Ashurst CE Aided Primary School Flexi-Schooling Policy 

At Ashurst CE Aided Primary School, we offer an inclusive learning environment 
where there is a strong emphasis on parent/carer partnerships. Children are 
taught to work and learn co–operatively, have respect for each other and their 
environment within an ethos of high expectation and aspirations. 

Background to Flexi Schooling 
In April 2019 the DfE issued “Elective Home Education – Departmental Guidance 
for Local Authorities”. This refers to the term Flexi Schooling in the following 
paragraphs: “Although children being home-educated are not normally registered 
at any school, parents sometimes choose to make arrangements for a child to 
receive part of the total provision at a school - the purpose of this will 
often be to provide education in specific subjects more easily than is possible at 
home. Such arrangements are sometimes known as ‘flexi-schooling’. Schools are 
under no obligation to agree to such arrangements, but some are happy to do so. 
When a child is flexi-schooled, the parents must still ensure that the child 
receives a suitable full-time education, but the element received at school 
must be taken into account in considering whether that duty is met, just as it 
should be when a child attends other settings on a part-time basis as described 
above. Bearing that in mind, this guidance applies as much to children who are 
flexi-schooled as it does to others who are educated at home. 

Parents who choose to educate a child in these ways rather than sending the child 
to school full-time take on financial responsibility for the cost of doing so, 
including the cost of any external assistance used such as tutors, parent groups 
or part-time alternative provision. If the child attends state funded school for 
part of the week, that will have no cost to the parents. 

The responsibility for flexi schooling lies with the school and not the local 
authority. The Governors of Ashurst CE Aided Primary School have adopted this 
general approach and states that each request will be considered individually and 
on its own circumstances. Where there is a complex case two representatives 
from the Governing Board may be asked to consider a request alongside the Head 
Teacher.  

Ashurst CE Aided Primary School reserves the right to state the day it is willing 
to consider as flexi schooling, currently there is an agreement with the Governing 
Body that this day is Wednesday. 

As a school, we follow the West Sussex information and Guidance on Flexi
Schooling provided by the Education and Skills Pupil Entitlement Investigation 
Team. 

Role of Governing Body 
The governing body may wish to agree a general approach to requests for flexi
schooling, but this does not exempt the Headteacher from the need to consider 
each request individually and on its own circumstances.  The whole governing body 
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 issued. 

The Governors of Ashurst CE Aided Primary School believe:

● our inclusive ethos can accommodate most learners 
● children within its community benefit from attending school full time so that 
   they can make the most of its broad and creative curriculum. A curriculum that 
   is designed to meet the needs of its learners. 
● we meet the needs of all learners in terms of exploring their potential 
● we support to parents/carers in terms of supporting their child both 
   academically and socially (a holistic approach) 
● we give children great opportunities to acquire new knowledge and skills, and 
   these opportunities allow children to apply these skills in a variety of ways, 
   preparing them for life. 
● we work hard to raise standards and levels of achievement, and this is best 
   done within its school community 
● That we teach skills for life – attendance, punctuality, resilience. tolerance, 
   friendship and kindness. 

School Admissions 
Children who attend part-time under a flexi schooling arrangement are subject 
to the same school admission processes as other children. They count towards 
numbers for admissions purposes and they must be entered on the admissions 
register. 

Infant Class Size limits  
Children who attend part-time under a flexi schooling arrangement count for the 
purposes of the infant class size regulations, i.e. the limit of 30 children per 
teacher. They are not allowable exceptions to the infant class size limit (although 
they may be allowable exceptions for different reasons). 

Insurance 
There are no additional or exceptional insurance implications for the school for 
children who are on a school roll but who attend part-time under a flexi schooling 
arrangement.  

If Flexi-Schooling is agreed: 
 The school will work hard to maintain a smooth transition between education at 
    home and education at school so that the child remains happy, supported and 
    challenged. 
 If it appears that parent/carers are not providing a suitable education as 
    agreed between the school and the parent, the school may ask the parent to take 
    remedial action. If the parent declines to do so or the school is still concerned 
    about the provision of education at home, the school may withdraw its agreement 
    to the flexi schooling arrangement. The child would then be required to attend 
    school on a full-time basis. 
 The school will have a formal written agreement with the parents/carers about 
    the flexi schooling arrangements so that expectations and understandings are 
    clear for both parties. 

Such an agreement might include sections on: 
● Rationale for flex-schooling is considered appropriate for the child 
● What days/sessions the child will attend school 
● How absences will be monitored and recorded or special events attended 
● Recommended planning/review meetings 
● Arrangements for an exit strategy 
● How disputes will be resolved 
● Children with a statement of special educational needs will have their statement 
   reviewed annually, or sooner if appropriate. 

General Comments 
Marking of the register 
● On the sessions the child is not in school the register will be marked with a 
Code C – ‘authorised absence’ 

Absences from school: 
● Parents will follow the normal school procedures and inform the school office 
   if the child is to be absent from school when expected to attend and why. 
● Parents will notify the school if the child was unwell on the days/times the child 
   was being home educated so the record of attendance can reflect this. 
● The school will follow up any unexpected or unexplained absence in the same 
   way as it does for other children. 

Employing other people to educate: 
If a parent chooses to employ other people to educate their child at home, they 
are responsible for making sure that those whom they engage are suitable to have 
access to children. 

Parent consultation meetings: 
Parents are welcome to make meetings with the class teacher as required, as well 
as the termly parent consultation meetings. 

Informing the Local Authority: 
School will notify the Local Authority (LA) of the flexi-schooling arrangement 
and continue to liaise with the LA whilst the arrangements continue to be in place. 

Monitoring flexi-schooling: 
If it appears to the school that the parents/carers are not providing a suitable 
education as agreed the school may ask the parent/carer to take remedial action. 
If the parent/carer declines to do so or the school remains concerned about the 
provision, the school may withdraw its agreement to the flexi-schooling 
arrangement. Any notice of withdrawal will be made in writing by the school. 

Ending the Flexi-schooling Agreement: 
The flexi-schooling arrangements will be reviewed by the school with the parents 
at the end of each half term or sooner if requested by either party. If there are 
any concerns, these will be raised with the family as they occur.  Flexi-school 
arrangements will cease if the school feels Flexi-schooling is no longer a 
sustainable/beneficial provision. Examples of this may include: 
● Pupils’ attendance at school falls below 95 percent. 
● Pupils’ attainment, performance or progress is falling below the accepted 
   standard in areas of the pupil’s education for which the school has responsibility.  
● Where the school believes that any of the required conditions that underpin the 
   agreement are not being met, e.g. the pupil is not making the expected progress, 
   the school will withdraw the flexi-schooling agreement.  

Ideally a minimum of one-week notice will be given by the school to end the 
agreement, following a meeting, to allow for a smooth return transition.  

The flexi-schooling arrangements will be reviewed by the school with the parents 
at the end of each half term, The agreement will cease when both parties are 
happy that Flexi-schooling is no longer a necessary provision. Ideally a minimum 
of one-week notice will be given to end the agreement to allow for a smooth 
transition. 

Queries or Concerns: 
Parents are encouraged to raise any queries or concerns with the school. If the 
parent feels they wish to discuss the matter further, then they should contact 
the school office to make an appointment with the Headteacher. 

Document History

The downloadable pdf file below contains the formal flexi-schooling agreement/contract for parents to complete and submit to the School Office.