Posted on: Friday 19 June 2026
A new process to ensure children educated at home receive a suitable education has seen an increase in parents providing the required information.
Parents who elect to home education their children assume legal responsibility for their education and must demonstrate it is being provided to an appropriate standard.
Most parents who home educate in Torfaen send evidence of their child’s education to the council’s Elective Home Education officer at least once a year.
Since September, the council has started issuing School Attendance Orders notification letters to those who fail to provide any information.
The process offers parents a number of opportunities to provide the documentation required or reapply for a school place. Failure to comply with an order can result in prosecution.
The majority of parents issued with notification letters have provided evidence of their child’s education or re-enrolled them back in school.
Two families who have failed to comply with the order have been prosecuted, including the parents of a secondary school age girl who were found guilty at Cwmbran Magistrates' Court last week and fined £2,328.
Andrew Powles, Director of Education, said: "Every child has the legal right to an education. For those who are unable to provide the necessary evidence, we have a duty to work with them to ensure a suitable education is provided or support them to reintroduce their children to mainstream education."
Anyone considering elective home education is encouraged to contact the council’s Education Welfare Service who can offer advice and guidance.