The following are useful contacts if you require additional support and advice for your child.
Health
As a home educator you have access to our school nursing team. You can access health advice from them by text, telephone or email
Headstart Kernow provides advice, guidance and resources to support young people's wellbeing.
Kernow Health delivers the School-Age Immunisation Service on behalf of NHS England. All school age children and young people are eligible for specific vaccines at certain ages. The schedule (as at May 2024) is as follows:
- Reception to Year 6 (inclusive) - nasal flu. This vaccine is offered annually, usually between September and February
- Years 8 to 11 - Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine
- Years 9 to 11 - Tetanus / Diphtheria / Polio (‘teenage booster’) and Meningitis ACWY
Childcare and Activities
The Family Information Service is the only source of Ofsted registered childcare. They also provide information on activities for children and young people.
Visit the Family Information Service
Child Employment
Home educated children are governed by the same laws, with regard to child employment, as any other child. All children must be issued with a work permit by the Local Authority. This also applies to children who may be working part time in the family business or with a self-employed parent.
Visit employment of school age children
Financial Support
There are organisations which provide grants and bursaries for educational purposes that you could explore further. These include:
Online Safety
If you are educating your child at home, you should be aware of the risks and challenges of the internet. Safer Cornwall has information about keeping pupils safe online.
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Safeguarding Children Partnership has resources to help parents and children reduce the risk of online exploitation.
Early Help Hub
The Early Help Hub is our 'front door' to rarely help services led by Cornwall Council and Cornwall Foundation Trust. The Hub looks at requests for help. These can be submitted by parents and / or professionals with consent, and identify:
- the right help
- at the right time
- by the right service
The early help hub also looks at voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations who can offer help and support.
Support Groups
You can contact national and regional support groups for advice and guidance about elective home education:
- Home Education Advisory Service (HEAS) advise parents who want to home educate their children.
- Ed Yourself provided updates on elective home education practice and policy.
- Education Otherwise
- Home Education UK
- HomeEducationSW
- Educational Freedom offers support, advice and information for home educators in the UK