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After requesting consent to withdraw your child from school

We will acknowledge any request and will make appropriate enquiries to allow us to consider, as soon as possible, whether there is any evidence constituting good reason to refuse consent.

This includes any existing evidence in our own records or, where appropriate, from other services or agencies. 

Previous irregular attendance is not of itself a sufficient reason for refusing consent to withdraw from school. 

If more information is required before a decision can be made, including further details from you, then this will be gathered. 

Instances where consent to withdraw a child or young person from school may not be able to be decided immediately include:

  • where the pupil has been referred to social work or the police for child protection reasons, and the matter is being investigated
  • where the pupil is on the child protection register 
  • where a pupil has been referred to the reporter on care and protection grounds, and the referral is being considered. 
  • where the pupil is the subject of a supervision requirement

What is considered

In reaching a decision, the Chief Education Officer will consider a number of factors.

The education you will provide

We will consider your proposal for providing an efficient education suitable to the age, ability, and aptitude of your child or young person and how the education will:

  • develop the personality and talents of your child or young person to the full
  • allow your child or young person to achieve their full potential and prepare them for life in wider society, including access to qualifications
  • allow your child or young person to interact with other children and adults

We will also consider:

  • whether the proposed home education includes a broad spectrum of activities appropriate to the stage of development of your child or young person and how they will be stimulated by their learning experiences
  • the physical activity proposed for your child or young person
  • the kinds of resources and materials your child or young person will have access to

Your engagement and collaboration

We will also consider a range of factors including:

  • any intention to collaborate with and involve the education authority in the delivery of support and guidance for the proposed home education of your child or young person
  • engagement in discussions with us prior to making the choice to home educate, to ensure that all options for the provision of education and any additional support, or strategies which may be of benefit to their child or young person, have been considered

Safeguarding concerns

We will consider any safeguarding concerns indicative that withdrawal from school may not be in the best interests of your child or young person.

Discussion of any concerns

You will be given the opportunity to meet or otherwise communicate with a representative of the Chief Education Officer to address any specific concerns we may have.

The child or young person, where age- and capacity-appropriate, will also be given a similar opportunity. Both you and your child or young person can seek advice, support and also arrange to be supported prior to any such meetings or communications. A written summary of any such meetings will be sent to you and, where appropriate, the child.

When a decision will be made

Education, Skills and Community Wellbeing will normally issue a decision within six weeks of the original request. However, in a small number of cases, it may not be possible to do this. You will be advised of the reason for the delay and the likely timescale to reach a decision.

Once agreement has been reached for a child or young person to be home educated the responsibility to provide an efficient education for your child, suitable for their age, ability and aptitude lies solely with you.

The Chief Education Officer may refuse consent to withdraw your child from school if not reasonably satisfied that home education will provide an efficient education for your child or young person, suitable for their age, ability and aptitude, or that safeguarding concerns are such that withdrawal from school would not be in their best interests. 

The Chief Education Officer will let you know in writing whether consent is being withheld. The reasons for the decision and any grounds for refusal will be set out.