Are you a parent looking to get EOTAS for your child?

Discover the process of getting a EOTAS referral for your child, where it comes from, managing EOTAS effectively and more.

What is EOTAS?

EOTAS stands for Education Other Than at School. It helps young people who can’t attend regular school because of feeling anxious, sick, or needing special help. This is important for young people who need different kinds of help and can’t do well in a normal school.

Education Other Than at School gives students a special learning experience that fits with what they are good at and enjoy. It is important because it can be changed to fit each person and lets them learn in a way that works for them. This helps make sure everyone has the chance to do well and grow as a whole person.

Understanding the law behind EOTAS

The Education Act of 1996 and other laws say that young people who can’t go to regular school must still have a good education. It’s the local governments’ job to ensure these young people get the right kind of education, even if they can’t go to a normal school. EOTAS is one way for local authorities to meet this responsibility when regular schooling isn’t an option.

The Department for Education makes rules for how EOTAS is run. These rules are to ensure that EOTAS is organised well, has enough money, and is watched closely. Each child’s plan for EOTAS must fit their own needs, not just for education but also for their well-being and friendships. It’s really important to follow these rules so that all children have the right to a good education through EOTAS.

Differences between EOTAS and home elective education

Education Other Than at School and home elective education are two different ways for young people to learn outside of regular school. But they have different rules, ways of doing things, and help available.

Similarities

Both options are ways to learn that are customised just for you. They let you choose what and how fast to learn. You can also get help from tutors and use different resources to make learning easier.

Benefits

Education Other Than at School gets help from the government and other organisations to make sure students have a good education plan. This can include extra money or resources for special services or therapy. On the other hand, homeschooling gives parents more control over their child’s education. They can choose what and how their child learns, which allows for a personalised education that matches their beliefs and ways of teaching.

Limitations

One hard part of EOTAS is that parents have to work with different people and professionals visiting their home, along with a lot of paperwork. This can be a lot for them. Also, the rules from the government might limit how much they can change things. On the other hand, home elective education takes a lot of resources because parents have to pay for everything or find help from others. It gives parents more control, but it also means they need to know a lot and be committed to giving their children a good education at home.

What are the criteria for EOTAS?

Generally, children who are successfully awarded EOTAS have had many “failed” educational settings, meaning that their needs were unable to be met within the traditional school environment. The bar for acceptance of this method is exceptionally high, but not unattainable.
A child must have evidence of SEND (not necessarily diagnosed) and further evidence as to why they are unable for whatever reason to engage and develop within the school system.
That a school setting is unable to provide the equipment or facilities necessary for a child’s education to happen.
It is a myth that a child requires a single type of diagnosis such as autism to be granted EOTAS arrangements.
Please remember: Most local authorities will require high levels of evidence demonstrating all possible attempts at formal education have been made before agreeing to any EOTAS package.

The process of getting an EOTAS referral for your child

If your child needs special help with their education, it’s important to know how to get a referral for EOTAS. These are the steps you need to take and places you can go for help during the process.

First, you need to know that EOTAS is needed. You can talk to your child's school, a doctor, or an expert who can explain why regular school isn't working for them.
Talk to the people in charge of your town or city for help. They can help you find other ways to learn if you need it. Show them information from professionals like doctors, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and educational psychologists who say you need different ways of learning. Reports from CAMHS and behavioural plans are also helpful. Observational letters detailing the challenges a child has faced either in school or attempting to access school from a teacher or SENDCO, are good support.
To apply for your child to receive EOTAS, give a detailed application to your local authority. Make sure to include all the papers and proof that show why EOTAS is the best choice for your child.
To make a plan for your child's education and health needs, work with local government experts. They will help you create a detailed plan that explains what your child needs to learn. Make sure all the necessary resources and support services are listed in Section F of the plan.
Look carefully at the draft plan to make sure it meets your child's needs. If changes need to be made, do them before giving your permission.
Once the EOTAS referral is approved, the education plan will be initiated. It's important to have regular check-ins to see if the plan is working and make any changes if needed based on your child's needs. The Annual Review process is critical for this process.

What types of provision can I include within an EOTAS application request?

