Guidance for local authorities
Guidance for local authorities and schools about children educated at home.
New resources
EHE families, we will be adding new sites to our resources as we get information about them. Some providers have added additional materials, so keep watching our site for up to date resources.
- The National Literacy Library has launched an online zone which includes reading and writing activities, book lists, videos, competitions and reading challenges.
- Home Educators can get a free special library card from Suffolk Community Libraries which allows you to borrow up to 20 books for 12 weeks at a time. The Suffolk Community Libraries website also has recommended topic booklists to help EHEs keep up with national curriculum.
- The BBC has ramped up its education programmes by launching a whole new iplayer experience for children and it has added more resources to its Bitesize area.
- Youth music development charity NYMAZ has put together a package of online music lessons and events.
- Purple Mash by 2Simple is a website designed for children aged 3-11. It contains many creative tools i.e: coding, animation, publishing, art and also applications for maths, spelling and grammar.
- Thousands of colouring pages, crafts, puzzles, worksheets for children of all ages have been put online by Activity Village
Young people in Suffolk can now access free online counselling
Kooth’ is an online chat and emotional wellbeing service for young people aged 11 to 25, across Suffolk.
If a young person is going through a hard time and are not sure who to speak to, Kooth can help them. Kooth has friendly counsellors to help young people talk through any worries. This could be about bullying, relationships, work life difficulties, money worries, problems at home, coping with stress, anxiety or grief from losing someone.
Kooth offers young people free, safe and anonymous online counselling support, 365 days a year, from 12 noon until 10 pm weekdays and from 6pm until 10pm weekends.
Home Education Youth Allotment Sessions
Free weekly youth allotment activities with the YMCA Shine Project.
You can experience new things, gain confidence, learn new skills, speak out about yourself and stand up for young people.
Read more on the YMCA website
Suffolk Local Offer website
To help children, young people and their families source support for their needs, please visit the education page on the Suffolk Local Offer website.
Autism, ADHD and Neurodevelopment
You can find support if you are concerned about your child's neurodevelopment on the Suffolk Local Offer website
SEND Support
To find out what support is available in education, visit the Suffolk Local Offer website
If you have any queries, please email localoffer@suffolk.gov.uk
The Source website - for young people in Suffolk
The Source website provides information, advice and sources of support to young people in Suffolk between 11-18 and up to 25 years of age for young people with additional needs.
The website provides an engaging one-stop-shop for information on everyday issues important to young people, including health and emotional wellbeing advice, education and careers support, as well as information on events, goups and opportunities.
Work Experience Opportunity - Ipswich and Colchester Museums Service (Years 10-12)
Placements are open to any young person between years 10-12, including home educated, and further details can be found on the website.
In the meantime, there is a page on the website dedicated to museum roles, which home educating parents might find helpful.
Emotional Wellbeing Gateway for parents, carers, and professionals
Families and professionals looking for emotional wellbeing and mental health support for children and young people, can find practical advice and local support services online through the new Emotional Wellbeing Gateway.
School Immunisation Service
Suffolk School Immunisation Team offers school-aged children their eligible vaccinations, including nasal flu, HPV, the teenage booster and Meningitis ACWY. Age groups vary each year. Elective home educated children are entitled to these vaccinations, which are not available at GP surgeries routinely. For more information, please contact the team via email at hct.csaissuffolk@nhs.net or phone 0300 555 5055.
Healthy weight, lifestyles and fussy eating support for families
The service offers support to children, young people, and their families to help remove barriers to achieving a healthy weight and lifestyle. This free service offers evidence-based information to support long-term healthier lifestyle goals for the whole family.
The service supports families with children aged 0-19 (25 for SEND) who are overweight (on the 91st-97.9th BMI centile).
For all enquiries, information and advice, you can contact us via email at healthylivingservice@suffolk.gov.uk or phone 01473 263700.
You can also visit the website.
