Education other than at school (EOTAS)

EOTAS means the education provision for children or young people outside of a formal education setting. It means the child or young person would not be on roll at a school or post-16 institution and the special educational provision could happen at home or at another setting. It can only be agreed:

• For a child/ young person going through an Education Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment, or those with an EHC plan at an annual review, who are unable to have their needs met at their school/setting and
• Where the LA is satisfied that it would not be possible for any schools/setting to deliver any of the special educational provision that the LA has determined is necessary.

Section 61 of the Children and Families Act 2014 states that:

1. A LA in England may arrange for any special educational provision that it has decided is necessary for a child or young person for whom it is responsible to be made otherwise than in a school or post-16 institution or a place at which relevant early years education is provided.
2. A LA may do so only if satisfied that it would be inappropriate for any of the provision to be made in a school or post-16 institution or at such a place.

Before doing so, the LA must consult the child's parent or the young person.