Home Schooling
While both Home Schooling and EOTAS involve learning outside of school, they are very different in how they are set up and who is responsible:
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Home Schooling
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Parents choose to educate their child at home.
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Parents are fully responsible for planning, delivering, and funding the education.
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The local authority may check that the education is suitable, but they don’t provide teaching or resources.
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EOTAS Package
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EOTAS is agreed by the local authority when a child’s needs can’t be met in school (usually through an EHCP).
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The local authority remains responsible for arranging and funding the education.
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Teaching and support are provided by qualified tutors, therapists, or learning services—not solely by parents.
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To conclude:
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Home Schooling = parent-led, parent-funded choice.
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EOTAS = LA-led, LA-funded provision for children who cannot access school.
Home Schooling vs EOTAS:
What’s the Difference?
It’s easy to get confused between Home Schooling and an EOTAS package because both happen outside of mainstream school. But they are not the same. Here are some common misunderstandings:
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❌ Myth: “If my child gets EOTAS, I’ll have to home school them.”
✅ Truth: With EOTAS, the local authority is responsible for arranging and funding your child’s education. You don’t have to take on the role of teacher.
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❌ Myth: “Home schooling means the council will send tutors to my house.”
✅ Truth: If you choose to home school, you take full responsibility for your child’s education—including teaching, planning, and paying for it.
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❌ Myth: “EOTAS and Home Schooling are just different names for the same thing.”
✅ Truth: They are very different. Home schooling is a parent’s choice; EOTAS is a legal provision the local authority must provide when a child cannot access school.
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❌ Myth: “If my child is struggling, the only option is for me to home school.”
✅ Truth: If school isn’t right, you don’t have to do it alone. EOTAS might be an option where education is still provided and supported by professionals.