Flexi schooling

As a parent of a child of compulsory school age you have a legal duty to ensure that your child receives an efficient full-time education suitable to their age, ability, aptitudes and any special educational needs, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.  This duty can be delivered by sending your child to school or through a flexi schooling approach.

Flexi-schooling is a legal parental option but it is not an automatic right.

It is entirely at the discretion of your child’s Headteacher and you will need their permission before you can go ahead.  You will need to prove to the Headteacher that flexi-schooling is in the best interests of your child.

There is no parental right of appeal against the decision of a Headteacher not to agree to a flexi-schooling request, or, against a Headteacher’s decision to cease a flexi-schooling arrangement.

You do not have to follow it at home but should consider the pressure this may place upon your child under if you do not, depending upon the particular arrangements put in place. Whilst at school your child will be required to follow the national curriculum.

Even with an agreed flexi-schooling arrangement, your child will be marked absent in the register for the sessions when they don’t attend.  All sessions when your child is expected at school but is absent will be followed up in accordance with the absence policy of their school and recorded appropriately.

We would recommend that you research as much as possible to ensure that you are making a fully informed, child-centred decision before approaching your child’s Headteacher to discuss your proposals.

Arrangements for flexi-schooling can only be made at the request of a parent or carer with parental responsibility and the request should be made to the Headteacher of your child's current school.  The Headteacher will want to meet with you to discuss the situation and hear your plans before reaching a decision.

If the Headteacher does not agree to your request you will be informed in writing.

If the Headteacher is willing to agree to your request further discussions will be needed so that a written agreement can be drawn up, agreed and signed by both parties. Written confirmation of your intention to take responsibility for your child’s education provision whilst not in school will be required. Your Headteacher is required to notify the local authority of the arrangements in place.

You should be aware that if your child moves to a different school, there can be no guarantee that an existing flexi-schooling arrangement would be able to continue.  A fresh request for a flexi-schooling arrangement would need to be made to the new school Headteacher.  It would then be a decision for them to make.

If your child is not currently enrolled in a school you will need to formally apply for a school place to the admission authority for the school.  It is a legal requirement for schools to publicise admission information on their website so this is the place to look to check who the admission authority is.  Your application for a school place should make clear that you are applying for a flexi schooling arrangement and not a full-time school place.  The Headteacher will then consider your application.