Elective Home Education Hub

Share Elective Home Education Hub on Facebook Share Elective Home Education Hub on Twitter Share Elective Home Education Hub on Linkedin Email Elective Home Education Hub link
Books and bricks

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

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.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Elective Home Education Parent Questionnaire 2020

    The Inclusion team offers support and advice for Home Educated families. We want to know what is working well and what isn’t. This will help improve the service and ensure the Elective Home Education guidance provides an overview of expectations for families new to home education. 

    Your comments will help us achieve this! 

     

    Before you complete the survey please read the EHE Parents Guidance


    Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. If you have any questions please email us: ehe@southend.gov.uk

    The closing date for the survey is March 1st 2021

     

     


    Share Elective Home Education Parent Questionnaire 2020 on Facebook Share Elective Home Education Parent Questionnaire 2020 on Twitter Share Elective Home Education Parent Questionnaire 2020 on Linkedin Email Elective Home Education Parent Questionnaire 2020 link
  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    EHE Registration Form

    We would appreciate receiving some basic information from you regarding the home education of your child, however you are not obliged to provide this. Please complete this form, or send details in an alternative format.


    Privacy Notice

    Why does Southend on Sea City Council collect information? 

    The information you provide will help support your family through the elective home education process. This information may also be used for statistical research purposes. All information you provide will be processed in line with the Data Protection Act 1998. 

    How long does The Council keep the information? 

    Information is retained by the local authority until the child is 25. It is then destroyed securely. 

    Will any information be shared? 

    Personal data will not be disclosed to anyone other than the data subject (i.e. yourself or your child) unless we have your consent, or it is required by law. Where disclosure is allowed we will only share the minimum amount of relevant information on a need-to-know basis. However, information may be forwarded to other agencies without your consent, where the Council has a statutory duty to do so, such as in matters concerning the safety of children. Additionally, Local Authorities have a duty under the Children Act 2004 to cooperate with their partners in health and youth justice to improve the well-being of children in their areas. As part of this duty they will be required to maintain the accuracy of the information held on the Information Sharing (IS) Index about children and young people in their area. Statistical data will be shared in such a way that it does not support measures or decisions relating to particular individuals or identifies individuals in any results. 

    Information will be shared with the Connexions team to support the Raising Participation Age programme. 

    At no time will your information be passed to organisations external to The Council for marketing or sales purposes. 

    Why is ethnicity information requested? 

    Collection of ethnicity information is used to ensure equality of service provision. Disclosure of this information is optional. Any information you provide will be used solely to compile statistics on the EHE careers and experiences of pupils from different ethnic backgrounds, to help ensure that all children and young people have the opportunity to fulfil their potential. From time to time information will be used by the Local Authority to contribute to local and national statistics. 

    Can I access personal data held about me or my child? 

    The Data Protection Act 1998 gives you the right to apply for a copy of your personal information. Under the Act a child has the right to a copy of their own information. In certain circumstances requests may be made by a parent on behalf of their child, for example where the child is too young to understand or exercise their own rights. 

    Share EHE Registration Form on Facebook Share EHE Registration Form on Twitter Share EHE Registration Form on Linkedin Email EHE Registration Form link
Page last updated: 07 Jan 2026, 05:42 PM