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.

Yeah, that’s a big idiotic.

You can’t take your kids out and ‘reserve’ their places for their return. Once they’re out, they’re out, and their places are up for grabs.

You have it the wrong way around. There is a law that covers de-registration / home schooling - you’ve quoted it.

For temporary de-registration to be legal and the school to be bound by the requirement to let a child back in after a ‘temporary’ departure, there would need to be legislation that says this.

There isn’t any.

Well, if you think you can do it OP, try it.

Why won't you say how long you intend to "educate at home" for?

Your child is either registered for a school place or not. Therefore no dipping in and out according to your preferences.

If you deregistered at our school the place would be filled within a few days. There simply isn't the capacity to hold unfilled places. Another child will be there filling the place.

If it's a for a term time holiday you're being ridiculous and risking your child having no school place when you get back.

If it's genuinely to home educate then stick with that on a long term basis.

You use far too many words.

You can de-register your child, but there's no guarantee the school won't give their place to someone else before you re-register them. You can't temporarily de-register and also hold the school place.

Is this for a holiday? Honestly, just pay the fine.

You can ChatGPT it and disagree with the system all you want; the rules still apply to you as they do to everyone else!!!

Actually it's only that simple because public voice and opinion on the matter is not being fairly heard! The number of petitions started on school absence in term time clearly evidences there is a high level of demand for a changes to the current system, change has to start somewhere, being a doormat doesn't enable progress...

Of course you can de-register. But they don't have to keep the place open.

You must have a lot of time on your hands to be considering this nonsense. Get a hobby or a job and stop being so ridiculous

One suspects the local authority might be particularly interested in arranging a quick inspection to check up on the quality of this temporary "education"?

If you want the law changing, that’s absolutely fine, petition away. But don’t expect the current laws to be bent to suit you.

What progress is to be made by people taking their kids out of school whenever they fancy?

Actually it is that simple because that's the law. I realise you may feel similarly miffed that you're not allowed to drive off from the petrol station without paying for your fuel or organise your house moves by simply breaking into whichever dwelling strikes your fancy, but like all of us you are subject to the law.

I think (it's hard to remember amongst all the stuff you've (not) written) that the original question was how a head teacher would feel receiving this. In your case, I imagine I would be throwing a party with lots of alcohol to celebrate that you would no longer be in contact with the school. (You asked).

In my local authority, when a parent decides to home educate, the school has to complete a form , one of the questions basically asks if we consider the parent able to provide a suitable education. In this case, I think my response would be No, relies too much on ChatGp and not common sense!

at the end of day, despite all of your eloquence what you are saying is "I dont like the rules and dont want them to apply to me because Im special" and you arent.

there is no such thing as temporary deregistration because if there were every parent who ever took their child on an authorised holiday would do this option.

if you deregister you will lose your place at that school and rightly so. either you play by the rules or you skip out of the game.

petitions yes. lobbying your MP yes all of those good things. but the rules apply to you and they will be applied because not to do that would be just as unfair.

You absolutely can temporarily de-register your child. That is your legal right.

The school, however, is under no obligation to hold your place. If the school is under-subscribed then you may be OK but you will have to re-apply for a place and the timescales for this may not exactly meet your original dates.

If the school is over-subscribed then the local authority may end up allocating them a place in a different school.

Yep. I did think that this is giving them a lovely excuse to never see, speak to or receive an excruciatingly dull email that thinks it's clever from OP ever again.

Headteachers aren't going by petitions, though
They have to follow the law as it stands.
Just deregister and home school if you want to, but just send a simple clear letter to that effect

...It is a rational response to a system that has not kept pace with society.

It reads as abstract waffle to justify your belief that the rules are made for other people.

How about relating the concrete facts of your situation?

I think we’ve been hoodwinked; I’m pretty sure the OP is a bot 🤨

Not necessarily. The travelling community can be on roll with more than one school at any one time. Schools have to keep places open for them returning to the area.

For those of us that are less AI savvy.. Is this what happens when someone not very bright uses AI to try and organise their thoughts? All those point 1 and point 2s seen in the long text?

The child would be removed from the Roll because they can only be in one place at a time. That is registered with you or registered with a school.

1. You remove them from school
2. You register them with you.

When you get bored with that you apply to send them to a school. You might get your first choice you might not.

Holy TLDR Batman!

boohoo you can't go skiing. pay the bloody fine FFS