Calverley C of E Primary School
Flexi-Schooling Policy
At Calverley CE Primary School, we recognise and will support, when practical and acceptable, the right of parents to choose a suitable and personalised education for their child according to the child's dispositions and needs, coupled with the families' beliefs and values.
Our Flexi-schooling provision is predominately aimed at children who are or have been Elective Home Educated (EHE). We will, however, also consider requests from parents whose children are finding formal education in their current setting a challenge that is likely to lead them to refuse school.
Each application is considered on a case-by-case basis in all circumstances, even within the same family.
Prospective parents need to be fully aware that we will not consider any requests for a Flexi- schooling place from them if their child has been excluded or expelled. However, this would not prevent you from applying for a regular place. Parents of pupils who already attend full time would need to meet a set of specific criteria for a transition into flexi-schooling. Children would be discussed on a case by case basis with parents and the head.
Prospective parents must be aware that schools/academies are not required by law to provide or offer Flexi-schooling. When granted, such offers are made at the sole discretion of our Headteacher – there are no rights of appeal to Governors, Trustees, LA, DfE or through the legal system if this provision is declined, varied by the school, or revoked. See Section 10.7on p32 of EHE Guidance for LA's – April 2019.
If a situation occurs where the Flexi-schooling arrangement is varied or revoked, then those children subject to the signed Flexi-school Contract would be required to attend for additional days if requested or, in some cases, full-time. If a parent disagrees with this, they are free to take their child or children to another school or to de-register and return to EHE. If a parent elects to de-register, then we are legally required to inform the relevant Local Authority of the de-registration and pass records on to that authority so that they can effectively liaise with the family.
Key Points to Note
Parents must note the following statement provided by the Department for Education (DfE);
'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
It is also worth noting that in any instance, the Education Act clearly states that parents are responsible for their children's education. This applies to all parents in all circumstances and applies to the delivery of an appropriate education by the parent or through the state or independent sectors, including individuals.
Flexi-schooling is a legal option provided that our Headteacher agrees to the arrangement; this arrangement can be amended or withdrawn without challenge at any time thereafter.
Flexi-Schooling Applications
Applications for flexi-schooling are accepted only at the start of the academic year. The application window runs from 1st September to 14th September. The school will have until (and no later than) 30th September to reach a decision and inform parents.
A flexi-schooling agreement will not, under any circumstances, exceed 12 months. If parents wish to continue into a new academic year, a new application must be submitted.
Each child will participate in one pastoral session per half term so the school can establish the viewpoint of the child.
We are more than willing to accept children with an EHCP on the understanding that they are required to attend on a full-time basis. Thereby ensuring that we can meet any Statutory Duties the EHCP may place on our school (see next point) regarding its commitment to the child, extending to the appointment of key staff dedicated to the child and ensuring that 'Best Value' is achieved.
Given we will not automatically offer Flexi-Schooling to children with an EHCP (Education Health and Care Plan - Former Statement of Educational Need) that comes with prescribed hours and funding attached, we can only vary this if clear guidance/permission is issued in writing by the commissioning Authority that such an arrangement is permitted.
The above will also apply to children who currently attend on a Flexi-schooling basis and are found to need the support of an EHCP.
Parents should be aware that Flexi-schooling is not to be taken as a means to avoid education or to avoid expulsion. We will not accept any children on Flexi-schooling arrangements who have been expelled. If a parent misleads the school in this matter and a past exclusion is uncovered, the flexi-school agreement will be automatically revoked, and the child in question will be required to attend on a full-time formal basis. In such circumstances, the parents and the child in question will be subject to current statutory expectations relating to attendance.
What is Flexi-schooling?
Flexi-schooling or flexible school attendance is a hybrid arrangement drawn up between the parent and the school, where the child is registered at our school and attends for at least 3 consecutive 'Core Days'; the rest of the time, the child is home educated (on authorised absence from school). This arrangement is an open-ended offer and regarded by Ofsted and DfE as 'Full-time education’ and not part-time. However, the terms of this arrangement can be varied over and above the core days or withdrawn if our Headteacher decides to do so. Decisions in this regard are not open to any form of legal challenge at any level within or beyond the school and are in line with current DfE documentation.
Flexi-schooling is only a legal option if our Headteacher agrees to the arrangement; each agreement is bespoke even within the same family – the schools' terms take precedent. The child will be required to follow the National Curriculum while at school but not while they are being educated at home.
