Education: home educating your child

Here we tells you about home education educating your child yourself at home. It tells you why some parents choose to educate their child with autism at home. It explains what the law says about home education and about your rights and responsibilities.

Why some parents choose home education

As a parent you may be wondering whether your child will benefit from being educated at home. Educating your child yourself is a huge responsibility (see below), but you do have the right to choose to home educate your child. Parents choose to educate a child with autism at home for a number of reasons. For example:

• your child may have sensory sensitivities, which makes a school environment noisy, distracting or even painful to them. They may therefore find it hard to concentrate or behave well, which may then stop them from reaching their full potential.
• you may feel your child's needs are not being recognised or properly supported at school. Although many children with autism do succeed in school and benefit from the support of dedicated staff, such as learning support assistants, your child may find the school environment difficult, with its emphasis on social interaction and group learning.
• you may feel you can provide a more appropriate education for your child than a school that follows the National Curriculum. This may depend on the educational options for children and young people with autism in your area.

Choosing to home educate your child may mean that you have to fulfil the role of teacher and you may therefore get no break from childcare as you will be spending most of your time with your child. You can ask social services to assess your child so you can take a break. For more information, see our information sheets, Social services: getting help for your child (England and Wales) or Social work services, Scotland: getting help or ask our Autism Helpline for a free copy.

You may also feel overwhelmed by all the decisions you will need to make about your child's home education, especially if you have no previous knowledge about teaching or the education system. A number of organisations can help you. See Further information and contact details for more information.

What does the law say about home education?

Legally, you do not need to have any teaching qualifications to home educate your child. And you have the right to educate your child at home, as stated under section 7 of the Education Act 1996 (England and Wales):

"The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him to receive efficient full-time education suitable - (a) to his age, ability and aptitude, and (b) to any special educational needs he may have, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise."

Similarly, in Scotland, section 30 of The Education (Scotland) Act 1980 states that:

"It shall be the duty of the parent of every child of school age to provide efficient education for him suitable to his age, ability and aptitude either by causing him to attend a public school regularly or by other means."

Both acts say 'otherwise' (Education Act 1996) or 'by other means' (The Education (Scotland) Act 1980), and wording makes it clear that going to school is not the only option to educate a child or young person. However, the law does not define how you should home educate your child.

If you are not sure about the legal meaning of phrases in the above extracts such as 'compulsory school age' or 'efficient full-time education', contact organisations we list in Further information and contact details or a specialist solicitor.

You may need to tell your local education authority (LEA) or the Education and Library Board if you live in Northern Ireland about your decision to home educate, and some particular requirements are in place for children who have a statement of special educational needs. For details, see later, Telling others about your decision to home educate.

How should you home educate?

The law does not define how you should home educate. Maintained or state schools have to follow the National Curriculum. The National Curriculum sets out the stages and core subjects your child will be taught during their time at school. Some children with autism can find this way of teaching too rigid. However, when you design your child's education, you will be able to concentrate more on the particular needs and interests of your child. If your child shows a particular talent for maths or music, for example, you could spend more time on these subjects. Your child could also go to classes that specialise in teaching these subjects.

You may decide that you should spend more time on subjects that your child does not do well in. We use the term 'subjects' loosely here. It does not necessarily refer to the areas covered by the National Curriculum.

Although the term 'home education' is commonly used, a child may be taught at home for just part of the time, while also going to colleges or other establishments as well as taking part in community-based learning activities. You are not confined by the classroom and you dont have to teach a large number of children of different abilities. You are able to combine 'academic' lessons with less conventional ways to educate such as visits to leisure centres, classes at colleges or other establishments as well as trips to, for example, historical places, botanical gardens, art galleries or zoos, which can all help a child to learn a particular subject.

In addition, you don't need to follow the hours of the standard school day. If, for example, your child is tired in the morning, but is energetic and has better concentration in the afternoon, you can plan things around this. It can also mean that if your child needs to go to hospital or keep appointments for therapy, they don't have to miss out on their education as these can be taken into account in advance.

Whatever 'timetable' you finally choose, you will need to make some specific decisions. For example, you will need to decide whether to home educate your child throughout their school career or just for a short time. You may feel that your child will benefit from a period of home education, but go back to formal education at a later date or at another level, for example when they reach secondary school or are of college age.

Getting ready for exams

Legally, no-one has to take any exams. This means that you and your child can decide whether to take exams. If you decide to enter your child for exams, you will need to discuss whether your child goes back to school to prepare for their exams, or whether they are going to study for them at home. You will need to arrange for your child to sit the exams yourself. Exams are based on the National Curriculum so you will also need to keep a close watch on changes to the curriculum to make sure that your child is prepared well for their exams.
 
