Welcome to Elective Home Education (EHE)

This page provides information for parent's who are considering educating their child at home, as well as on-going guidance and information for existing home educators.

Education is a fundamental right for every child and we recognise that parents have the right to choose to educate their child at home rather than at school. Parents are responsible for ensuring that their children receive a suitable education. Where parents have chosen to home educate, we want the home-educated child to have a positive experience.

The legal responsibility for a child’s education rests with their parents. While most parents choose to educate their children by sending them to school, others choose to educate their children at home. So, education is compulsory but school isn’t.

Those parents who make the decision to take responsibility for their child’s education instead of sending to school are Electively Home Educating (EHE).

By choosing to electively home educate, parents are taking on the full responsibility for their children’s education, ensuring it is full-time, suitable and effective. There are no funds available for parents who decide to home educate their children.

As a local authority, we have a duty to ensure all children receive a full-time, suitable and effective education, including those who are electively home educated.

We are committed to working with home educating parents to ensure home education is a success for all.

We carry out our duty through regular engagement with families in a range of ways including visits, calls and parental reports. These reviews also offer the opportunity for home educating families to raise any concerns or requests for advice and guidance regarding the educational provision being made.

Further information on how the EHE team works with families and fulfils its duty please contact the team at ehe@southend.gov.uk or by the contact details on the 'who's listening' tab.

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The EHE team offer parent/carer drop-in sessions at Libraries and Family Centres across Southend City. Why not drop in and see us?

Prittlewell Priory Visitor Centre, Southend-On-Sea, SS2 6NB

First Tuesday of the Month 10am - 2pm

8th April, 6th May, 3rd June, 8th July

Westcliff Library, London Road, Westcliff-On-Sea, SS0 9PD

First Tuesday of the Month

6th May, 3rd June and 1st July

The Forum Library, Elmer Square, Southend-On-Sea, SS1 1NS

First Friday of the month 10am-2pm

4th April, 2nd May, 6th June and 4th July

If you would like to meet with the team at a different date and time please email us at: ehe@southend.gov.uk

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The Lighthouse Centre - Workshops for Parents

The Lighthouse Child Development Centre is running workshops and support sessions for children between 5 and 18 years old and their families.

• 5 years old and over: workshops run by the Lighthouse Development Centre | Livewell Southend
• Under 5 years old: workshops run by the Lighthouse Development Centre | Livewell Southend

SEND Surgeries

The Southend City SEND Team hold monthly ‘SEND Surgeries’ in locations across Southend City (9:00am to 11:00am). If you have a child or young person with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and have any questions or need advice, drop-in and see us:

• Friday 25 April 2025. Hamstel Infant School and Nursery, Hamstel Road, Southend-on-Sea, SS2 4PQ

• Monday 19 May 2025. Leigh North Street Primary School, North Street, Leigh-on-Sea, United Kingdom, SS9 1QE

• Thursday 26 June 2025. Earls Hall Primary School, Carlton Avenue, Westcliff on Sea, Essex, SS0 0QN

• Tuesday 15 July 2025. Edwards Hall Primary School, Macmurdo Road, Eastwood, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex SS9 5AQ

• Please note there is no session in August

• Wednesday 24 September 2025. Hamstel Junior School, Hamstel Road, Southend-on-Sea, SS2 4PQ

• Friday 17 October 2025. The Eastwood Academy, Rayleigh Road, Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 5UU

• Monday 17 November 2025. Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School, Manchester Drive, Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 3HS
• Thursday 11 December 2025. Venue to be confirmed

Officers that will be in attendance at each surgery include representatives from the school age EHCP team, the Inclusion team, Occupational Therapy, the Supporting Families team, the School Nursing Team and the Local Offer team.

• If you are unable to come to a surgery, but need help with anything related to SEND, contact us at LocalOffer@southend.gov.uk or 01702 212328.

For locations and further details, visit www.southend.gov.uk/SENDSurgeries

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SEND Coffee Mornings for Parents & Carers

SAVS, Alexandra Street, Southend On Sea, SS1 1BW 10am-11:30am

Southend SEND Independent Forum (SSiF) host a monthly coffee morning, where Parent Carers can get together to share their experiences.
Every month they have the Local Offer team with them and invite 1 or 2 additional special guests from for example Health, Social Care, Education and more, to offer guidance and advice.
There is also a sensory play creche available for your little ones aged 0-5 with Chaos & Calm.
Come along and chat to other Parent Carers, get advice from one of our SEND support service guests and enjoy a hot drink with something sweet.
Booking is not required.

13^th May 2025, 10^th June 2025 and 8^th July 2025