Flexi-Schooling @ Redbrook
Flexi-Schooling @ Redbrook
We offer flexi-schooling as an opportunity for families who wish to home school on a part time basis in order to enrich their child’s educational experience. Flexi-schooling must not be confused with elective home education. Parents/ carers have a legal right to choose to home educate their child, but parents/ carers do not have a legal right to insist on a flexi-schooling arrangement being agreed by our school.
This summary gives a short overview of Redbrook C of E Primary School flexi-school options. Full details can be found in the Redbrook Flexi-Schooling Policy.
Although not a legal right, when practical and acceptable, Redbrook C of E Primary School strongly supports flexi-schooling for parents who wish to partially home educate their child/children while still sending them to school for some of the school week.
Flexi School Options
As well as regular full-time attendance, Redbrook C of E Primary school offers two flexi-schooling options:
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Option 1 - attend school Tuesday-Thursday, home educate Monday and Friday
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Option 2 - attend school Tuesday-Friday, home educate Monday
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are termed “core days”.
Attendance at School
Flexi-schooled children must attend school on core days (and Fri as appropriate for Option 2 agreements). In the same way as regular full-time pupils, flexi pupils must:
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Wear school uniform
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Adhere to school start and finish times
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Only be absent for authorised reasons (e.g. illness)
Year 6 flexi-schooled children are also required to attend school full-time for one week for statutory assessment.
Flexi-schooled children are welcome to attend school on their usual home school days on an ad hoc basis. 24 hours notice must be given.
Applying for Flexi Schooling
Parents can apply for a flexi-schooling option by contacting the headteacher via the school office. Applications are carefully considered, with the needs of the child being paramount. Applications are considered and granted by the headteacher and an individual agreement is drawn up for each child. There is no right of appeal where the headteacher does not agree to an application.
A separate flexi-school application is required for each child if a family wants to flexi-school more than one child. However, each application will be considered individually and it is not guaranteed that all of a family’s applications will be accepted.
Eligibility for Flexi Schooling
Most children are eligible for flexi-schooling but there are some exceptions.
Children who have been permanently excluded are welcome to attend Redbrook C of E Primary School full-time but they are not eligible for flexi-schooling.
Redbrook welcomes children with an EHCP/IDP but any flexi-school applications for children with an EHCP/IDP that includes funding will also require formal permission from the funding Authority.
Curriculum
Flexi-school children follow the national curriculum when in school but parents do not have to follow it on home school days. However, the school does require parents to share evidence of home learning at least monthly via an agreed method (e.g. Seesaw). The school will provide (optional) guidance via our website that may assist planning of home education.
Responsibility
Parents should note the Department for Education statement: 'Where parents choose not to have their child educated by full-time attendance at school, then they are responsible for the whole of their child's education.' (DfE 2018).
On home school days, parents are fully responsible for their child/children (including safeguarding). This includes any activities away from the home or with third parties. The school only assumes responsibility when the child/children attend school or school staffed educational visits.
Changing and Revoking a Flexi School Agreement
Flexi-school agreements are subject to regular review and the headteacher may revoke or change a flexi school agreement if she/he feels it is warranted. Reasons for such action include:
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There is a significant safeguarding concern
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A child’s attendance is not in line with flexi-school policy
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Flexi-schooling is seen to be impeding a child from achieving their expected outcomes and there is concern about the child’s progress
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The issuing authority of an EHCP/ IDP are not in agreement with the application
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Evidence of home learning is not shared with the school as agreed
If an agreement is revoked, the child may be required to attend school full-time. In such circumstances Redbrook C of E Primary School understands that parents may wish to explore other schools or (full) elective home schooling.
Parents may request changes to flexi-school agreements, but any agreed changes will normally only take effect from the start of the next term (September, January or April).
Parents may withdraw from a flexi-school agreement at any time so their child can attend full-time.
Next Steps
The headteacher is very happy to meet any parent to explore flexi schooling options for their child/children. In the first instance, interested parents should contact the school office to arrange a suitable meeting time.