There is no statutory curriculum requirement for the home education element of our or any flexi- schooling arrangement. Nonetheless, we promote without pressure the opportunities the partnership flexi-schooling brings - and from that, we hope that this partnership will develop in a mutually beneficial manner for all parties.
All teaching and learning offered on the core days reflect our curriculum policies as provided to children who attend formally. This policy, along with our other school policies, do not seek to prescribe how children should be taught at home for the home education element of the Flexi- schooling arrangement.
We would encourage parents to review our Curriculum, Safeguarding and Child Protection policies, along with our Health, Safety & Welfare policies, and use them as a guide to support their own approaches to ensure we are working together.
Our Principles of Flexi-schooling
We see Flexi-schooling as;
a process of co-operative teamwork, where we welcome, encourage and will support the involvement of parents in the education of their children
Within which;
we treat all children fairly and give them equal opportunity to take part in in-class activities
we treat all children with kindness and respect
we praise all children for their efforts and, by so doing, we help to build positive attitudes towards
our school and learning in general
our teachers will apply our policies concerning discipline and classroom management to all pupils
teaching staff make clear the class code of conduct
all children are expected to comply with the rules that are in place to promote the best learning atmosphere for all
we insist on good order and behaviour at all times
children who misbehave will be managed fairly within the guidelines for sanctions as outlined in
our school Behaviour Policy, and we will not tolerate any form of bullying
We conduct all our teaching in an atmosphere of trust and respect for all.
The Registration of Attendance and our use of current coding structure
In any case of flexi-schooling at Calverley CE, we will only use the attendance Code C, which states: special circumstances not covered elsewhere. We accept that Code C will impact the whole school attendance. However, it will not affect the child or parents as it is regarded as an authorised absence. DfE/Ofsted have indicated that schools offering Flexi-schooling would need to demonstrate that the offer was beneficial to the child concerned. In such cases, the school concerned would not be penalised due to lower than expected attendance figures. To support this justification, each child will be the subject of an individual case study.
Attendance Options
We offer three schooling options here at Calverley CE Primary School;
Formal Option – Full-time regular education within statutory guidelines.
Flexi-School Option – Flexi-schooled education, where the child comes on agreed days, wears our school uniform and joins in with the timetabled opportunities for that day – (C-Code is used – note this impacts a school attendance ratio).
Special Support Option – This approach is extremely rare and can only be made following a recommendation from either an education or healthcare professional. This approach will only be considered if the professional(s) concerned makes a written request for support. This will be followed up with several discussions and visits before a final judgment is made. This kind of provision is bespoke and not transferable to other children. Therefore, this option is not age- specific and could allow children from older age groups to attend if this was deemed appropriate. Ofsted approval may also form part of this option.
Flexi-School Option
The DfE deems parents/children who choose to Flexi-school to be responsible for their children's education. There is no requirement for children to follow the direction of the school when at home, and parents are free to develop their own approach to how education should be delivered.
Special Support Option
Those children, who attend in this manner, will have their Home Education element marked using the attendance Code C as with Flexi-schooled pupils.
Children using this approach will be linked to our school on the recommendation of outside agencies, i.e. CAHMS / Families First, and have personal circumstances requiring individually tailored involvement with our school. These arrangements are bespoke and may, in exceptional circumstances, require the relaxation of the core day rule.
In all cases, we will require the written approval of the relevant funding body, i.e. Local Authority that outlines all aspects of the child's needs and the funding attached. This written permission must also clearly state that they approve of and will accept that the judgement of the school is final in all aspects relating to the teaching methods employed.
Part of the individually tailored involvement could extend to, and eventually become, a 'Flexi- school' option over time.
In all cases, children who attend school in person on any given day/session will receive the usual attendance mark and teaching that is specific to their needs and reflects the expectations of the National Curriculum as a minimum.
Introduction, Integration and General Attendance
Initial meeting
We arrange an initial meeting to ensure that the new child/children and parent(s) understand the clear need for a partnership between parents, children, and school.
Our Academic day begins with the doors opening at 8.45am with registers taken at 9am and ends at 3.20pm.
Within this timeframe, we have the following breaks;
Morning break
Dinner – 12pm
Afternoon break – for KS1 only
We are not able to vary start times, as this disrupts lessons already in progress. However, all children are expected to arrive promptly for the start of the morning/afternoon sessions, subject to one-off extenuating situations, i.e. medical appointments, accidents etc. All sickness events require that the parents notify the school.
Lateness is recorded in the same fashion as with formal attendance patterns; parents need to be aware that persistent lateness could lead to the revocation of the Flexi-school arrangement and a requirement to then attend full time; no return to Flexi-schooling will be permitted.
