https://consult.education.gov.uk/non-school-education-division/children-not-in-school/
The Department for Education has published draft statutory guidance on Children Not in School for consultation. It would replace the current Elective Home Education guidance.
The draft covers:
🗂️ Registers: local authorities must keep registers of children not in school, including those home educated, flexi-schooled or missing education
🔐 Consent: a local authority must give consent before withdrawal if a child is subject to section 47 enquiries, is on a child protection plan or has been in the last five years, or attends a special school by local authority arrangement
🏫 Schools: they should tell the local authority when a parent is considering withdrawal, and must not remove the child from roll until any required consent is confirmed
👪 Parents: they provide register information within 15 days, with updates requested at least once a year
🧩 Providers: out-of-school providers teaching a child for more than six hours a week without parents may be asked for information
🤝 Support: local authorities must give advice and information on request and offer forum meetings twice a year
📚 Suitable education: no set curriculum is required, but education should include literacy, numeracy and chances to mix with others
🛡️ Safeguarding: the draft states that home education is not in itself a safeguarding concern
The consultation is open until 3 February 2027.
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