Parents have a duty to ensure that their children receive a suitable full time education either by regular attendance at school or otherwise (under Section 7 of the Education Act 1996).  When parents withdraw their child from school to be home educated, and the child is of compulsory school age, the name of the child can only be deleted from the admissions register when the parents inform the school in writing.  It is then the duty of the school to inform the Local Authority as soon as the grounds for deletion is met.

Milton Keynes Council Home Education Policy

Schools must legally notify MKC immediately a child is withdrawn to be home educated.  Parents will be required to provide evidence that their child is/will be receiving a suitable home education, a pro-forma will be sent to parents to support this process.  Action will be taken by way of legal prosecution where parents have not provided sufficient evidence and the child will be required to return to school.  See graphic below.

Home education policy graphic

Useful documents for schools

Home education guidance for schools

Home education referral form

Planned programme of education

Registering home education

The Local Authority maintains a record of children known to be home educated. The senior officer responsible for home education policy and procedures is:

Simon Sims, Strategic Lead of the Children Missing Education Team

For further advice and to forward home education referrals to, please contact the Children Missing Education Team.