Home tuition

Teaching arranged at home for a child who cannot attend school for health reasons.

What it is

Home tuition is education arranged by the local authority for a child unable to attend school because of illness, physical or mental.

Where it applies

Children of compulsory school age whose health prevents attendance, under section 19.

How it works

Statutory guidance expects councils to arrange provision as soon as it is clear a child will miss fifteen school days or more, and to provide education of a quality comparable to school, of a suitable quantity.

In practice it is often a handful of hours a week of one-to-one tuition, which for some children is enough and for many is not.

What you can ask for

Ask what is being arranged and from what date, in writing.

Ask how many hours and how that constitutes suitable full-time education for your child, given their health. One-to-one tuition can be full-time equivalent at fewer hours — but the council should say so and justify it.

Ask about online provision, exam entry and reintegration planning, all of which get forgotten.

Where to get help

The council's medical needs or inclusion team. IPSEA and the Ombudsman, which upholds many of these complaints.