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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EHE Team Drop-In Hubs
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 (Nicola Gray, EHE SEN Advisor)
First Tuesday of the month 12-3pm commencing Tuesday 3rd February 2026
Westcliff Library, London Road, Westcliff-On-Sea, SS0 9PD (Mollie Small, EHE Advisor)
First Wednesday of the month 9.30am-12.30pm commencing Wednesday 4th February 2026
The Forum Library, Elmer Square, Southend on Sea, SS1 1NS (Elizabeth Light, EHE Advisor)
First Thursday of the month 10am-2pm commencing Thursday 5th February 2026
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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Future SEND Surgery dates and venues
The Southend Council SEND Team hosts informal and friendly monthly SEND Surgeries which offer a unique opportunity to connect with multiple key professionals in one place.
- Who can attend? All parents and carers with a child or young person (0 to 25) with SEND living in Southend-on-Sea.
- What time do they run? Between 9am and 11am, unless otherwise stated. No booking needed, just drop-in.
- Where are they held? Sessions are usually hosted by local schools. You can come to any surgery. Your child does not need to attend the school the surgery is hosted at (or be attending any school for that matter!).
- Who will I meet? At each surgery, you can speak directly to representatives from approximately 10 different teams and services across education and health.
Surgeries give families an opportunity to drop in, ask questions and get friendly help, advice and support on a range of topics:
- what to do if you feel your child of young person may have a Special Educational Need or Disability (SEND)
- the support available for children and young people in education settings, and what to do if you are worried your child is not making progress
- how to support and prepare your child for adulthood or transitions
- advice if you are considering requesting an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment for your child or young person
- Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plans and using the EHC Hub
- local services to support you and your child or young person and the SEND Local Offer website
SEND Surgery Dates for 2026
- Wednesday, 28 January 2026. Earls Hall Primary School, Carlton Avenue Westcliff-on-Sea Essex SS0 0QN.
Services and teams attending this surgery include: Specialist Teaching Service, SEND Early Years, EHCP coordinator (school age), Preparing for Adulthood, Inclusion Team, Educational Psychology Service, Southend SEND Independent Forum (SSIF) and the Local Offer team.
- Thursday, 26 February 2026. Prince Avenue Academy and Nursery, Hornby Avenue, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, SS0 0LG.
Services and teams attending this surgery include: Specialist Teaching Service, SEND Early Years, EHCP coordinator (school age), Inclusion Team, Educational Psychology Service, Southend SEND Independent Forum (SSIF) and the Local Offer team.
- Tuesday, 24 March 2026. Fairways Primary School, The Fairway, Leigh-on-Sea SS9 4QW.
Services and teams attending this surgery include: Specialist Teaching Service, SEND Early Years, EHCP coordinator (school age), SENDIASS, the Lighthouse ASD/Jigsaws, NHS Occupational Therapy, NHS Speech and Language, Inclusion Team, Educational Psychology Service, Southend SEND Independent Forum (SSIF) and the Local Offer team.
- Monday, 27 Apil 2026. North Leigh Street Primary School, North Street, Leigh-on-Sea SS9 1QE.
Services and teams attending this surgery include: Specialist Teaching Service, SEND Early Years, EHCP coordinator (school age), Preparing for Adulthood, Inclusion Team, Educational Psychology Service, Southend SEND Independent Forum (SSIF) and the Local Offer team.
- Wednesday, 20 May 2026. Thorpedene Primary School and Nursery, Delaware Rd, Southend-on-Sea SS3 9NP.
Services and teams attending this surgery include: Specialist Teaching Service, SEND Early Years, EHCP coordinator (school age), SENDIASS, NHS Occupational Therapy, NHS Speech and Language, Inclusion Team, Educational Psychology Service, Southend SEND Independent Forum (SSIF) and the Local Offer team.
- Friday, 26 June 2026. Cecil Jones Academy, Eastern Ave, Southend-on-Sea SS2 4BU.
Services and teams attending this surgery include: Specialist Teaching Service, SEND Early Years, EHCP coordinator (school age), Preparing for Adulthood, the Lighthouse ASD/Jigsaws, Inclusion Team, Educational Psychology Service, Southend SEND Independent Forum (SSIF) and the Local Offer team.
- Monday, 6 July 2026. Bournemouth Park Academy, Bournemouth Park Road, Southend-on-Sea, SS2 5JN.
Services and teams attending this surgery include: Specialist Teaching Service, SEND Early Years, EHCP coordinator (school age), Preparing for Adulthood, NHS Speech and Language, Inclusion Team, Educational Psychology Service, Southend SEND Independent Forum (SSIF) and the Local Offer team.
- Thursday, 24 September 2026. Milton Hall Primary School, Salisbury Avenue, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 7AU.
Services and teams attending this surgery include: Specialist Teaching Service, SEND Early Years, EHCP coordinator (school age), SENDIASS, NHS Occupational Therapy, Inclusion Team, Educational Psychology Service, Southend SEND Independent Forum (SSIF) and the Local Offer team.
- Tuesday, 20 October 2026. Edwards Hall Primary School, Macmurdo Rd, Southend-on-Sea SS9 5AQ.
Services and teams attending this surgery include: Specialist Teaching Service, SEND Early Years, EHCP coordinator (school age), NHS Speech and Language, Inclusion Team, Educational Psychology Service, Southend SEND Independent Forum (SSIF) and the Local Offer team.
- Wednesday, 25 November 2026. Blenheim Primary School, School Way, Leigh-on-Sea SS9 4HX.
Services and teams attending this surgery include: Specialist Teaching Service, SEND Early Years, EHCP coordinator (school age), Inclusion Team, Educational Psychology Service, Southend SEND Independent Forum (SSIF) and the Local Offer team.
- Friday, 11 December 2026. Charter Suite, Southend's Civic Centre, Victoria Ave, Southend-on-Sea, SS2 6ER.
Services and teams attending this surgery include: Specialist Teaching Service, SEND Early Years, EHCP coordinator (school age), Preparing for Adulthood, NHS Occupational Therapy, Inclusion Team, Educational Psychology Service, Southend SEND Independent Forum (SSIF) and the Local Offer team.
If you are unable to attend a surgery but need help with anything related to SEND, contact the team at LocalOffer@southend.gov.uk or 01702 212328
Parent Guidance Documents
Southend SEND What Happens Next A guide to the Graduated Response June 2022.pdf (519 KB) (pdf)
