Can I apply for an EHCP if my child is home educated?

Some parents choose to home school their child on a full or part-time basis.  One of the main reasons why a child can be pulled from school is due to requiring additional needs or not feeling that their environment is inclusive.  Navigating this system as a parent can feel lonely and stressful.  There is a lack of information and help available for parents.  We will look to address the question ‘Can I apply for an EHCP if my child is home educated?’ within this article.

First, what is an EHCP?

EHCP stands for Education Health and Care Plan.  It is a legal document for individuals aged 0-25 who have a special educational need or disability and require additional support.

What does the support under an EHCP look like?

According to the SEND Code of Practice (2015), there are four branches of SEND:

Communication and interaction

An individual may struggle to speak, understand or communicate.  This section will include autism spectrum conditions too.

Cognition and learning

This can include mild learning difficulties (MLD), severe learning difficulties (SLD) or profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD).  Specific learning difficulties (SpLD) also fall under this section such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia.

Social and emotional

This section can include mental health difficulties such as anxiety, depression or eating disorders.  Also, physical symptoms which are medically unexplained.  For example, behaviour you may find challenging, ADD, ADHD or attachment disorder.

Sensory and physical

This section can include visual impairment (VI), hearing impairment (HI) or a multi-sensory impairment (VI).  It also includes sensory processing difficulties.

We have identified some of the needs above, however there are many others a child may require and it can help to refer to the SEND code of practice.

Some of the needs covered within an EHCP can include:

• Speech and Language therapy
• Occupational therapy including sensory integration
• Physiotherapy
• 1:1 support from a teaching assistant
• ABA
• Hydrotherapy

Can you apply for an EHCP if you home educate your child?

Yes you can. If your child doesn’t currently attend a mainstream setting, you can still apply for an EHCP,  First, you would need to request a statutory assessment from the local council.  The council must consider your request under the same timescales as if the child were in school.

Is it harder to apply for an EHCP to support my home educated child?

It can feel harder for some parents as it is easier for the local council to say that the child’s needs are being met at home.  Also, there is less school evidence to support the EHCP such as SEN support records, progress and reports showing support is not enough.

Home-educated families may have to work harder to produce evidence such as:

• Assessments carried out by professionals such as psychologist, speech and language therapist, occupational therapy and paediatrician.
• Detailed parent evidence
• Examples of what’s not provided without funding.

It is important to know that an EHCP is about need and not where education happens.  If your child has complex needs and requires specialist provision, then home education should not stop you from receiving and EHCP.

What about if my child is attending a special school which is named within the EHCP?

If your child is currently attending a special school and you are looking to remove them from the school to home educate, you would need to get agreement from the local authority before withdrawing them. 

Specialist schools deliver specialist provision which are funded by the local authority.  Therefore, the law gives the local authority more control over changes to the child’s placement.

I have heard of EOTAS – What is this?

EOTAS also known as Education Otherwise Than At School, is a provision in place if a child is unable to attend school.  It is written into the EHCP and the local authority remains responsible for arranging funding for this provision.

Whilst an EOTAS is arranged by the local authority, parents are usually more heavily involved with the provision. 

EOTAS can fund:

• Tutors
• Online schools
• 1:1 teaching support
• Exam entry fees and invigilation
• Learning materials
• Travel costs

Other support it may fund is:

• Speech and language therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Mental health support
• Behavioural programmes
• Mentoring
• Sensory integration
• Specialist software
• Art  and Music
• Support workers

Is it worth applying for an EHCP if I am home educating my child?

You might be told that there is no point to an EHCP if you are home educating your child.  This could not be further from the truth.  Parents will pursue an EHCP so that their child’s needs are legally recognised.  It also provides protection and evidence for any future education placements along with support and access to therapies.

Navigating SEND systems while home educating

When researching EHCPs and considering home schooling, parents can feel isolated.  For most parents, home schooling is not their first choice.  They have had no choice but to pull their child out of school as needs are not being met.  Seeking an EHCP will help ensure your child’s needs are recognised and is less about where learning happens.

FAQs