Timetable
Each class teacher knows the children who will attend on a given day, and lessons are planned to accommodate all children.
In all cases, lessons are differentiated so that they can be accessed at different levels, with children encouraged to preview or review the topic at home.
Liability
For activities beyond the sole care and charge of school staff, the parents/carers of flexi-schooled pupils are fully responsible for their child or children when they are educated at home (or at their chosen offsite venue) and are covered by the use of the C Code when marking the Attendance Register. This also applies even when completing assigned class work at home. The same parental responsibility also covers activities/visits arranged by parents/carers in the same vein (please see our Flexi-school contact).
Safeguarding and Child Protection
As with all children, we have a statutory duty to inform our local Child Protection and Safeguarding officers if any child presents with significant/unusual injuries, discloses any information that requires their involvement, and then to co-operate fully with any investigations or follow up actions they deem necessary.
Unauthorised holidays and time off
The Government, School and the Local Authorities Pupil Welfare Service are working together to improve attendance. Parents and Carers must also work together with schools to promote high attendance. You may be aware that the Department for Education has recently announced national changes to penalty notices issued for unauthorised absence in term time. These changes came into effect on 19th August 2024.
Contract for flexi-schooling
Parents choosing to Flexi-school their child or children must sign our Flexi-schooling contract. This document sets out the roles and responsibilities of all parties involved in educating their children. It also focuses on the school's responsibilities for Safeguarding and Child Protection.
Parents need to be aware that by choosing to either Elective Home Educate (EHE) or to Flexi- school their child or children, that they are therefore accepting that they alone are responsible for any future legal redress their child or children may seek.
The contract also indicates the attendance requirement of the core days in school. These days/attendance patterns are not negotiable.
A Flexi-school place is offered in the same manner as those for Full-time children.
It is helpful if parents can share their thoughts and samples of work carried out at home when available with our staff. This information can then be added to our academic data to support progress information. In addition, parents can request review meetings to discuss progress each term if required (Parent evenings twice yearly in Autumn and Spring Term).
Monitoring and review
We are aware of the need to review our flexi-schooling policy regularly so that we can take account of new initiatives, changes in the curriculum, developments in technology, or changes to the school's physical environment.
The Role of the Governing Body The governing body may be involved in agreeing and reviewing the school’s approach to flexi-schooling requests but they should not become involved in individual cases, as some governors may have a more formal role if a dispute arises and/or a complaint is made.
Governors should satisfy themselves that the Headteacher has fully considered the points highlighted above and are fully conversant with the school attendance statutory guidance when reaching a decision.
Appeals
There is no appeal against the decision of a Headteacher not to agree to a flexi- schooling request or if a Headteacher decides to cease an individual child’s flexi- schooling arrangement.
Written Agreements with Parents/Carers
A written and signed agreement must be formulated between the school and parents/carers in order to make expectations clear for all concerned. The agreement will be formalised by the school’s flexi-schooling policy and will include:
- The normal expected pattern of attendance at school.
- The length of time the agreement is to run before being reviewed: typically this may be one term.
- What flexibility there will be regarding special events which fall outside of the normal arrangement such as, but not limited to, assemblies, school trips, school productions or performances, sports events, visitors to the school.
- How the register will be marked (see section Marking the Attendance Register)
The parents/carers must contact the school if the child is absent from a session that they would normally be present at school or at approved educational activity.
- How the school will follow up any unexpected or unexplained absence as it would for other children.
- What the arrangement will be at times of children’s assessment.
- If a parent/carer chooses to employ at his or her own expense another person to educate the child at home, he or she will be responsible for ensuring that person is suitable to have access to children and the Headteacher needs to include the points outlined previously in the section “What does the Headteacher consider?”
- Any perceived special educational needs and associated provision.
- Recommended regular planning meetings between parents/carers and school (this may be a Class Teacher or member of the Senior Leadership Team) to ensure the child achieves his or her potential and to promote good home-school relationships.
- Under what circumstances and with what notice either party can withdraw from the arrangement.
Implementation of this procedure/policy
We aim to manage the implementation of this procedure/policy with the support and guidance of any relevant body and will be subject to review if legislation dictates.
General
This procedure/policy and its guidance will always reflect the present and future needs of all stakeholders, and to support this, we are always open to suggestions for changes and alterations of and to any specific individual provision/requirement to ensure full access to all.
Signed:
Chair of Governors
Signed: C Minett
Headteacher
Date: September 2025
Review Date: Annually