As a parent, you know your child better than anyone. You know their quirks, their passions and their strengths. And you’ve been there first hand to see their struggles. When it comes to education, we know that one size does not fit all, and for some children traditional school settings may not be the best fit. I often have families asking me about EOTAS (Education Otherwise than at School); in most cases these have been parents whose children have struggled to attend school for a long period of time, or where their child’s distress at attending school has had a real impact on their mental health and wellbeing. In some cases these are children who have never attended school.
In this blog, I’ll share my understanding of EOTAS, including what local authorities might consider when assessing whether to approve this kind of education for your child. I’ll offer some practical tips to help parents navigate the process, and some advice about the sort of evidence you may need.
What is EOTAS (or EOTIS)?
EOTAS stands for Education Otherwise than at School (sometimes now called Education Otherwise than in School – EOTIS), and it’s exactly what it sounds like: an alternative education plan for children who cannot access or benefit from traditional schooling. This could be for a variety of reasons, such as mental health, anxiety, learning needs, attachment, or other circumstances where a school environment (either mainstream or specialist) is not suitable.
EOTAS essentially is a bespoke programme that doesn’t require a child or young person to attend a traditional school setting. I have worked with families where their EOTAS package has included tutors, or self-directed learning programs, or access to alternative learning provisions such as forest schools or nurture-based placements. In some cases access to therapeutic support, such as Clinical Psychology, Occupational Therapy or Speech and Language Therapy is also formally included within the package. In all cases these things have been formally written into their Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan (the legal document which sets out a child’s educational needs and how they should be supported), and no school setting has been named in Section I.
When is EOTAS Considered?
Local authorities will carefully consider several factors before agreeing to an EOTAS arrangement. It’s not about whether your child simply finds school difficult, it’s about whether all kinds of formal educational settings would be a barrier to your child’s learning and well-being. Sometimes this evidence is straightforward; your child might have tried numerous educational settings only to find that none can meet their needs. In other cases, you might feel really strongly that this is what your child needs, but not have the ‘formal’ evidence of failed placements.
Here are some of the things you might want to start thinking about:
- Impact of Current Education:
What has been the impact of attending school so far? Has your child experienced significant distress, anxiety, or behaviours that suggest the school setting is actively harming their emotional or mental well-being? Have they experienced school trauma? Has your child never been able to attend school at all? Have they been without a suitable education for a period of time? - Feasibility and Appropriateness of Alternative Provision:
If EOTAS is recommended, the local authority will need to ensure that the alternative provision is appropriate for your child’s needs and can provide a high standard of education. Have you found settings or programs which you feel would offer this to your child? Can you arrange meetings and discussions with providers to ensure they could meet your child’s needs? Or do you really need guidance and advice about what sort of settings to look for? - Is this a long term plan, or something for the short term:
Do you hope that over time your child could return to a school or other educational setting, once they have received the right support? Is this a short term plan to meet their needs and gradually move back into school? In many cases EOTAS is offered with a view to helping your child reintegrate into a school environment at a later stage. It’s worth thinking about what you feel is right in the short and longer term. - Parental Involvement:
It’s important to recognise the significant role parents play in the EOTAS process. If you’re advocating for your child to be educated otherwise than at school, the local authority will want to see that you’re fully engaged with the plan and that you are able to support your child’s learning at home or within the alternative provision(s). This is likely to include a lot of involvement and co-ordination on your part.
What Evidence should be collected?
Evidence is a really important part of this process, and can include a wide range of things:
- Evidence of how the child has struggled in school, such as a record of their absences or exclusions. The more detailed and specific this evidence, the better. You might keep copies of a communication book from school, or keep note of things you notice at home such as distress on transition to school, and the impact that school is having on your child’s wellbeing.
- Often professional reports are a key part of the evidence. The local authority will always provide an Educational Psychologist assessment as part of your EHC, but advice I’ve had from educational solicitors is that for an EOTAS package to be confirmed tribunals are often looking for “clinical” evidence that attending school is not appropriate for your child.
