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Home ed

Find advice from other parents on our Homeschool forum. You may also find our round up of the best online learning resources useful.

deregistering from school - need advice

17 replies

avacadoseed · 09/12/2023 16:47

I want to deregister an 11yo from school, I believe I need to write to the (private) school to declare this, notify the lea and then I can immediately start homeschooling? Or do I need to wait for permission to start hs?!

if I need to write a letter can anyone point me in the direction of a good letter template?
TIA

OP posts:
contactus · 09/12/2023 16:52

if you are asking this OP, i am guessing you have not done much research in to the implications and responsibilities involved i. home schooling.

keye · 09/12/2023 17:01

Which country?

Charlingspont · 09/12/2023 17:07

Google 'elective home education' for your County. They should have a webpage explaining what to do, but the first step is to write a letter to the school detailing your intention, and the date on which you will start home educating. They can then notify the LEA (although given it's a private school, I'd probably send a copy of your letter to the LEA myself to be on the safe side).

avacadoseed · 09/12/2023 17:20

thanks @Charlingspont I will do that

OP posts:
CandyLeBonBon · 09/12/2023 17:28

You need to write a specifically worded letter/email like this:

Please remove xxx from the school roll with immediate effect in accordance with Regulation 8(1)(d) of the Education (Pupil Registration) Regulations 2006 as she is now home educated in accordance with section 7 of the 1996 Education Act.

As soon as you have done that your child must legally be removed from the school roll. They will inform the LA and you will be appointed a home education officer who will ask for annual reports outlining your child's education and progress. There are many very good home Ed resources on Facebook which give very comprehensive guidance and support on all aspects of home education.

avacadoseed · 09/12/2023 17:40

thank you @CandyLeBonBon

OP posts:
CandyLeBonBon · 09/12/2023 17:41

avacadoseed · 09/12/2023 17:40

thank you @CandyLeBonBon

There is no need for them to approve it or insist on a meeting in spite of what they might tell you - that email is all that is required by law.

Myfabby · 09/12/2023 17:48

@avacadoseed private schools usually need a terms notice or you'll be liable for fees.

Good luck with homeschooling.

avacadoseed · 09/12/2023 17:52

@Myfabby thank you.

OP posts:
avacadoseed · 09/12/2023 17:54

@CandyLeBonBon that is really helpful advice because our lea appear to 'need' a meeting. I am probably happy to have one tbh but don't want to be forced to do anything. I have researched hs but now finally making the decision to go ahead with it as dc is unhappy at school and I want to make sure I get everything right 'officially'

OP posts:
Thesearmsofmine · 09/12/2023 17:58

As it is a private school you don’t need to deregister but advise that you no longer require a place. You also don’t need to contact your LEA. (I am assuming you are in England) More info below

https://educationalfreedom.org.uk/deregistration/

I will say though that this information is widely available and before taking the leap I would advise that you do some research.

Deregistration. - Educational Freedom

https://educationalfreedom.org.uk/deregistration/

avacadoseed · 09/12/2023 19:25

thank you @Thesearmsofmine I have read that article but it is not dated so I still wanted to check current rules.

I have now read through the lea online advice and they say on their website that once we have submitted the forms to say we will be hs, an elective homeschool officer will be in touch, initially by phone to discuss our plans for how we will hs and will also arrange a home visit. Nothing to suggest it's optional. We are in England.

The lea website also says that our school will also need to fill out a form to confirm we will be hs, I was hoping not to tell school if that is possible but it looks like we have to in our lea.

There is a lot of contrasting information out there so it's very helpful to discuss with parents who may have already waded through it...

OP posts:
CandyLeBonBon · 09/12/2023 19:30

avacadoseed · 09/12/2023 19:25

thank you @Thesearmsofmine I have read that article but it is not dated so I still wanted to check current rules.

