have to give a reason why you have made this decision.

If your child has a statement of special educational needs and attends a specialist school, you will need to get permission from us to educate them at home. It remains our responsibility in this case to make sure your child's needs are met and to review their needs annually. You would not need to go to this annual review.

The role of the Children Educated at Home Consultant (CEHC)

The CEHC is employed by Kent County Council and will be happy to work with all families who have chosen to educate at home. They won't visit you at home without an appointment. They will offer advice to you which is specific to your child and their needs, including where to find curriculum materials and support groups for home educators. They can also act as a referee for your child when applying for college entrance or jobs. It is often the CEHC who will contact you informally to find out how your child's education is going.

The CEHC welcomes the opportunity to make contact with families who are home educating their children, but it is a decision for you as a parent.

Paying for home education and private tutors

We do not offer any financial help to you if you decide to educate your child at home. There are costs involved in educating your child at home which you will have to consider: for example, you may need to pay for books, examinations or private tutors.

We do not have any lists of recommended home tutors to offer you. There are a number of independent organisations who may be able to help you, or you can look in local advertisements.

Deciding how your child will be educated

You do not have to be a qualified teacher to educate your child at home, and you do not have to follow the National Curriculum or a set timetable. If you want to follow the National Curriculum you can find information on it by visiting the uk.net website. 

If you think you might want your child to go to school in future, it may be in their best interests for you to teach them the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Science and ICT.

Your child will not have to sit SATs (Standard Assessment Tests) but some children like to take GCSEs (General Certificates of Secondary Education). You do not have to wait until your child is 15 or 16 for them to take these exams.

If you want your child to sit an examination, there are a number of distance learning organisations that can provide all the work and preparation for the exam, but you will need to find an examination centre who will allow your child to sit an exam as an external candidate.

If you want your child to go to school

If you decide that your child should go to school, you need to advise us that you no longer wish to educate your child at home and complete an In Year Admission Form. You will be invited to express up to three preferences for schools and to return the form to us. We can also provide you with information on which schools may have available places.

Our responsibilities and duty as a local authority

We understand, respect and accept the right of parents to educate their children at home.

The Education Act 1996, Section 437-443, confirms a duty on the Local Authority to act if it appears that a child of compulsory school age is not receiving education suitable to age, ability, aptitude and special needs.

A CEHC fulfils this duty on our behalf.

Review

Kent County Council may, from time to time, review its Home Education Policy. It will do this in consultation with home educators.

Useful contacts

Children Educated at Home Consultant (CEHC)
Room 2.07, Sessions House, County Hall, Maidstone, Kent, ME141XQ
01622696565
educationathome@kent.gov.uk

Kent Admissions & Transport
Room 2.24, Sessions House, County Hall, Maidstone, Kent MEM 1XQ
01622696565
kent.admissions@kent.gov.uk