If a parent is considering or made the decision to Elective Home Educate their child, schools must ensure that the parent is able to make a fully informed decision with a full understanding of their responsibilities. 

Schools should therefore arrange a meeting with the parent to:

• Discuss the implications of withdrawing a child from school for EHE, including the parent’s full responsibility for providing suitable education.
• Explore whether the child’s needs can be met within school with additional support, adjustments, or alternative approaches.
• Provide neutral information and signpost the parent to the local authority’s Elective Home Education - Guide for Parents.

This conversation helps ensure that the parent’s decision is informed and in the best interests of the child, in line with DfE expectations. Please see Keeping Children Safe In Education point 180.

A copy of the Waltham Forest Parent Elective Home Education Agreement must be shared with the parent to ensure that they understand what is required of them once they remove their child from school to electively home educate. Parents are required to sign this, please send this with the Waltham Forest Elective Home Education Referral Form.

EHE referral, please ensure you fully complete the referral form.

Mainstream Schools – Removing a Child from Roll for Elective Home Education (EHE)

Once a school receives written notification from a parent stating that they intend to educate their child at home, the school must follow both Waltham Forest procedures and DfE statutory requirements.

1. Do not remove the pupil from roll immediately

Before any removal from roll takes place:

• If the pupil has an EHCP, the school should meet with parents and SEN Officer. This is to explore whether the child’s needs can be met in school and ensure the parent’s decision is informed. It is also an opportunity to look at support and alternative options.
• If the pupil is open to Children’s Social Care (CIN or CP), the pupil must also remain on the school roll for 10 school days so that safeguarding checks are completed by Social Care. BACME will let you know once safeguarding checks have been completed and whether the child can be removed from roll.

Please follow the Waltham Forest Elective Home Education Checklist for schools as a guide. 

Special Schools – Procedure When a Parent Requests Elective Home Education (EHE)

1. Arrange a meeting with the parent

Special schools must invite the parent to a meeting to ensure that their decision is fully informed, as required by DfE guidance. The school must discuss:

• The implications of EHE
• The parent’s full responsibility for providing a suitable education
• Whether the child’s needs could be met through reasonable adjustments or alternative provision

2. Notify SEND Services and the EHE Team 

In Waltham Forest, any EHE request for a pupil attending a special school must be referred without delay to:

• The SEND Service/SEN Officer and
• The BACME EHE Team

This ensures the case can be taken to SEND Panel, which determines whether the parents’ proposed education is suitable for meeting the child’s identified special educational needs.

3. Hold an EHCP Review

A full EHCP Review must be carried out following the parental request.
This is required because the EHCP sets out the provision necessary to meet the child’s  needs, and the LA must review whether proposed home education can meet these needs in accordance with the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice.

During this review, parents should provide an Education Plan for consideration by SEND Panel.

4. Child must remain on roll until LA SEND Panel consent is granted

In line with the Education (Pupil Registration) Regulations and Waltham Forest procedures:

• A special school cannot remove a child with an EHCP from roll without the consent of the Local Authority SEND Panel.
• The child must remain on roll and continue to attend, unless medically unfit, until SEN Panel confirms that home education arrangements are suitable.
• Usual attendance procedures must be followed for any non-attendance during this period.
• If Elective Home Education is not agreed by the SEN Panel, the pupil must remain on roll.  

This aligns with the DfE requirement that LAs retain responsibility for ensuring suitable education for children with EHCPs and must maintain and review the EHCP regardless of EHE.

• Guidance for parents on developing a good quality education plan
• Waltham Forest Elective Home Education Protocol 25-26
• DFE Elective Home Education guidance for Local Authorities 

Should you have any queries or require guidance, please contact BACME Service.

Kevin Morrish – Senior BACME Officer - Kevin.Morrish@walthamforest.gov.uk – Mob:07770053240

Please send the completed referral to BACME-Referral@walthamforest.gov.uk