Education other than at school (EOTAS) means the education of children or young person outside of a formal nursery, school or post 16 institution.

If you consider, for any reason, it would not be appropriate for your child or young person to be educated at nursery, school or post 16 institution, you must tell us about your concerns.

An early annual review will be created to discuss whether it is appropriate for the Council to make alternative arrangements for your child to receive a suitable education for their age, ability, aptitude and their SEND other than at school/setting.

Your child may need a reassessment to inform the EOTAS package of support. Any reassessments are subject to panel’s approval and if agreed they follow the same initial assessment process, starting at week 6, set out in EHC needs assessments process.

An EOTAS package is full time, unless we decide as part of the reassessment that, for medical or mental health reasons, a reduced level of education would be in your child or young person’s best interests. To make this decision, you will be required be provide evidence from a suitably qualified health professional who has assessed your child’s physical or mental health.

All children engaged in EOTAS will be provided with access to a broad and balanced curriculum, in line with the Department for Education’s national curriculum (external link). The package of support is bespoke and can be delivered using a mix of arrangements, such as online learning, home tuition or in an alternative registered setting. The Council will fund this provision by either procuring this provision directly or by providing you with a personal education budget.

Before taking these steps, we will need to be assured that there is no suitable setting or school that can meet your child’s needs.

If EOTAS is agreed for child or young person, we will organise a multi-agency meeting to agree the package and we will amend your child or young person’s EHC plan as follows:

• Section B – This will include evidence of why education in a nursery, school or college is inappropriate for your child
• Section F – This will detail the package of support your child needs and who will oversee this and deliver it (including what particular expertise they may need, and any input needed from specialists). This will also detail that the provision will be delivered as ‘education otherwise than in a school’
• Section I – This will be left blank as no setting is going to be attended
• Section J – This will detail the special educational needs and outcomes to be met by any agreed direct payments relating to section F. Not everyone will have a personal education budget and receive direct payments.