What’s the difference between Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS) and Home Education? If you’re thinking about educating your child yourself then this is a definition you need to know.
What can you ask for in an EOTAS Education, Health and Care Plan? Do the council have to give your child anything at all?
Plus, now the easements to SEND in the Coronavirus Act have finished, is everything back as it used to be? And what can you do if you’re offered a “COVID” EHCP, that’s based on what’s available at the moment, rather than what my child needs?
All these questions are answered by our guests on this two-part episode of SNJ in Conversation with SEND Lawyers, Hayley Mason, our amazing columnist, along with her colleague, Nicole Lee, an expert in the law on EOTAS. The first part is below, and the second will be along tomorrow, so pick your podcast platform to listen, or watch on YouTube.
Inquiry into home education
As a point of interest, the Commons Education Committee has just launched an inquiry into how home-educated children are being supported in their learning, and whether more needs to be done to ensure they are all receiving a high-quality education. It will also look at duties of local authorities, and the potential role for inspections in ensuring standards. Find out more here
Rt Hon Robert Halfon MP, Chair of the Education Committee, said:
“While the coronavirus pandemic brought a new focus on the issue of learning at home, there are thousands of young people who are ordinarily taught outside of a traditional school setting. A parent will always know what is best for their child but we want to make sure that the right support is in place for home learning to ensure every pupil in the country, whatever their background and wherever they are taught, can receive the education they deserve.”
The deadline for submissions is Friday 6 November. For further information see the inquiry page on the Committee website.
UPDATE: On 20th October 2020, the government published guidance about ELECTIVE home education recently. “All you need to know about home-schooling and elective home education (EHE)”
SEND Law now and EOTAS: Part one
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She is a rare disease & chronic pain patient advocate with Ehlers Danlos syndrome.
- Dear Secretary of State for Education, Lucy Powell: an Open Letter from Special Needs Jungle and SEND legal charity SOS!SEN - August 4, 2026
- Research: Disabled young people define inclusive education as “learning in the place that’s right for them” - July 30, 2026
- EOTAS Consultation: A further assault on children’s SEND rights with cost saving and reintegration to schools at its heart - July 15, 2026
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