Elective Home Education Policy Consultation

The Department for Education released a new Publication of the Elective Home Education Departmental Guidance for Local Authorities and Elective Home Education Departmental Guidance for Parents in April 2019.

Hillingdon's School Placement and Admissions Team are consulting for six weeks from 16th November to 27th December to make changes to our current policy. The consultation will target parents/guardians who the council are aware of as providing elective home education for their child/children, seeking their views on the changes to the policy.

Background to the Elective Home Education Policy

The School Placement and Admissions Team has been responsible for Elective Home Education (EHE) in Hillingdon since July 2015. The policy sets out our procedures to enable Hillingdon Council to comply with its duties towards children and young people living in the borough whose parents have elected to educate them otherwise than at school. It is published for parents, schools and other agencies with an interest in elective home education. The purpose of review was to look at the Council's Elective Home Education Policy and in particular to examine the balancing of both safeguarding issues and the rights of parents who choose to home educate their children.

Summary of the Key Points Considered in the review:

• Changes to the layout and continuity of the policy.
• Proposal for dedicated Social Care involvement and support, when a child has an open referral to their service
• Introduction of a flow chart, showing the process followed by the EHE officer once receiving notification of a family wanting to home educate their child/ren.
• Removal of repetitive sentences, ensuring that the policy is clear, effective and parent focused.
• The amended policy will include the School Placement and Admissions team process to follow when safeguarding concerns are raised regarding a child who is receiving elective home education.

For further information and details on the proposed changes please visit Elective Home Education policy consultation.

How to respond?

We welcome your feedback.  If you would like to make any comments or suggestions in response to the consultation, please contact us by email, ehe@hillingdon.gov.uk.