I have now read through the lea online advice and they say on their website that once we have submitted the forms to say we will be hs, an elective homeschool officer will be in touch, initially by phone to discuss our plans for how we will hs and will also arrange a home visit. Nothing to suggest it's optional. We are in England.

The lea website also says that our school will also need to fill out a form to confirm we will be hs, I was hoping not to tell school if that is possible but it looks like we have to in our lea.

There is a lot of contrasting information out there so it's very helpful to discuss with parents who may have already waded through it...

Take a look at this Facebook group op. They have a comprehensive support and resources and were really helpful for me: 📸 Look at this post on Facebook m.facebook.com/groups/hefa.resources.offers/?ref=share

Thesearmsofmine · 09/12/2023 20:03

Your LEA are being sneaky in that case. I have home educated all 3 of my children from the start, my eldest is 13 so I have plenty of experience. I would suggest to join Facebook groups as suggested above (I understand not wanting to do the wrong thing or worry about believing someone on an anonymous forum).
Also join your local home ed Facebook groups, because they will know about your specific area and what the LEA are like plus you will find what is available in your area.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 09/12/2023 20:26

was hoping not to tell school if that is possible.

They need to know where she is and that she's safe rather than just disappearing, as they have as much of a safeguarding obligation as a State School.

By following the LA procedure for notifying EHE and telling them, you make it possible for both to discharge their safeguarding responsibilities - and as she's not in any danger, by following the procedure, you don't take up time the school and LA could be spending upon tracing and safeguarding children who are actually at risk that disappear from school every day.

Saracen · 10/12/2023 07:39

Thesearmsofmine · 09/12/2023 20:03

Your LEA are being sneaky in that case. I have home educated all 3 of my children from the start, my eldest is 13 so I have plenty of experience. I would suggest to join Facebook groups as suggested above (I understand not wanting to do the wrong thing or worry about believing someone on an anonymous forum).
Also join your local home ed Facebook groups, because they will know about your specific area and what the LEA are like plus you will find what is available in your area.

I agree. It can be difficult to be sure you have the correct information, and you are wise to want to check that. If you go to a big national home ed website, they will have accurate information.

First make sure you get advice for the relevant country. Education is devolved, so the law is slightly different in each of the countries of the UK. Scotland is the only one where you cannot immediately deregister upon demand to home educate. There, you need to obtain the consent of the LA first, but that should be a straightforward and quick process and there are few grounds on which they can refuse. Also, if your child is being educated at a special school, you need LA consent. (This is true even of independent school if the fees are paid by the LA.)

If ever you are unsure, ask people to direct you to the actual law. Most of the template letters you will find online quote the legislation, which you can go read for yourself. Assuming you are in England or Wales, you will see that there is no reference IN LAW to any requirement for meetings with the LA, or for you to inform the LA directly of your decision to home educate. Therefore there is no such requirement. Given that you are not requesting any service from them, bureaucrats at your LA do not get to make up policies and demand your compliance. If your LA tries to insist you must do xyz, just write to them and ask them to cite the law which says you have to.

Home education in itself is not a safeguarding concern. Even the government, which has often viewed HE with suspicion, acknowledges this. As long as you have told your independent school that your child will not be attending, their role is finished. Obviously if they'd already had serious concerns about your child's welfare due to any previous incident, they would have made a referral to Social Care when that happened.

These are the biggest home ed organisations in each country:
England/Wales: https://www.educationotherwise.org/
Scotland: https://homeeducationscotland.org.uk/
NI: https://hedni.org/

homeeddingwitch · 18/12/2023 17:08

@avacadoseed
You are under no obligation whatsoever to have a home visit. In my experience the LA will always offer when you deregister, and the way they word it makes it seem obligatory but it’s not at all.

Think very carefully about the effect a potential visit may have on your child, particularly if they have had a hard time at school. Your child is the important factor here and how they feel not some random stranger who happens to be in the job of HE ‘officer’. My advice is to protect your child.

I HE my tweens/teens so if you have any questions please feel free to message me.

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