FLEXI-SCHOOLING SUMMARY AND FAQ, updated August 2013

 

What is flexi-schooling (FS)?
 

There is no official definition, but it’s widely accepted to be an arrangement where a child attends school on some days and where the rest of the education happens off-site (usually at home).  It’s still classed as full-time (FT) education, except that not all of it happens at the school.

 

Is it legal, then?

 

Yes.  Changes made by the Department for Education (DfE) earlier this year make it clear that this government is discouraging FS and would like to ban it altogether.  But, for the present, it’s still legal; albeit with some serious disincentives for schools.

 

What are the disincentives?

 

Schools are now required to mark FS pupils as absent when they are not in the school.  This discourages schools from agreeing to FS as their attendance stats get affected, which has several implications, not least the effect on the school’s Ofsted ratings.  Schools can mark pupils as present if they are taking responsibility for the child’s off-site education and safety (!) irrespective of whether the off-site location is another learning institution or the family home.

 

Why would schools even accept that?

 

Some do because they have a large number of FS pupils & their schools wouldn’t be viable if the FS pupils left.  Of those schools some are following the government guidelines to the letter & marking off-site FS pupils as absent – and taking the hit to their attendance stats - while others seem to be happy with (or ignorant of) their responsibility for off-site learning & child safety during school hours.

 

Do I have a right to demand FS?

 

No.  The decision is entirely in the school’s hands.  Many schools aren’t aware of FS, that they get full funding even for FS pupils, and that FS can work to the advantage of both the pupil and the school.  But if you can’t convince the head – or the school already has a policy to not accept FS pupils – your only options are FT school or FT home education.  Note: for under fives, full-time school is not a legal requirement, but the head may require FT if it’s an oversubscribed school and you wish them to hold the child’s place.

 

 

Links:

 

Official DfE guidelines to LAs on FS & Attendance (pdf download in right column)

 

EdYourself Guide which is regularly updated