You can check the requirements for GCSEs, A levels, HNDs or any other forms of assessment through the various examinations boards and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). You can also ask the QCA about the requirements of the National Curriculum (see Further information and contact details).

Helping your child to socialise

Home education can suit children and young people with autism, and children with autism may find being home educated an advantage. However, you may be worried about the lack of opportunity to socialise, as home educated children are often taught alone or in a small group. 

Depending on your child's existing social skills and needs, social interaction may be less stressful if you plan and watch carefully. For example, you can help your child's social learning if you and your family act out or role play situations with them, explaining how and why people acted in a particular way. Your child may also be able to socialise with other children who are educated at home, or visit a local youth group or other clubs where they can practise their social skills in a relatively controlled environment. Or, they might like to go to more classes that teach social skills. A combination of any number of these suggestions may help your child to socialise better. See our information sheet, Social skills in young children.

You may find autism specific after-school clubs and social groups around the UK. Go to www.autism.org.uk/outofschoolclubs and www.autism.org.uk/social for information about NAS-run groups or go to www.autism.org.uk/directory or call our Autism Helpline and ask about what's available in your area. 

Telling others about your decision to home educate

If you decide to educate your child at home, you will need to follow some procedures. These may vary depending on the age of your child, the type of school they go to (if they already go to school) and whether they have a statement of special educational needs.

Children with a statement of special educational needs

If your child has a statement of special educational needs, the SEN Code of Practice (Code of Practice, 2001, section 8:95) states that:

"...it remains the LEA's duty to ensure that the childs needs are met. The statement must remain in force and the LEA must ensure that parents can make suitable provision, including provision for the child's special educational needs. If the parent's arrangements are suitable the LEA are relieved of their duty to arrange the provision specified in the statement. If, however, the parents' attempt to educate the child at home results in provision which falls short of meeting the childs needs, then the parents are not making 'suitable arrangements' and the LEA could not conclude that they were absolved of their responsibility to arrange the provision in the statement. Even if the LEA is satisfied, the LEA remains under a duty to maintain the child's statement and to review it annually."

In addition, section 8.96 of the SEN Code of Practice 2001 states:
"Part 4 should state...that 'parents have made their own arrangements under section 7 of the Education Act 1996'."

Children who go to a state school 

If your child does not have a statement and goes to a state school, tell the school, in writing, that you wish your child's name to be removed from the school register. This will stop any misunderstanding about your child's non-attendance at school. You dont need to let your LEA know. However, if you do, they may be able to give you some appropriate guidance and educational materials. They are unlikely to be able to provide any financial help.

Children who go to a special school

If your child goes to a special school, you will need permission from your LEA to withdraw your childs name from the school register. If your LEA does not agree, you can apply to the Secretary of State for Education (Dowty and Cowlishaw, 2002). However, you may wish to get legal advice before doing this.

Children who are not yet of school age

If your child is not yet of school age and you decide to home educate them, then you don't need to tell your LEA. However, if your LEA becomes aware of your child's existence, they may need to be assured that you are providing an 'efficient full-time education' for them (section 7, Education Act 1996).

If your LEA is not satisfied that your child is getting an 'efficient full-time education', they may ask you to show how you are meeting your child's educational needs. Section 437 of the Education Act 1996 states that:

"437(1) If it appears to a local education authority that a child of compulsory school age in their area is not receiving suitable education, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise, they shall serve a notice in writing on the parent requiring him to satisfy them within the period specified in the notice that the child is receiving such education."

If you are unable to fulfil this request, then a school attendance order can be served. This will mean that your child has to become a pupil at a school named by your LEA. Section 437 of the Education Act 1996 (3)(b) applies:

"[An] authority shall serve on the parent an order (referred to in this Act as a 'school attendance order'), in such form as may be prescribed, requiring him to cause the child to become a registered pupil at a school named in the order."

This should not happen if you can produce, on request, workbooks, projects and certificates that demonstrate your childs progress. In their book, Home educating our autistic spectrum children: paths are made by walking, Dowty and Cowlishaw clearly explain the legal requirements of home educating your child in England and Wales (see References and recommended reading).

In Scotland the law is different. Section 35(1) of The Education (Scotland) Act 1980 states that:

"Where a child of school age who has attended a public school on one or more occasions fails without reasonable excuse to attend regularly at the said school, then, unless the education authority have consented to the withdrawal of the child from the school (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), his parent shall be guilty of an offence against this section."

