To invoke the ‘otherwise’ option for school absence?

[KuanKaKu]

AIBU to send this letter in and request temporary de-registration?
WWYD if you are a Headteacher and received this?
Dear Headteacher,
I am writing to inform you that for the period xxx 2026 to xxx 2026 inclusive, my children, [Child’s Name(s)], will be receiving their education otherwise than at school, in accordance with Section 7 of the Education Act 1996, which places the legal duty for securing a suitable education on me as the parent.
Section 7 states that:
“The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him to receive efficient full-time education suitable to his age, ability and aptitude, and to any special educational needs he may have, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.”
During this period I will be exercising the “otherwise” option. As such, my children will not be attending school between these dates. You may therefore treat them as temporarily deregistered for this period, as their education is being lawfully provided by me.
This is not a permanent withdrawal. My intention is for them to return to school-based provision on xxx 2026.
For clarity:
Parents are the duty-holders under Education Act 1996 s.7 with the right to elect for education “otherwise”.
Elective Home Education does not require the school’s permission (DfE Elective Home Education Guidance, 2019).
Temporary periods of home education are legally valid where the parent is providing suitable education under s.7.
Compulsory school attendance requirements under s.444 apply only where the parent is relying on school attendance to discharge the s.7 duty, which is not the case during this period.
Please confirm receipt of this notification for your records.

No - if you choose to remove them from school, the school/LA does not need to keep your place. If you chose to return to state provided education after your temporary absence, you have to apply from scratch and the LA are not obliged to find you a place in your preferred/previous school - or even within your area. Having home schooled for a year, myself, this was made very clear to us at the time. You can’t opt in and out at will otherwise every parent in the land would educate their children ‘otherwise and temporarily’ for 2-3 weeks a year to take their kids on cheaper holidays.

It’s not legally enshrined, but will be clearly stated in the school policy document that the school reserves the right to deregister any children who do not attend for an extended period (at my DDs junior school it was 6 weeks, despite being signed off by her GP, but they can do so just for a 2 weeks unauthorised absence, such as a holiday/travel).

If you take them out, expect to have to homeschool them for an extended period until a place comes up at one of the schools of your choice. It may take years, though.

I don't know the legality but a friend was told if she withdrew child and another child needed the space they would get it and she'd have to take her chances on getting a space like anyone else.

Maybe it would depend on timescale.

Funding doesn't come and go with a child on a short term basis. It is based on the number of pupils on roll on the school on census day, which was 2 October 2025. That feeds into 2026/2027 funding, so there's always a lag. So there's no funding implication of deregistering and reregistering for a time period that isn't over census day.

That's not so say it sounds like a good idea, for all of the other reasons mentioned.

It used to be the case many years ago that parents, often of Indian or Pakistani origin would take their children back “home” for a couple of months.

the school would usually hold the place.

these days the central government is much more hot in attendance. If you are on roll you are expected to be in and the school will have procedures in place to help you get your child in.

you will be off rolled after two or three weeks.

if you de register yourself for “home education “ (which is what otherwise is) you’ll need to apply for a new school place if you want them to go to school when you get back.

so no such thing as temporary de registration

Your title seems to imply the Otherwise Option is like an 'absence code' for when you want to take your DC out of school for a bit...

As per PP's comments, it very much IS NOT.

Just pay the holiday fine.

Came to say exactly that!!!

The only time children can be missing for a length of time is if they are part of the travelling community.

If this is a holiday situation, why would you roll the dice with your child’s place at school.
it sounds absolutely barking and hard work.
if you are making a significant saving, just factor the cost of the fine as part of the holiday cost

So are you taking your child out of school because they are not meeting the needs of the child? Taking them.out and then trying to put them back in if you are trying to force them into getting an echp may go against you. If your not happy put your child in a different school where they will meet the needs of your child.

The school will de-register you. If there is a waiting list then your sons place will be given away, if there is an application whilst your son is off role then the place will be given away. Once you reapply, you will be given a place if only if one is still available, if not, you will be placed on a waiting list until a place becomes available.

