In Wales, education is compulsory but attending school is not.
Parental responsibility
If a child is home educated, there is an obligation on parents to make sure that their child gets an ‘efficient’ and ‘suitable’ full-time education; this obligation is found in section 7 of the Education Act 1996.
Parents who decide to home educate their children must be prepared to assume full responsibility and this may have financial implications.
Financial costs
Parents who choose to home-educate their children must be prepared to assume full financial responsibility, including bearing the cost of any public examinations.
Council responsibility
Under section 436A of the Education Act 1996, Isle of Anglesey County Council must make arrangements to identify children in their area who are of compulsory school age and not receiving a suitable education.
Section 436A of the Education Act 1996 states:
A local authority must make arrangements to enable them to establish (so far as it is possible to do so) the identities of children in their area who are of compulsory school age but:
(a) are not registered pupils at a school, and
(b) are not receiving suitable education otherwise than at a school.
Isle of Anglesey County Council ('local authority') notes that the caveat in section 436A ‘so far as it is possible to do so’ should be interpreted as meaning the local authority should do all that is reasonable, practicable and appropriate to identify children.
Home education is conditional
The right to home-educate is not a fundamental one.
It is conditional on parents providing their child with an ‘efficient’ and ‘suitable’ education. Parents may educate their children at home providing they fulfil their requirements.
Suitable education: definition
Section 436(A)(3) states that ‘suitable education’, in relation to a child, means efficient fulltime education suitable to their age, ability and aptitude (a natural ability to do something) and to any additional learning needs the child may have.
Further information on elective home educaton
If you are considering elective home education and you want to discuss it further, contact the Education Inclusion Service on 01286 679 007 or you can email GweinyddolADYaCh@gwyneddllyw.cymru