Education otherwise than at school (EOTAS) and Elective home education (EHE)
Information about educating your child at home, or outside of formal education.
Education otherwise than at school (EOTAS)
The Children and Families Act 2014 (CFA) Section 61 makes specific legal provision for the education of children and young people, for whom education in a school or post-16 institution would be inappropriate. This is called Education Otherwise Than At School, or EOTAS.
EOTAS is where a child or young person with an education, health and care (EHC) plan can receive special educational provision (Section F) outside of a formal education setting. Under an EOTAS arrangement, the child or young person will not be required to be on the roll of, or in attendance at an educational setting.
Instead, they will receive their education and special educational provision either at home, or in some circumstances, within an external setting that is not a registered educational setting.
Under Section 42 of the Children and Families Act 2014 (external link), a local authority is placed under an absolute legal obligation to make sure a child or young person receives all of the provision contained in Section F of their EHC plan.
EOTAS is not the same as elective home education (EHE). While both EOTAS and EHE may have the same result in that the child will be being educated at home, they each place completely different obligations on local authorities.
Special Needs Jungle provide an explanation of EOTAS and how you can access it (external link).
Elective home education (EHE)
Elective Home Education is when parents/carers decide to provide education for their child at home instead of sending them to school.
All parents of compulsory school age children are required to ensure they receive an efficient full-time education, suitable to the child’s age, ability and aptitude and to any special educational needs they may have.
If a parent/carer decides to EHE their child then they must ensure they are meeting this legal requirement.