Home Education Support in Derby

Home education in Derby has grown steadily, and the two things families tell us they struggle to arrange are the same two things every year: regular contact with other children, and a few hours in the week when somebody else is responsible so a parent can work, study, take an appointment or teach one child without the others needing them.

That is what this is. We are an Ofsted-registered setting on Normanton Road, open through the day, and we run daytime sessions for home-educated children aged 5 to 15. Sessions are arranged around your pattern, not ours. Some families use one long morning a week, some use two or three afternoons, some use us in blocks when work gets busy.

What we do — and what we do not

We are not a school and we are not trying to be one. We do not deliver a curriculum, we do not assess your child, and we do not report on them to anybody. Elective home education is your responsibility and stays that way.

What we provide is structured group time: arts and crafts, board games and team activities, reading, project work, and supervised space where children of mixed ages get on with each other. Where a parent asks us to, staff will sit with a child and support work the parent has set — reading practice, times tables, a piece of writing. Arabic and Urdu practice is available for families who want it.

Children bring their own food. We do not provide meals or snacks and there is no food charge on your invoice. Drinking water is always available, and we need to know about allergies before your child starts.

Collection from your home

Home-educated children are not at a school gate at half past three, so the transport works differently. We collect from your home address at the agreed time and bring your child home at the end of the session, with a DBS-checked escort in a fully insured vehicle. The round trip is £8.00 a day. If you would rather bring your child yourself, that is fine and there is no transport charge.

What it costs

So a single four-hour session a week with transport is £40 a week for one child. Three sessions a week would be £120. Because home-education patterns vary so much, fees are agreed individually and written into your agreement before your child starts — tell us the shape of your week and we will price it properly. Our pricing page shows how every rate on the site is built from the same two numbers.

Paying for it

We are registered for Tax-Free Childcare, so for every £8 you pay in the government adds £2 — worth knowing, because home-education families often assume none of the childcare schemes apply to them. Universal Credit claimants can claim back up to 85% of registered childcare costs, and this is registered childcare. Student parents can use the Childcare Grant.

Every family gets a monthly itemised invoice showing our Ofsted registration number, your child’s name and date of birth, the dates and hours provided and each charge separately, plus a receipt — which is what the DWP and HMRC ask to see.

Useful Derby contacts for home-educating families

• Derby City Council Families Information Service — 01332 640758, fis@derby.gov.uk — for what is available locally and what you can claim
• Derby’s SEND Local Offer — if your child has additional needs, whether or not they have an EHC plan
• Derby Family Services Directory — local groups and activities

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you take home-educated children in Derby?

Yes. We run daytime sessions for home-educated children aged 5 to 15, arranged around your own teaching pattern, with collection from and return to your home address.

How much does it cost for a home-educated child?

£8.00 an hour for care (£6.50 for each additional sibling), plus £8.00 a day if you want the round-trip collection from your home. A four-hour session a week with transport is £40 a week. Because home-education patterns vary, fees are agreed individually and written into your agreement.

Do you teach a curriculum?

No. We are not a school. Elective home education remains entirely your responsibility — we do not deliver a curriculum, assess your child or report on them. Where you ask us to, staff will support work you have set, such as reading practice or a piece of writing.

Can home-educating families use Tax-Free Childcare or Universal Credit?

Yes. We are registered childcare, so Tax-Free Childcare adds £2 for every £8 you pay in, and Universal Credit claimants can claim back up to 85% of what they pay us. Many home-education families assume the childcare schemes do not apply to them — they do.

Will my child mix with other children?

Yes, and it is the main reason most families come to us. Sessions are group sessions with children of mixed ages, built around activities that need cooperation — team games, group projects, arts and crafts.

Do you collect from home rather than from a school?

Yes. Home-educated children are not at a school gate, so we collect from your home address at the agreed time and bring your child home afterwards, with a DBS-checked escort in a fully insured vehicle.