Education of children at home in Blackburn with Darwen

If you are considering educating your child at home these guidance notes should help.  They show you the Council's policies and ways of working in situations like this.

After reading the guidance, if you have any further queries, or want an application form to educate your child at home, please contact the Council's behaviour and community cohesion manager at:

Children's services department
Floor 4B West
The Exchange Building
Ainsworth St
Blackburn
BB1 6AD
 
Telephone: (01254) 666695

There are several common questions which families ask when they are considering home education.  The following examples are meant to help you reach an informed decision as to whether home education is an appropriate alternative to school for your child.

Do children have to go to school?

The 1996 Education Act states that it is the duty of parents to secure an appropriate full time education for their children.  This can be done either by regular attendance at school, or “otherwise”.  For most children in Blackburn with Darwen this means that they will attend the school which serves their local community, but for a wide range of reasons a small minority of parents decide to take on the “duty to educate” their children themselves.

What is the parent’s actual duty?

Under Section 7 of the 1996 Act it is the parent’s duty:

to cause (the child) to receive efficient full time education suitable to his/her age, ability and aptitude and to any special educational needs he/she may have either by regular attendance at school or “otherwise”

What is “efficient” and “suitable” education?

Unfortunately, these words are not defined in the Act.  However education has been held to be “efficient” if it achieves what it sets out to achieve and “suitable” if it prepares the child for life in our society and also enables the child to achieve his/her full potential.  Certainly what is provided need not be the same kind of “lessons” as are provided at school.

It will be up to the parent to show the local education authority that the programme of work is helping the child to learn and that the child is developing according to his/her age, ability and aptitude and any special educational needs he/she may have.