Discussion around Elective Home Education held at local Primary School to encourage open and honest conversation

Elective home education is where parents choose to homeschool their children. Every parent has the right to make this decision, but it can sometimes be met with misinformation and stigma if they choose to do so. NELC alongside partners including the Police, Health providers, Early Help, Children’s Social Care, and other key stakeholders came together to discuss the complex issue and to listen to lived experiences from parents who have chosen to go down the home education route.

The session was met with insightful conversation, Jennifer Steel, Service Director of Education, Inclusion and Integration at North East Lincolnshire Council said:

“Bringing together people is the first step in creating meaningful partnerships across the different services and sectors.

Hearing from the parents who are electively home educating their children is vital in understanding what us, as a service, can do to support them and how we can improve our offer to ensure every child’s educational needs are being met.

Every child is different, and each family will have an individual set of circumstances that we need to try and understand. Today was the first step in opening the conversation and will shape our approach to EHE going forward as a local authority.” 

Portfolio Holder for Children and Education, Councillor Margaret Cracknell said:

“I’d like to commend all partners who attended the round table discussion, but I’d especially like to thank the parents who took the time out to come and share their own experiences.

Education is a crucial part of every child’s life and it’s important that those who choose to home educate their children can do so with the support they need.”