ABSTRACT
Education between five and 16 years is compulsory. The Education Act 1996 (the ‘Education Act’) combined with the provisions of s 36 and Sched 3 to the Children Act 1989 (the ‘Children Act’), authorises prosecution of parents who fail to ensure that their child receives a proper full time education. Parents have the right to educate their children other than in school, provided that the child receives a ‘proper education’ as described below. The local education authority may agree, under the Education Act 1996, to help parents to arrange education otherwise than at school.
