can you home ed but also attend pre-school playgroup?

[Trebuchet]

Little girl at playgroup, just 4, parents have decided to home ed her next year but have asked if she can still come along to us for next year. She won't be 5 til next May and we are insured for 2-5 yr olds. Is this ok? Is she entitled to any funding? Thank you.

As long as she is still 5 and included in your insurance then I don't see any problem. Legally she doesn't have to start fulltime education yet anyway, so it's the same as if her parents had decided to not send her to school for Reception year but start her a year later in Year 1. I don't know about funding - again, she's in the same situation as not doing Reception for whatever reason, so the funding would be the same as for that.

Thank you. Have emailed Early years but they take ages! Knew I'd get quick info from mumsnet!!

when I was chair of a playgroup we had a few home ed children. To be honest I think the bottom line is until they get to school age then they haven't technically opted out - so they are as entitled to pre-school funding as anyone else.

I think they get the funding until the term after their 5th birthday at which stage they reach the statutory school age.

That's exactly what I did with my ds, although that was a few years ago now. There was never any issue with funding.

I did the same with my DD and she was able to stay and be funded until the term after her 5th birthday (ie the age the age of compulsory education).