Elective Home Education (EHE) is when parents choose to take responsibility for educating their child at home, or through other arrangements they organise, instead of sending them to school full-time.
It is sometimes referred to as home education or homeschooling. In England, parents have a legal responsibility to ensure children of compulsory school age receive a suitable education, but that education does not have to take place in a school.
Families can organise Elective Home Education in different ways. Some parents teach their children directly, while others use tutors, learning resources or structured online education for part or all of their child’s learning.
What Does the ‘Elective’ Part of Elective Home Education Mean?
The word elective is important because it means the decision to home educate is made by the parent.
Parents remain responsible for making sure their child receives an appropriate education and for deciding how that education will be provided.
This distinguishes Elective Home Education from situations where education outside a school is arranged by another organisation or authority.
The Department for Education defines EHE as a parental choice to provide education at home, or at home and in other ways chosen by the parents, instead of sending the child to school full-time.
Is Elective Home Education Legal in England?
Yes. Parents in England can choose to educate their child at home.
Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 requires parents to ensure a child of compulsory school age receives an efficient full-time education suitable to their:
- Age
- Ability
- Aptitude
- Special educational needs, where applicable
This education can be provided through regular school attendance or otherwise, which provides the legal basis for home education.
EHE should therefore still provide a meaningful education rather than simply removing the requirement to attend school.
Do You Have to Follow the National Curriculum When Home Educating?
No. Parents who choose Elective Home Education in England do not have to follow the National Curriculum.
This gives families flexibility over subjects, teaching methods, resources and the pace of learning.
However, the education still needs to be suitable for the individual child. Parents should therefore think about the knowledge and skills their child will need as they get older and how their education will support future progression.
Families who want greater flexibility while retaining a clear academic structure may choose to follow established programmes through an online curriculum.
How Do You Start Elective Home Education?
The process depends partly on whether your child is already registered at a school.
If your child attends a mainstream school and you want to withdraw them completely for home education, you should notify the school. Government guidance states that the school must accept a request to remove a child completely for home education, subject to specific exceptions such as where a School Attendance Order applies.
Children do not have to attend school before becoming home educated. A parent can choose EHE from the point their child reaches compulsory school age.
Different requirements can apply in particular circumstances, including where a child attends a special school, so parents should check the current guidance before making changes.
What Role Does the Local Authority Have in Elective Home Education?
Parents organise Elective Home Education, but local authorities still have responsibilities relating to children in their area.
A council can make enquiries to establish whether a home-educated child is receiving suitable education. Local authorities also have duties to identify children of compulsory school age who are not registered at school and are not receiving suitable education elsewhere.
Being home educated does not automatically mean that a child is considered missing education. A child receiving suitable Elective Home Education is specifically distinguished from a child missing education in Department for Education guidance.
How Can Parents Show That Suitable Education Is Being Provided?
There is no single school-style format that every home-educating family has to follow.
However, it can be useful for parents to maintain a clear picture of what their child is learning and how their education is developing.
Evidence could include examples of work, learning plans, records of subjects studied, resources being used, progress over time or information from tutors and education providers.
The purpose is not necessarily to reproduce a conventional classroom at home. It is to demonstrate that the child is receiving an education suited to their age, ability, aptitude and individual needs.
Can Parents Use Teachers, Tutors or an Online School?
Yes. Elective Home Education does not mean parents have to personally teach every lesson or subject.
Families can choose different resources and services to help provide their child’s education.
An online school can provide greater structure through scheduled lessons, subject teachers, assessment and an organised curriculum while the child continues learning remotely.
This can become particularly useful as subjects become more specialised or when a learner begins working towards formal qualifications.
At Nisai, students learn through live, teacher-led online lessons and can follow pathways across different key stages and qualifications.
What If Your Child Has Special Educational Needs?
Children with special educational needs can be electively home educated, although there are additional considerations in some circumstances.
If a child with an Education, Health and Care Plan attends a mainstream school, parents do not generally need council permission simply because an EHC plan exists.
If the child attends a special school under arrangements made by the local authority, council permission is required before they can be removed from the school’s roll for home education.
Families considering a change in education because of additional needs can read more about Nisai’s SEND and EHCP support.
Does Elective Home Education Have to Be Permanent?
Choosing EHE does not prevent a child from following a different educational route later.
Families may reassess their arrangements as a learner gets older, their needs change or they approach new stages of education.
A future pathway could involve returning to school, moving into further education or continuing with structured online learning.
Parents who would prefer to combine home education with some attendance at school can also learn about flexischooling, although any such arrangement requires agreement from the school.
How Can Nisai Support Elective Home Education?
Nisai can provide structured online teaching for families who have chosen Elective Home Education but want their child to learn with qualified teachers through an organised academic programme.
Students can access live lessons, curriculum pathways, assessment and feedback while continuing to learn remotely.
Parents considering home education can explore our online school or read our guide to the pros and cons of homeschooling before deciding which approach is right for their family.