- Clinical evidence might include letters from CAMHS or other services who know about your child’s needs, letters from a GP or paediatrician, or private assessments (either self-funded, paid by school, or funded through Legal Aid) such as with a Clinical Psychologist.
- It’s always worth checking whether your financial situation means you are entitled to Legal Aid as this can be used to fund some of the private assessments as well as an educational lawyer to support your case. You can check whether you can get Legal Aid here: https://www.gov.uk/check-legal-aid
How the Tribunal Fits In
If the local authority disagrees with your request for EOTAS or does not include it in your child’s EHC plan, you can appeal the decision at a Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Tribunal. Tribunals are independent bodies that help resolve disputes between parents and local authorities regarding special educational needs.
A tribunal will look at the same factors as the local authority but from a different perspective: they will assess whether the authority has made a decision that is lawful, reasonable, and in the best interest of your child. This can be an emotional and complex process, so it’s crucial to gather all the necessary documentation, including professional assessments, letters from the school, and any additional evidence that supports your case.
Tips for Parents: How to Build a Strong Case for EOTAS
- Document Everything: Keep a detailed record of everything your child has experienced in school, this includes attendance records, notes on behavioural incidents, communications with the school, and reports from professionals. This helps paint a comprehensive picture of your child’s needs.
- Consult Professionals Early: Seek out professionals who you feel will understand your child’s unique needs. Their reports will be a key part of your case, so it’s important to get professional advice early on. Local SENDIASS and IPSEA teams are also helpful places to seek support from, and they can usually offer free, impartial advice. Educational Lawyers who specialise in special educational needs (SEN) will know the legal system best. They can help you understand the legal rights your child has, ensure that you’re following the correct procedure, and help you appeal any decisions made by the local authority that you believe are unjust.
- Understand the Criteria: Local authorities will be looking for specific evidence, including whether your child is unable to access the curriculum in an formal educational setting or whether attending school poses a risk to their well-being. Understanding this criteria will help you think about how to fully explain and explore your child’s needs. For many families I work with, ‘school trauma’ is an important part of this picture, but each family and situation is unique.
- Explore Alternative Options: Before requesting EOTAS, you may wish to thoroughly explore alternative educational options—specialist schools, therapeutic schools, online schools… The local authority will consider all the possibilities before deciding that EOTAS is the right route, so get ahead of the game and check out these settings for yourself. Provision varies so much from area to area, and in recent years there has been a significant increase in alternative provision settings and independent specialist schools. Joining local Facebook SEND Parent groups can be a great forum for finding out the sort of provisions that are available locally.
- Be Patient, but Persistent: The EOTAS process can take time, and the road to securing this kind of provision can be bumpy. Stay patient, but keep advocating for what your child needs. If you need to, seek legal advice or support from SEND advocacy groups such as SENDIASS and IPSEA.
Finally – having a community of people around you who deeply understand the journey you are on is so important. You’re not alone in this. If EOTAS is the right option for your child, it’s really worth fighting for. By gathering the right evidence, consulting with professionals, and staying involved in the process, you can help ensure that your child gets the tailored support they need to thrive.
If you’re considering EOTAS for your child, take a deep breath, gather your resources, and remember: you’re not alone.
Need Support?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the process or would like some advice on how to approach the local authority, don’t hesitate to get in touch. I have worked with lots of families in your situation, and supported many of them to access EOTAS. You can book in a free chat with me online, using my website booking link: https://dr-rose-psychology.selectandbook.com
Other helpful links:
For a more detailed overview of the relevent SEND Law, this article is briliant: https://www.specialneedsjungle.com/eotas-education-otherwise-than-at-school-what-is-it-and-can-i-get-it/
To find out more about SENDIASS: https://www.kids.org.uk/sendiass-home/
To find out more about IPSEA: https://www.ipsea.org.uk/
Dr Naomi Fisher has some brilliant resources and advice for parents thinking about their child’s needs in education: https://naomifisher.co.uk
Not Fine in School is an organisation built to support parents in advocating for their child’s needs in education: https://notfineinschool.co.uk
