Do I Have to Write a Report?

Under section 436A of the Education Act 1996, local authorities (LAs) are required to ensure that children who are not on a school roll are receiving a suitable education, whether through home education or other alternative provisions. While you are not legally obligated to submit a report, many families choose to do so to provide evidence of a suitable education. The Local Authority has a duty to check if the education your child is receiving meets the required standards, so presenting a report can help clarify this.

Do I Have to Meet with the Local Authority?

Meeting with the Local Authority is not mandatory. However, since the LA needs to ensure your child is receiving a suitable education, they may request a meeting. You have several options:

• In-Person Meeting: You can meet an Elective Home Education (EHE) officer at your home or in a neutral location.
• Online Meeting: Consider a virtual meeting through platforms like Zoom.
• No Meeting: If you prefer, you can submit a report instead of meeting.

EHE officers may want to assess your child’s safety and well-being and discuss their experiences with home education. While not statutory, such meetings can provide valuable insights and build rapport. Some LAs may be satisfied with a report after an initial visit.

What Should a Report Include?

Here are some guidelines to help you create a comprehensive report:

• Length: Aim for 1-2 pages of text or around 5 pages if including images. This can be longer if your child has additional needs.
• Content:
  • Education Description: Detail the education your child receives, your educational philosophy, and how education is structured.
  • Child’s Information: Include your child’s name, age, strengths, weaknesses, and how you support their development. Highlight literacy and numeracy skills.
  • Progress and Support: Describe the progress made since the last report, including any special educational needs (SEN) and future ambitions (e.g., GCSEs or college plans).
  • Work Notes: Document specific activities, their connections to other learning, what worked well, and your child’s feedback and suggestions.
  • Timetable: Include or describe a timetable covering core learning, clubs, groups, and hobbies. Be creative and encompass various learning opportunities.
  • Resources: List key resources or notable ones used, such as museums or libraries.
  • Social Opportunities: Include information about social groups, clubs, and other activities.
  • Physical Activity: Detail opportunities for physical activity, both indoor and outdoor.
  • Child’s Voice: Incorporate your child’s thoughts on their learning, what they enjoy, and their current projects.
  • Core Subjects: Include samples of work in core subjects, such as writing and maths.

Using Collage for Reporting

Collage is an excellent tool for managing and documenting home education. Here’s how it can help:

• Ease of Use: Record and upload learning experiences as they happen.
• Time-Saving: Save and manage documentation efficiently, generating reports as needed.
• Sharing: Share your child’s progress with the EHE officer via a Zoom meeting or by downloading reports.
• Student Involvement: Older children can upload their own work, fostering independence and ownership of their learning.

For more information on Collage, visit Collage.

While you are not legally required to write a report or meet with the Local Authority, providing evidence of a suitable education through a well-prepared report or meeting can facilitate a smoother process. Use these guidelines to create a report that reflects your child’s learning journey and educational achievements, and consider tools like Collage to streamline the process.

Links

Education Otherwise

Home Education UK

Ed Yourself – Legal Guidance