Overview
EOTAS stands for Education Otherwise Than at School.
EOTAS is specialist education provision to meet specific needs of pupils who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
Calderdale Council recognises that there will be a small but significant group of children and young people for whom the Council agrees that there is no school or college at that moment in time, that is able to meet their need.
Some children cannot attend a mainstream or specialist school for different reasons. These may be medical reasons or complex needs where there isn't a setting at that moment in time that can meet those needs.
EOTAS is different from Elective Home Education (EHE). Both EOTAS and EHE may have the same result in that the child will be being educated at home. EOTAS and EHE place different obligations on local authorities.
Under EOTAS the Local Authority will remain responsible for the child or young person’s education. They will continue to ensure that they receive a suitable education that meets the provision and outcomes in the EHC Plan.
The SEN Team will work with the parent carers or young person to put an EOTAS package in place. Packages may include provision such as tuition, social skills development and life skills. The key thing is that packages are linked to the provision and outcomes in EHCP's and meet the child or young person's identified needs.
It is a key priority for Calderdale Council to ensure that these children
- have appropriate learning opportunities
- are effectively safeguarded
- have every opportunity to return to an educational setting as soon as they are able to do so
EOTAS provision in Calderdale is regularly reviewed, monitored, and is not identified as a long-term solution.