Removing a child from school roll
Parents are not required to inform the school of their decision to withdraw their child to be home educated. However, by not providing the school with this information the parent is potentially at risk of prosecution for non-school attendance. It may also mean that the child falls into the scope of the local authority's Children Missing from Education statutory duties. We would suggest that you write or email formally to the head teacher if you plan to take your child out of school to be home educated.
The school must accept your intention to elective home educate and request to remove your child from the school roll. Schools are obliged, not the parent, to inform the local authority whenever a child is removed from its register to be home educated. The school will inform us of your decision to home educate and de-register your child from the school roll. The Elective Home Education Office will be in contact within 15 working days from the date of the school referral.
If you have decided to home educate due to school based issues, please discuss this with the headteacher or a member of the Senior Leadership team. This will allow the opportunity for your areas of concern to be addressed. It will also enable the school to seek support from the local authority if appropriate.
Returning a child from school roll if previously home educated
You can send your child back to school at any time. You will need to apply for a school place. Please note that school places at your desired school cannot be guaranteed and would advise to include your catchment school as one of your preferences.
Schools are equipped with supporting children who have previously been electively home educated to transition back into a school setting.
Contact the school admissions team at admissions@cambridgeshire.gov.uk for information and advice.
Flexi-schooling
Flexi-schooling is where a child is educated at school part of the time and at home for the rest. Flexi-schooling is different from a child being offered a reduced timetable to support them to reintegrate into full time education, or children receiving alternative provision.
Parents considering flexi-schooling should first contact the headteacher of their child’s school. If their child is not registered at a school, they should contact the headteacher of their nearest age-appropriate local school.
A headteacher may agree to flexi-schooling but is under no legal obligation to do so.
