EOTISC will only be considered if the child or young person is in the process of getting an EHCP or already has one in place and the LA agrees that it would be inappropriate for a provision to be delivered in nursery, school or college to meet their special educational need and therefore it would be necessary for the LA to arrange provision to somewhere other than in an education setting. This is the legal threshold set out in Section 61 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
Education Other Than in School or College (EOTISC)
Welcome to the section of the Local Offer that provides information in relation to education other than in school and/or college (EOTISC), also known as education other than at school (EOTAS).
It is expected children and young people who hold an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan, will attend an education setting. This could be an early years setting/nursery, school or college. In a few circumstances, despite the best endeavours of the parents/carers, the SEN Service, education settings and other practitioners, it is determined and evidenced that no setting would be appropriate due to their special educational needs.
In these rare circumstances, the LA will determine if Section 61 of the Children and Families Act 2014 has been met. If it has the local authority (LA) will provide special educational provision in settings other than schools and/or college such as in community settings.
EOTISC is not the same as Elective Home Education (EHE). If you choose to home educate, the LA will not be responsible for meeting any of the costs or providing any support for your child's education even if they have an EHCP. The parents/carers become responsible for providing the child’s educational provision. Read more information on EHE.
EOTISC will only be considered if the child or young person is in the process of getting an EHCP or already has one in place and the LA agrees that it would be inappropriate for a provision to be delivered in nursery, school or college to meet their special educational need and therefore it would be necessary for the LA to arrange provision to somewhere other than in an education setting. This is the legal threshold set out in Section 61 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
You can request EOTISC as part of an initial EHC assessment, a reassessment or as part of an annual review of an EHC plan. The LA will consider parental wishes, but all decisions will be based on evidence that shows any educational setting is ‘inappropriate’ to meet all or some of your CYP needs.
Evidence that the LA must consider is related to:
- the child or young person’s background, medical history and/or particular SEN
- facilities that can be provided by a school, and facilities that could be provided other than in a school
- comparative cost of the possible alternatives to the child’s educational provisions;
- child’s reaction to education provisions, either at a school or elsewhere
- parents’ wishes, and
- any other particular circumstances that apply to a particular child.
You can request EOTISC as part of an initial EHC assessment, a reassessment or as part of an annual review of an EHC plan. The LA will consider parental wishes, but all decisions will be based on evidence that shows any educational setting is ‘inappropriate’ to meet all or some of your CYP needs.
Evidence that the LA must consider is related to:
- the child or young person’s background, medical history and/or particular SEN
- facilities that can be provided by a school, and facilities that could be provided other than in a school
- comparative cost of the possible alternatives to the child’s educational provisions;
- child’s reaction to education provisions, either at a school or elsewhere
- parents’ wishes, and
- any other particular circumstances that apply to a particular child.
If the LA agrees EOTISC is necessary provision will be made in one of the below ways:
- The LA arranges a package of education and support that will be delivered in a variety of community settings such as libraries or community centres. Provision may also be delivered within the home environment.
- You can request to manage the EOTISC package through a personal budget and if the LA agrees parents, then take the responsibility of coordinating the package of provision themselves. View the personal budget policy from Hampshire.
- Please note, having a child educated in this way will have a significant impact on your family. You may have tutors, mentors or therapists coming into you home, you may be required to be present when your child or young person sees these people due to safeguarding and you may need to transport your child or young person between different provisions. If you have a personal budget, you will need to keep invoices and receipts and keep a record of how the money is spent.
- EOTISC will only be agreed if it is something that you are willing to do.
If the LA agrees EOTISC is necessary provision will be made in one of the below ways:
- The LA arranges a package of education and support that will be delivered in a variety of community settings such as libraries or community centres. Provision may also be delivered within the home environment.
- You can request to manage the EOTISC package through a personal budget and if the LA agrees parents, then take the responsibility of coordinating the package of provision themselves. View the personal budget policy from Hampshire.
- Please note, having a child educated in this way will have a significant impact on your family. You may have tutors, mentors or therapists coming into you home, you may be required to be present when your child or young person sees these people due to safeguarding and you may need to transport your child or young person between different provisions. If you have a personal budget, you will need to keep invoices and receipts and keep a record of how the money is spent.
- EOTISC will only be agreed if it is something that you are willing to do.
If the local authority does not agree to EOTISC, parents can appeal the decision through legal channels or seek advice from organisations like IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice) or Hampshire SENDIASS.
You can find Hampshire SENDIASS's advice on EOTISC here.
If the local authority does not agree to EOTISC, parents can appeal the decision through legal channels or seek advice from organisations like IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice) or Hampshire SENDIASS.
You can find Hampshire SENDIASS's advice on EOTISC here.
The EOTISC package is managed through the normal Annual Review process, by your LA EHC coordinator.
Section 42 of the Children and Families Act 2014 places the LA under a duty to make sure that all the provision in the EHC plan is in place. Therefore, the EOTISC package detailed in Section F is legally treated the same as provision which is delivered within an education setting.
When a child has EOTISC agreed, Section I of the EHCP will be blank (this section would normally state the name of the school/college) and Section F will detail all the provisions that the LA has agreed to fund.
The EOTISC package is managed through the normal Annual Review process, by your LA EHC coordinator.
Section 42 of the Children and Families Act 2014 places the LA under a duty to make sure that all the provision in the EHC plan is in place. Therefore, the EOTISC package detailed in Section F is legally treated the same as provision which is delivered within an education setting.
When a child has EOTISC agreed, Section I of the EHCP will be blank (this section would normally state the name of the school/college) and Section F will detail all the provisions that the LA has agreed to fund.
Hampshire’s position statement includes information about:
- The definition of EOTISC/EOTAS
- How SEN service determines if someone should receive their special educational provision otherwise than in an early years setting, school or post 16 educational setting
- What EOTISC/EOTAS means in terms of practical day-to-day provision and
- How EOTISC/EOTAS is reviewed
Hampshire’s position statement includes information about:
- The definition of EOTISC/EOTAS
- How SEN service determines if someone should receive their special educational provision otherwise than in an early years setting, school or post 16 educational setting
- What EOTISC/EOTAS means in terms of practical day-to-day provision and
- How EOTISC/EOTAS is reviewed