The Government White paper on SEND reform published this week is a rather heavy read for busy parents, but in practice, it comes down to a small range of plans which we have analysed for those parents too busy educating to read ‘War and Peace’. Individual Support Plans (ISPs) EHCPs will not be available to the […]
Although Education Otherwise is the home education charity we also understand the very strong link that Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) has with home education. Many of you will have read about the 2026 SEND white paper, which is intended to reform SEND in schools and to tighten the criteria for Education Health and […]
Many parents are worried about the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, and we know that there is a lot of misinformation about the Bill online. For most parents, the Bill will introduce a requirement to provide a certain amount of data to the local authority but not otherwise affect them. Parents whose child is […]
In this post, longstanding Education Otherwise member Vicky N describes their personal experience of using a US style approach to home education. As a home educating parent, I had always had an inkling that iGCSEs may not be the way to go for my daughter. She is exceptionally bright but her Audhd, selective mutism […]
A great many parents and young people are concerned about the implications of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. Peers in the House of Lords have raised concerns about many aspects of the bill and, by doing so, have received a number of promises and reassurances from the Minister. As parents are aware, legal advice […]
Research by Dr Fé Mukwamba-Sendall and Wendy Charles-Warner 2025 The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill aims to place a duty on local authority staff to provide advice to home educating families. This report asks what support is available for families and looks at the feasibility of supporting our most vulnerable families, those living in […]
Lucie Wheeler, of Anglia Ruskin University, has concluded her new Relationships, Sex, and Health Education (RSHE) research into how home educated families approach the subject. The research provides not only interesting findings but also, some practical insights for home-educating families, including confirming that they are highly engaged and committed to providing RSHE to their children. […]
As home educating families, we’re used to being the pioneers. We’re used to explaining, justifying, and creating pathways where none existed before. So, when I tell you that the University of Exeter has not only opened their prestigious Scholars programme to home educated students but is actively welcoming us into their community, I hope you’ll […]
Some good news for parents! Child benefit arrangements have been amended for young people post 16 and still in home education. Home education need not start before 16. This means that your child can try college without you being worried that you will lose child benefit. Disabled and sick children will now […]
By Mike Charles, Solicitor and Education Law Advocate For families of children with special educational needs (SEN), education is rarely simple. Many children are placed in inappropriate schools, denied therapy or support, or forced to mask distress until they break. Parents fight tirelessly for the right provision, often navigating a hostile system with little […]
