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?

Friars Family Centre, Shoeburyness SS3 9XX - 12pm - 2pm drop in

Tuesday 26th November 2024

Tuesday 17th December 2024

Westcliff Library, London Road, Westcliff-On-Sea, SS0 9PD - 09.30am-12.30pm

First Tuesday of the month

3rd December 2024

7th January 2025

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

First Friday of the month

6th December 2024

3rd January 2025

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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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:

• Tuesday 3 December 2024. Venue to be confirmed.
• If you are unable to attend 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 ParentCarers, get advice from one of our SEND support service guests and enjoy a hot drink with something sweet.
Booking is not required.

10th December 2024

14th January 2025

11^th February 2025

11^th March 2025

13^th May 2025

10^th June 2025

8^th July 2025