Mumsnet Talk

"So here we are, home educating in England at the start of 2012. What's the legal position now?"

I am overseas but due to the flaky nature of the construction business we may find ourselves back in the UK anytime...so I will be following this thread with interest...

Surely you don't have to tell the LA you are home educating, unless you withdraw your child from school?

I know the LA has "ways of finding out". A friend of mine was told by the gp seeing her children that he had the legal obligation (really?) to inform the LA the kids are being home educated.

Yes some GPs/Hospitals/Health Visitors do feel they have an obligation to inform the LA.

But I know very many home educators who have never become known.

Well maybe its because I live in the SE, and there aren't enough school places so...

I've been home educating my daughter for just over a year. She came out of a private school, so we didn't have to inform the LA. She recieves several serivices inc speech therapy & occupational therapy. She's under a consultant and sees a bowel and bladder nurse.
Even with her having all these services, we've never been contacted by the LA. (Better touch wood!)

I think it really depends on the area. We live on a fairly 'rough' council estate (it is actually a lovely place to live, just poor) and had a CME officer drop round during the summer holidays before DD1 was of compulsory school age.

It was very obvious that she was thinking 'feckless parents not bothering to send their DC to school'. However, the person I dealt with at the LEA was perfectly fine with us.

Click on the original post, and it'll tell you what the Law actually says and what responsibilities LAs have