Education at Home by Parents
Parents have a right to educate their children of school age otherwise than at school. This is set out in the Education Act 1996.
The kind of education a child should receive is not set out in the Act but it says that it should be full-time education suitable to the child's age, ability and aptitude.
Each child's needs is assessed separately. The National Curriculum does not have to be followed but parents have to show that they are helping the child learn and develop according to their age, ability and aptitude.
The CSA is responsible for ensuring that the arrangements provide a suitable education for the child.
Guidance, curriculum guidelines and a form to let us know your proposed curriculum are available for downloading at the bottom of this page. The return address for the curriculum proposal form is included on the form. All documents are provided both in PDF and RTF format.
Below Compulsory School Age
If your child is below compulsory school age you do not have to tell the CSA you are educating your child at home.
However you will need to tell the CSA once your child reaches compulsory school age that you have decided to educate your child otherwise than in school.
Compulsory School Age
In Sheffield children are admitted to school in the term in which they are 5 and must remain at school until the last Friday in June in the academic year in which they reach 16.
Education does not have to take place in a school maintained by the Children Service Authority. You have a right to educate your children of school age otherwise than in school.
Efficient Education
You must ensure that if you educate your child at home they are given an efficient education.
You must show that the opportunities being provided are helping your child to learn and that development is taking place appropriate to their age, ability and aptitude.
The Children Service Authority (CSA) is responsible for ensuring that the arrangements provide a suitable education for your child. When you have given the CSA a plan stating your ideas an appropriately qualified Senior Inclusion Officer (SIO) will arrange an initial home visit and make a preliminary assessment of the education provision the child is receiving.
The Senior Inclusion Officer will establish with the parent/carer the role of the CSA and will provisionally agree the nature and frequency of future contact. The SIO's role will also be to discuss the use of resources and provide feedback. A copy of the SIO's report will be sent to the parent/carer.
For further information contact Sean Kilcoyne, Central Team on 0114 273 5609.
Special Education
If your child attends a special school and has a statement you will not be able to withdraw them and educate them at home without the consent of the Children Service Authority.
You should write to:
Attendance and Inclusion Service
Sheffield City Council
Howden House
1 Union Street
Sheffield S1 2SH
Sheffield City Council
Howden House
1 Union Street
Sheffield S1 2SH
Private Schools
For a list of private schools in the Sheffield area please use the search facility on the Help Yourself website or contact Sheffield Information Service: Telephone 0114 273 4761, Fax: 0114 275 7111 or email sis@sheffield.gov.uk
For more information on private schools contact:
Independent Schools Council (ISC)
St Vincent House
30 Orange Street
London
WC2H 7HH
Telephone 020 7766 7070
Fax 020 7766 7071
St Vincent House
30 Orange Street
London
WC2H 7HH
Telephone 020 7766 7070
Fax 020 7766 7071
Private Tutors
For a list of private tutors in the Sheffield area please use the search facility on the Help Yourself website or contact Sheffield Information Service: Telephone 0114 273 4761, Fax: 0114 275 7111 or email sis@sheffield.gov.uk
Downloads
This document gives information to parents and carers on educating their children otherwise than at school (58 KB)
This document gives information to parents and carers on educating their child otherwise than at school. (114 KB)
Use this to give the CSA an indication of the curriculum you intend to follow in educating your child. (51.8 KB)
These curriculum guidelines have been written to help parents prepare a curriculum outline for children being educated at home. (374 KB)
Use this to give the CSA an indication of the curriculum you intend to follow in educating your child. (23.5 KB)
These curriculum guidelines have been written to help parents prepare a curriculum outline for children being educated at home. (111 KB)
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