Home education policies and procedures

Procedures

If your child has never been to school, you do not have to ask for permission to educate at home and you're not expected to inform us yourself. But it is always helpful if you do let us know that your child is being home educated. 

If you're withdrawing your child from a mainstream school, write to the school clearly stating that you will be taking full responsibility for your child's education at home. 

Your child can then be de-registered from the school roll. The school must inform us if a child is removed from a school roll to be home educated. 

Once we're aware that your child is being home educated, we'll send you a welcome pack. This includes a link to our online form. You can also access the form yourself and find our contact details at Submit information to the Services to Home Educators Team.

This form asks you to provide details about the education you intend to provide for your child. We recognise that in the early stages of home education, you may not have firm plans. Things may change as home education moves forward. 

We'll also offer support and guidance, if necessary, and check the details the school has given us are correct. If we offer you a visit you do not have to accept this, or you may choose to meet us at another venue. 

If you choose not to meet with us you can communicate with us via letter, email or telephone instead. We would like parents to keep in touch but cannot insist on regular contact. As a minimum we will aim to contact you on an annual basis. 

If we identify that your child is not receiving a suitable education, we will follow our set procedures.

Policies and guidance

• For more information see the services to home educators protocol (PDF, 395 KB)
• Download the  AEHEP guidance for parents and professionals (PDF, 155 KB)
• Download the  Elective home education policy for families (PDF, 115 KB)
• Read our Children's Services (home educated children) privacy notice

Operation Encompass

Encompass is a jointly-run operation between Norfolk County Council, Norfolk Police and Norfolk schools. It has been set up to help schools and education services provide support to families. 

As an education service within Norfolk County Council's Children's Services, we receive confidential information about incidents of domestic abuse and violence where:

• Norfolk Police have attended
• It's recorded that a child is home educated

Our trained officers will then use this information to ensure the right support is available for children and their families. This support is for both those involved in or who witnessed domestic abuse or violence.