This means that if your child goes to a state school in Scotland, you need to ask your local education authority for permission to withdraw your child from that school. However, the law does say that this 'consent shall not be unreasonably withheld' (section 35(1) The Education Act (Scotland) Act 1980). If you are having difficulties getting permission, contact Schoolhouse or Enquire (see Further information and contact details).

Further information and contact details

Advisory Centre for Education (ACE)
1c Aberdeen Studios     
22 Highbury Grove    
London N5 2DQ    
Helpline tel: 0808 800 5793 (Monday to Friday, 2pm to 5pm)
Website: www.ace-ed.org.uk
ACE gives independent advice to parents and carers of children aged 5 to 16 in state-funded education in a range of areas such as exclusion from school, bullying, special educational needs and school admission appeals. It also has a number of useful publications.

Do2Learn
Website: www.do2learn.com
Do2Learn has a wide range of products to help with learning, including visual supports. Also see our information sheet, Using visual support.

Education Otherwise
PO Box 325      
Kings Lynn
PE34 3XW             
Helpline tel: 0845 478 6345
Website: www.education-otherwise.org
Education Otherwise is a membership organisation that provides support and information for families whose children are being educated outside school, and for those who wish to uphold the freedom of families to take proper responsibility for the education of their children. Its website has useful resources, including information about home education groups around the UK.

Enquire
Children in Scotland
5 Shandwick Place
Edinburgh
EH2 4RG
Helpline tel: 0845 123 2303
Email: info@enquire.org.uk
Website: www.enquire.org.uk 
Enquire is a Scottish independent advice and information service that offers information and advice to parents and professionals about additional support for learning (special educational needs). It has a large number of publications about additional support for learning.

Home Education Advisory Service (HEAS)
PO Box 98     
Welwyn Garden City    
Hertfordshire AL8 6AN   
Tel: 01707 371 854
Website: www.heas.org.uk
The HEAS provides advice and practical support to families who wish to educate their children at home. It offers advice about educational materials, resources, GCSE exams, special educational needs, information technology, legal matters and curriculum design.

Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA)
Customer Relations    
83 Piccadilly     
London W1J 8QA
Tel: 020 7509 5556 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Website: www.qca.org.uk
The QCA maintains and develops the national curriculum and related assessments, tests and examinations. It has a range of information on its website.

Schoolhouse Home Education Association
PO Box 18044     
Glenrothes     
Fife KY7 9AD     
Tel: 01307 463 120
Website: www.schoolhouse.org.uk
Schoolhouse provides information about home education to parents and carers in Scotland.

Winslow
Goyt Side Road
Chesterfield
S40 2PH
Tel: 0845 230 2777
Website: www.winslow-cat.com
Winslow sells a range of books, assessment tools, software and resources for a range of conditions, including special needs, and speech and language amongst others.

Tutors

We advise you to check that tutors have experience of teaching someone with autism. You should also make sure that tutors are CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checked and have references.

Fleet Tutors
Private tutors
Website: www.fleet-tutors.co.uk
Tel: 0845 644 5452

Home School Tutoring
Private tutors
Website: www.homeschooltutoring.co.uk

Kumon
Provides tutoring in English and maths. Children work individually, but are tutored in groups
Tel: 0800 854 714
Website: www.kumon.co.uk

Touch The Sky Ltd
Provides distance learning for children with autism
Suite 3
323 Goring Road
Worthing
BN12 4NX
Tel: 01903 507744
Email: info@touchthesky.uk.com

References and recommended reading

Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) (2007). Home Education. London: DCSF

Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) (2001). Special Education Needs: Code of Practice. London: DCSF
Tel: 0845 602 2260.
Website: http://publications.dcsf.gov.uk

* Dowty, T. and Cowlishaw, K. (2002). Home educating our autistic spectrum children: paths are made by walking. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers

Queens Printer of Acts of Parliament. Education Act 1996. London: The Stationery Office
Tel: 0870 600 5522.
Website: www.tsoshop.co.uk

*Available to order from the NAS.

If an item is marked as available from the NAS, please contact:
NAS Publications
Central Books Ltd
99 Wallis Road
London E9 5LN
Tel: +44 (0)845 458 9911
Fax: +44 (0)845 458 9912
Email: nas@centralbooks.com
Online orders: www.autism.org.uk/pubs

If you require further information please contact the
NAS Autism Helpline
Tel: 0845 070 4004
autismhelpline@nas.org.uk

Last updated: January 2009
© The National Autistic Society 2009