Home education guidance

Section 6 Efficient and suitable education

Acknowledging diversity

6.1 This section should be read in conjunction with paragraph 2.18 on equalities, and with regard to Article 2 and Article 29 of the UNCRC Convention, on non-discrimination and right to education, respectively, as set out in paragraph 2.4.

6.2 Home educators’ educational provision will reflect a diversity of approaches and interests. Some parents/carers may wish to provide education in a formal and structured manner, following a traditional curriculum and using a fixed timetable that keeps to standard school hours and terms, whilst others may decide to make more informal provisions that are responsive to the developing interests of the child. Some parents/carers may wish to follow and refer to Scotland's Curriculum for Excellence, although they should first familiarise themselves with what qualifications are available to home educating students, as some are not accessible unless in a school environment. Further information on Curriculum for Excellence can be found on the Education Scotland website.^[35] Other parents/carers may consult and adopt curricular approaches from other countries. One approach is not necessarily any more valid than another. Although some parents/carers may welcome general advice and suggestions about resources, methods and materials, local authorities should not specify a curriculum which must be followed.

6.3 Children learn in different ways and at different times and speeds. It should be appreciated that those embarking on home education for the first time might require a period of adjustment before finding their preferred mode of learning. Parents/carers are not required to have any qualifications or training to provide their children with an appropriate education. Their commitment to providing an efficient education that is suitable for their child may be demonstrated by them providing some indication of their objectives and resources.

6.4 The approach home educating parents/carers take to assessing their child's progress is likely to be informed by their own philosophy or views, and in many cases, the absence of formal assessment may be a feature of the education provision. Progress, over the long term, may take a variety of forms.

Suggested characteristics of efficient and suitable education

6.5 There is no definition of suitable and efficient education set out in legislation. However, as set out in section 2 of this guidance, there are examples of case law which may be helpful in forming definitions.

6.6 In their consideration of parent's/carer's provision of home education, local authorities may reasonably expect the provision to include the following characteristics:

• Consistent involvement of parents/carers or other significant carers;
• Presence of a philosophy or ethos (not necessarily a recognised philosophy), with parents/carers showing commitment, enthusiasm, and recognition of the child's needs, attitudes and aspirations;
• The opportunity for the child to be stimulated by their learning experiences;
• Involvement in a broad spectrum of activities appropriate to the child's stage of development;
• Access to appropriate resources and materials;
• The opportunity for an appropriate level of physical activity;
• The opportunity to interact with other children and adults.

6.7 It may also be useful to consider Curriculum for Excellence (including the resource Scotland's Curriculum for Excellence) when authorities are considering the characteristics of an efficient and suitable education along with families. The purpose of Curriculum for Excellence is to support young people (age 3-18) in developing four capacities deemed fundamental to being a citizen of 21^st century Scotland. These are becoming a successful learner; confident individual; effective contributor; and responsible citizen. As Curriculum for Excellence focuses on delivering the aforementioned outcomes it is not prescriptive about how learning and teaching is delivered and instead provides educators with a flexible curriculum framework that can be adapted to meet the needs of individual learners. This chimes well with the philosophy of many home educating parents.

6.8 National Qualifications offered by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) are designed to articulate with Curriculum for Excellence.

Qualifications and awards for home educated children

6.9 While the majority of learners in Scotland’s schools study towards National Qualifications offered by the SQA, there is no legal requirement for children to study toward a particular set of qualifications and/or awards. Home educated learners may choose to undertake SQA qualifications or other qualifications such as GCSEs/ A‑Levels, International Baccalaureate, etc.

6.10 As noted in section 5 of this guidance, where the choice is made to home educate, a parent/carer assumes full responsibility for the provision of education for their child. This includes the arrangements and costs associated with qualifications which their child may wish to pursue.

6.11 If a home educating young person wants to take a particular qualification, they should investigate thoroughly whether, and how easily, they will be able to access examination and assessment arrangements. This should be done prior to making the decision to home educate so that parents/carers and home educating children and young people are aware of what may be involved in realistically achieving qualifications. It is important to give early consideration to the options and arrangements for qualifications, and to engage timeously with the local authority or relevant exam centres to consider what options may be available. In addition to, or instead of, an examination, a number of qualifications and awards may require learners to complete internally assessed units, projects, or assignments.

6.12 Entries for SQA qualifications or awards are required to be taken through an appropriately approved centre, usually, but not always, a school or college, or an approved training provider. It is for home educating young people or their parents/carers to identify an approved centre willing to enter them as a candidate. However, these are not the only types of qualification available, and parents/carers may wish to investigate alternative options which may be better suited to home education or a child's particular needs and aspirations, including options such as apprenticeships.

6.13 Home educated children and young people and their parents should consider their options and preferences in regards to qualifications sufficiently far in advance, in order to make appropriate arrangements in time. The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework^[36] may be helpful in identifying these options.

6.14 Local authorities are not required to meet any costs associated with home educated children studying toward qualifications, or awards. However, local authorities should, where circumstances allow, take a reasonable approach and make available any resources or support that they can offer, and give information about alternative qualifications and the arrangements needed for children to take them, where applicable. Local authorities and home educators are encouraged to work together to establish a collaborative relationship which works for the best interest of the child, and local authorities may want to consider what support they can offer to families in accessing qualifications as part of this.

Study options for educational qualifications and awards

Enrolment at a College

6.15 Home educated children and young people are eligible to be considered for further education college courses. As with school pupils, it is a matter for the college concerned whether to enrol a home educated young person. Courses are usually part-time, though colleges may in exceptional circumstances enrol young people under the age of 16 on to full-time programmes. Young people under the age of 16 would require a letter of permission from their parent/carer to attend college.

6.16 Enrolment at college has the advantage that all the work and entry for qualifications is organised by the college, but it does require at least some attendance at classes which will not appeal to all home educating families. If a student enrols at a college, their parents/carers will be liable to pay all of the course fees themselves unless the education authority is willing to provide funding. Colleges also have the discretion to waive fees, which they tend to do for low-income families in accordance with Scottish Funding Council's fee-waiver policy.^[37]

Self-Study

6.17 Many home educating families choose to work independently towards qualifications. Because of elements including internal assessment and assignments, there are some subjects, qualifications and awards which are not available to external candidates unless an appropriate arrangement can be made with an approved centre which meets with the examining board's requirements. Most centres and examining boards will not accept coursework which has been marked by a private tutor as they need to confirm that the work is the candidate's own and has been produced under the required conditions. The position should be checked with the relevant examining board and centre at an early stage to ensure that necessary arrangements are understood.

6.18 Parents/carers of a child who wishes to study for qualifications or awards from home will need to:

• Contact the relevant qualifications provider early to find out about their requirements;
• Identify and register with an approved centre which is willing to make the arrangements necessary for their child to be presented for the qualification;
• Pay a registration fee for each subject their child will take.

Correspondence and online courses

6.19 Correspondence and online courses can offer additional options for students who prefer to work independently, though they will be required in most cases to follow a structured curriculum and programme of work. Such courses offer a wide range of qualifications at different levels and the organisations offering these courses will advise about arrangements which need to be made for registering with an examination centre and for marking and authenticating coursework. The cost of this option varies depending on the organisation and the qualification chosen but can prove expensive.

Tutors – parental responsibility

6.20 Parents may choose to employ other people to educate their child, though they themselves will continue to be responsible for the education provided. They will also be responsible for ensuring that those they engage are suitable persons to have access to children. They will therefore wish to satisfy themselves, for example, by taking up appropriate references, or requesting that a Disclosure check is carried out. Further information about Disclosure checks is available from Disclosure Scotland (contact details at end of guidance).