With EOTAS, there is no requirement for the full National Curriculum to be followed, however you must cover at least core subjects of numeracy and literacy, information technology and social development skills for your child.
The following are examples of EOTAS Section F agreed provisions:

1:1 or small group tuition either in-person or online
Socialisation activities and opportunities to support learning.
Therapeutic sessions
Sports/Physical education
Learning tools and resources
Technology to support learning
Adult support
Travel expenses
SEN specialist services support such as Autism outreach, SALT, OT etc.
Specialist equipment
Vocational opportunities or volunteer sessions
Differentiated learning if recommended by professionals.

Do I need an EHCP to obtain EOTAS?

Most typically, the answer is yes. If you would like funding for any provisions within your EOTAS package, these must be listed within Section F of the EHCP in a specific and quantified manner.

An EHCP serves to place the legal duty upon your local authority to deliver the EOTAS education contained within the plan.

It is (rarely) possible to obtain EOTAS without an EHCP, but you would almost certainly then be required to self-fund all provisions for your child. It is important to research the funding aspect of EOTAS as this is most often a long term commitment for families.

Incorporating EOTAS into an EHCP

Including EOTAS in an EHCP can help young people who have special needs or trouble learning. The EHCP is a plan that explains what the child needs for education, health, and care. When EOTAS is part of this plan, it makes it easier to meet the child’s specific needs by giving them different ways to learn and settings that work better for them.

One good thing about EOTAS is that it’s flexible. Sometimes, regular school doesn’t work well for all young people, especially those who have trouble learning in a certain way. With EOTAS, you can learn at home, go to special places for learning, or learn online. This helps you learn in the best way for you. Teachers can also change how they teach and what they teach based on their needs and interests.

EOTAS can help young people get better therapy and extra help. This is important for children with special needs. It’s good when education, health, and care are all connected. When EOTAS is included in an EHCP, it makes it easier to coordinate these services with regular education. This helps not only with school but also makes sure the child’s feelings and behaviour are taken care of too.

What type of challenges and conditions do the majority of EOTAS children have?

The following conditions are often symptomatic of finding mainstream or specialist schooling inaccessible on a full-time basis:

Records of routine exclusions from school or the use of reduced/part-time timetables
SEMH (Social Emotional and Mental Health)
ASC/ADHD/PDA and other neurodiverse conditions
EBSA (Emotionally Based School Avoidance)
Learning difficulties, disabilities and cognitive and developmental challenges
SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder)
GDD (Global Development Delay
Speech and communication difficulties
Specific health conditions or disabilities
Children unable to access the waking day curriculum
Records of challenging behaviours

Managing EOTAS effectively: tips for parents

As a parent, making sure your child gets a good education through EOTAS takes planning and being involved. Here are some ways to do this well:

Make a plan for your day that is like a school schedule. This will help you and your child know what to expect and make things feel more stable and normal.
Make a special place in your house or wherever you choose to learn. This spot should be quiet and have everything you need to study without getting distracted.
Work with teachers and other helpers to make goals for your child. Check on the goals often and change them if you need to, depending on how your child is doing and what they need.
Use resources to help your child learn, like websites, apps, and libraries. They can give you extra things to do that are fun and teach you something too.
Keep talking with your child, their tutors, and other people who help them. Talk often to see how they are doing and fix any problems right away.
Help your child make friends and be social by setting up playdates, joining clubs or groups, and doing activities with other young people. This will help them develop their social skills.
Stay updated and involved in your child's education. Learn about new ways to help them learn. Go to workshops or groups with other parents to share tips and stories.

Resources

Local government websites have a lot of information about education and support for students who cannot go to school. They also have contact information if you need help.
Educational Advocacy Services help you apply to schools and work with local officials.
Join support groups or online forums to connect with other parents who have gone through the EOTAS process. You can get advice and share your own experiences with them.
IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice) is a charitable organisation that offers a family helpline, free templates and explanations around every aspect of SEND legislation, encouraging all organisations, schools and local authorities to uphold the SEND Code of Practice.
Your local SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs Independent Advisory Service) are funded by your local authority and offer neutral advice, support with meetings and advocacy services. You can find yours via the Local Offer on the website for your local authority.
Most local authorities will have an EOTAS policy, this can be requested via your SEND/EHCP caseworker. In recent years, there is a growing trend for local authority nominated EOTAS Co-Ordinators who can support parents with their application. You can also request their contact details and a meeting.

If you would like a chat regarding EOTAS please do feel free to contact the Bright Heart team at hello@brightheart.co.uk

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