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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East of England SEND Network for Children & Young People
Children and young people with SEND are invited to join an East of England SEND Network. The network provides a space for young people from across the region to discuss things that matter to them so that their voices are heard at a higher level.
Meetings will be held online initially, every 1 to 2 months. Contact Local Offer for upcoming dates. Ideas from young people so far about what the network should focus on include disability awareness, how differences are promoted in schools and understanding different needs, local and social opportunities, developing skills to make new friends, improving mental health in young people and internet safety.
If a child or young person would like to be involved with this initiative please email localoffer@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:
If you would like any further details, please contact me.
- 23 April 2024 - Bournemouth Park Academy, SS2 5JN
- 21 May 2024 - Edwards Hall Primary School, SS9 5AQ
- 18 June 2024 - Blenheim Primary School, SS9 4HX
- 16 July 2024 - Fairways Primary School, SS9 4QW
- 17 September 2024 - Eastwood Primary School and Nursery SS9 5UT
For locations, visit www.southend.gov.uk/SENDSurgeries
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EHE Hubs
The EHE team offer parent/carer drop-in sessions at Libraries and Centres across Southend City. Please see schedule below:
- Kent Elms Library - 1 Rayleigh Road, Southend on Sea, SS9 5UU Every Monday 1.00-4.00pm
- Southend The Forum Library - Elmer Square, Southend on Sea, SS1 1NS Every Thursday 12pm-4pm (Term time only)
- Centre Place Family Centre - Prospect Close, Southend on Sea, SS1 2JD Wednesdays by appointment
- Westcliff Library - 649 London Rd, Westcliff on Sea, SS0 9PD Every Friday 09.30am – 12.00pm
- Shoeburyness Library - Delaware Rd, Shoeburyness, SS3 9NS (by appointment only).
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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
East of England SEND Network for Children & Young People
Children and young people with SEND are invited to join an East of England SEND Network. The network provides a space for young people from across the region to discuss things that matter to them so that their voices are heard at a higher level.
Meetings will be held online initially, every 1 to 2 months. Contact Local Offer for upcoming dates. Ideas from young people so far about what the network should focus on include disability awareness, how differences are promoted in schools and understanding different needs, local and social opportunities, developing skills to make new friends, improving mental health in young people and internet safety.
If a child or young person would like to be involved with this initiative please email localoffer@southend.gov.uk
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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:
If you would like any further details, please contact me.
- 23 April 2024 - Bournemouth Park Academy, SS2 5JN
- 21 May 2024 - Edwards Hall Primary School, SS9 5AQ
- 18 June 2024 - Blenheim Primary School, SS9 4HX
- 16 July 2024 - Fairways Primary School, SS9 4QW
- 17 September 2024 - Eastwood Primary School and Nursery SS9 5UT
For locations, visit www.southend.gov.uk/SENDSurgeries
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EHE Hubs
The EHE team offer parent/carer drop-in sessions at Libraries and Centres across Southend City. Please see schedule below:
- Kent Elms Library - 1 Rayleigh Road, Southend on Sea, SS9 5UU Every Monday 1.00-4.00pm
- Southend The Forum Library - Elmer Square, Southend on Sea, SS1 1NS Every Thursday 12pm-4pm (Term time only)
- Centre Place Family Centre - Prospect Close, Southend on Sea, SS1 2JD Wednesdays by appointment
- Westcliff Library - 649 London Rd, Westcliff on Sea, SS0 9PD Every Friday 09.30am – 12.00pm
- Shoeburyness Library - Delaware Rd, Shoeburyness, SS3 9NS (by appointment only).
