What home-based programmes are available?

Home education that you choose to provide is different from home tuition provided by the local authority when a child is unable to attend school. This might occur if your child is injured or ill.

The guidance on home tuition for children with medical needs says that children should receive a minimum of five hours’ teaching a week by the 15th day of absence. Excluded children, particularly those of primary age, may also receive home tuition until a new school place is found for them.

Available programmes

There are a number of schemes and programmes that parents or professionals may follow when educating a child at home. There is quite a lot of overlap between different programmes. The best known are listed below:

Portage

Children from birth to school age may receive help at home from the Portage Service. Portage home visitors, who may have an education or health background, provide a programme of activities for parents to help their child focusing on areas where the child needs to boost their development.

Visit the Portage website for more information

National Autistic Society’s Early Bird scheme

This is one of the programmes that parents can use at home with the support of professionals co-ordinated by the local authority.

Many local authorities now set up multi-disciplinary teams made up of professionals from health, education and care to support parents when their young child has first been diagnosed.

Find out more on the National Autistic Society’s website

Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) home programmes

A growing number of families are choosing to use Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) at home to educate their child. If possible it’s best to start ABA home programmes during the pre-school years. Read the Outcome of early intervention for autism report (PDF 144KB) to find out why this is.

Peach is a parent-led UK charity that promotes Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention (EIBI) for young children with autism.

Visit the Peach website for more information and support