For some children and young people, their needs are so severe and complex that traditional educational settings are not suitable environments and cannot meet their needs.

In these instances, it is recognised in law in the Children and Families Act 2014 that a traditional school setting or post 16 institution is not appropriate.

EOTAS (Education Other Than At School) is the legal mechanism where a child or young person with an EHC Plan can receive special educational provision despite being unable to attend an educational setting.

Under a formal EOTAS arrangement, the child or young person will not not be on roll at a school. Instead they will receive their education and special educational provision at home or within an external setting that is not a registered educational setting.

This is not ‘named’ in Section I, as there is no educational setting. The provision is set out in Section F of the EHCP.

This however should not be confused with Elective Home Education (EHE).

Elective Home Education (EHE) is when a parent chooses not to send their child to school full-time but assumes responsibility for making sure their child receives a full-time education other than at school. The LA is not obligated to support the education.

EOTAS, however,  is a formal special education package made under an EHC Plan, for which the LA remains legally responsible.  If you electively home educate but have an EHCP that does not reflect an EOTAS package, the LA has no obligation to deliver the provision set out in Section F.