No. Your local authority (LA) still has a legal duty to secure suitable, full-time alternative education for any child of compulsory school age who is not receiving education because:

  • illness is preventing them from being able to attend school
  • they have been permanently excluded from school, or
  • of any other reason,

under section 19 of the Education Act 1996.

You can find more information on temporary education and a template letter you can use to request it on our website.