If i was the head I'd permanently unenrole your child and give their place to another child.
You do realise that you cant just opt out and back in to school you need a school with a space ti take them and it won't necessarily be the closest or any that you'd choose

The headteacher will just die of cringe at someone with no idea attempting to use legalese to take their kid to Orlando.

In our LA children who have recently left the school go to the top of the waiting list if they want to come back.

However EHE is not a way to keep a place open. You're either on roll or you're not. If we get notified that a parent wants to EHE we can off roll the child from the day the school is given notice in writing by the parent.

If you do this you may well find your child doesn't have a school place when they come back from holiday.

You can deregister to home educate but there are no guarantees that your child will be offered a place in the same school on their return..

You will likely also be contacted by the local authority to ask you to evidence the education that you are providing.

I can't imagine why they'd keep places open for children in this circumstance. It would be depriving another child of a place at the school which might have been their top choice.

That would mean all school places were basically holding placements and the kid can come whenever if the other days are being classed as 'otherwise'?! It seems ridiculous to me. You'd have empty classrooms which are recorded as being at full capacity for funding purposes?!

OP I think you need to open up your research on your available options here, most specifically in understanding the distinct differences between EHE and EOTAS.
EOTAS is something you apply for via your local authority and either get granted, along with the appropriate budget and support or not. There must be an EHCP in place per child. It is not something you inform a school you are doing until or unless you have finalised agreements. This can take many months if at all appropriate.
EHE is a parent decision, which effectively is you removing your children from the formal education system, with minimal or no access to support services. It is rare for EHE families to do so on a temporary basis.
Home education and home schooling are also two very different things.

Perhaps if you explain your reasoning for removing your children, we can help and advise you on the best options available to you? Why now, for what purpose and why on a temporary basis? Do you think your children will cope with the transitions either end of this arrangement? What the of education, development and activities are you planning instead of school per child? What SEMH provisions have you got planned?
Will you co-ordinate this? Fund teaching, resources and curriculum planning? What professionals, resources, services and activities will you need? And are they available in your area?

There is a great deal of growing support for education alternatives out there. We can perhaps guide you towards best things to explore if you provide a summary of what your reasoning and ideal outcomes from a temporary arrangement will bring for your children.

You can deregister and there is a temporary kind of cooling off time where you can change your mind .I think here it was two weeks/ 10 school days. They won't give the place away during that time. However depending on how popular the school is and if there's a waiting list for available places people who want to join as soon as that 10 days is up will be notified and in the interim 10 days they may invite them in to look around if they haven't already. They will them know that the place isn't absolutely available at the moment but it's likely to become available. if you are doing this because you want to take them on holiday and avoid a fine you run the risk of losing your place permanently. one to 10 days is up you'd need to reapply as if you were a brand new applicant And if they are up to numbered you're not guaranteed a place.

I don't think you can temporarily deregister them. You can deregister them to home education but they don't have to keep the place open for them for whenever you decide to return. The place will be given to someone on the waiting list.

You think you've found a clever way to go on holiday in term time. You haven't. Either pay the fine or don't go on holiday in term time.

😂😂😂😂😂 pay your fine..my sister is a teacher in the UK this will not work and they will need to see where your kids are getting their education from and it's alot of paperwork before they are homeschooled and then try to bring them back to school ..nice try though ffs

Never ceases to amaze me how many people think they have a "clever" workaround for X that magically no one has spotted before...

A friend who is a lecturer did an exchange where she taught in the US for six months and took young teen DD with her. Teen had a temp school place in the US so was definitely in education and not on holiday, but her GB school wouldn't hold the place for her and she had to unenrol and re-enrol.

Good luck with the “temporary de-registration” if your school is oversubscribed. The school can offer your child’s place to the waiting list if you do this and have no obligation to accept your child back. Screenshot attached on the topic from BBC News. Are you doing this to have a holiday without being fined? Not worth it.

I just think she fancies a holiday!

How long will they be off for and why?

Oh photo doesn’t show. Here’s the link to BBC. Scroll down a bit to the temporarily deregistration bit: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zfctcxs