EOTAS vs Home Education in Wales (2026 Update)

Published 28 March 2026

EOTAS vs Home Education in Wales

What’s the difference in law, and what the 2026 guidance makes clearer

Last updated: 28 March 2026 following Welsh Government guidance update

This article explains the current position in Wales only. The SEND system in England operates under a different legal framework.

If your child is struggling in school, you may hear terms like “EOTAS” and “home education” used in similar ways. In practice, they mean very different things.

In March 2026, Welsh Government published updated guidance on Additional Learning Needs (ALN), including specific guidance on:

  • Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS)
  • Elective Home Education (EHE)

This guidance does not change the law, but it makes the distinction between these two pathways clearer.

Understanding that difference is important, because it affects:

  • who is responsible for education
  • who arranges provision
  • who funds provision
  • whether an IDP should be in place
  • what support may be available

What is EOTAS?

EOTAS stands for:

Education Otherwise Than At School

It is used where a child or young person cannot attend school and education needs to be arranged outside of a school setting.

Under EOTAS:

  • the local authority remains responsible for securing suitable education
  • provision is arranged by the local authority
  • this may include tuition or a bespoke package

EOTAS is a structured arrangement, not simply being out of school.

What the 2026 guidance clarifies

The updated guidance makes clear that:

  • EOTAS is not the default response to difficulties in school
  • it should be considered where education in a school setting is not appropriate
  • provision must be suitable to the learner’s needs

What is Elective Home Education (EHE)?

Elective Home Education is where:

parents choose to take responsibility for their child’s education

Under EHE:

  • the parent is responsible for education
  • the local authority does not arrange provision
  • the local authority does not fund education

What the 2026 guidance clarifies

The guidance reinforces that:

  • home education is a parental choice
  • local authorities may make contact, but responsibility remains with the parent
  • home education itself is not additional learning provision

The most important difference

EOTAS Home Education
Local authority responsible Parent responsible
LA arranges provision Parent arranges provision
LA funds provision Parent funds provision

What about IDPs?

Under EOTAS

Where a child has ALN:

  • an Individual Development Plan (IDP) should normally be in place
  • the local authority remains responsible for securing the provision set out in the IDP

Under Home Education

Where a child has ALN:

  • the local authority still has duties to decide whether ALN is present and whether an IDP is required
  • however, the parent remains responsible for providing education

What this means in practice

  • An IDP should not automatically cease simply because a child is home educated
  • However, the way provision is delivered may differ depending on circumstances

🔴 CRITICAL PRACTICAL POINT — POST-16 SUPPORT

This is an area where many families experience difficulty in practice.

What the law says (Wales)

In Wales:

  • Compulsory school age ends on the last Friday in June of Year 11
  • After this, learners move into post-16 education (sixth form, FE college, or training)

This differs from England, which can lead to confusion when parents rely on UK-wide advice.

What we see in practice

Based on experience supporting families:

It is often significantly easier to secure appropriate post-16 support where an IDP is already in place before the end of Year 11.

Where no IDP is in place:

  • assessments may need to begin at a later stage
  • support may not be in place at the start of college
  • transition planning can be more difficult

Our recommendation

If your child is electively home educated and may need support at 16+:

It is advisable to work towards having an IDP in place before the end of Year 11

This supports:

  • clearer identification of needs
  • more effective transition planning
  • reduced risk of gaps in provision

🔴 CAREERS WALES — START EARLY (YEAR 10)

Engaging early with Careers Wales can be an important part of planning for post-16 education.

Why this can help

Careers Wales advisers:

  • have knowledge of local education and training pathways
  • may have access to information not always published in college prospectuses
  • can support planning discussions around post-16 options

Many parents in our community have found this support helpful.

When to start

It is advisable to begin engagement around:

age 14 (Year 10)

This allows time to explore options and plan appropriately.

Important note for EHE families

Due to service structure and data protection requirements:

Careers Wales will not usually initiate contact with electively home-educated families.

This means the parent will normally need to make the first contact.

How to contact Careers Wales

You can find your local Careers Wales contact here:

👉 https://careerswales.gov.wales/contact-us

Common misunderstandings

“EOTAS and home education are basically the same”

❌ Not correct

“If I home educate, the local authority must provide support”

❌ Not necessarily

“If my child cannot attend school, I must home educate”

❌ Not necessarily

“If I home educate, my child loses their IDP”

❌ Not automatically

When does this matter most?

  • school placement breakdown
  • pressure to deregister
  • planning for post-16 education

What parents can do

  • ask who is responsible for education
  • clarify who will arrange provision
  • confirm funding arrangements
  • check whether an IDP is in place or needed
  • seek advice early

You do not have to navigate this alone

Understanding these decisions can feel overwhelming, especially if they are being made under pressure.

You are welcome to join our parent community here:
👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/learnwithoutlimitscic

We also offer:

  • Monthly online peer support sessions for parents across Wales
  • Relaxed, face-to-face parent brunch sessions in Swansea

👉 https://learnwithoutlimitscic.org/events.en.html

You do not have to work through this process on your own.

Suggested further reading

References

[1] Welsh Government, Additional learning needs: guidance for schools and local authorities, 2026
[2] Welsh Government, Education otherwise than at school (EOTAS) guidance, 2026
[3] Welsh Government, Elective home education guidance, 2026
[4] Welsh Government, Additional Learning Needs Code for Wales 2021
[5] Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018