EHE families Support
Elective Home Education: Information for the community
Elective Home Education – February 2026 Newsletter
Welcome to Your EHE Family Newsletter
As an EHE team within Gloucestershire we are continuing to work with our community and services in order to provide the best support that we can. If there is something that you would like others in the Home Education Community to know then please contact us and help us to work with you. EHE@gloucestershire.gov.uk
A New Exam Centre in Gloucestershire
We are regularly asked about exam centres in Gloucestershire, and we are really pleased to announce that we have worked with Dean Close in Cheltenham who are now opening their doors to private candidates.
They are accepting applications for private candidates to sit public GCSE, BTEC and A level examinations with AQA, Pearson Edexcel, CIE, OCR and WJEC exam boards. Standard Exam board entry fees, plus an administration and invigilation charge will apply. Contact exams@deanclose.org.uk for further information.
Understanding the Difference Between Young Gloucestershire and the Youth Support Team
Parents often ask which service is best for their child. Both Young Gloucestershire (YG) and the Youth Support Team (YST) support young people, but they do so in different ways.
Young Gloucestershire (YG) is a local charity supporting young people aged 11–25 who may need help with confidence, mental health, motivation or getting back into education, training or work. Support is voluntary and focuses on wellbeing and personal development. YG offer emotional support, mentoring, and confidence-building.
Youth Support Team (YST) is a statutory service commissioned by Gloucestershire County Council. It supports young people aged 10–19 (or up to 25 with SEND) who may need more targeted or specialist help, including support around education, risk, safety, housing or youth justice. YST focus on specialist or statutory support, especially where risks or complex needs are involved.
Mental Health Support
Gloucestershire offers a range of mental health support for home-educated children, ensuring families can access guidance when they need it most. The EHE Officer is able to submit a referral to the Navigation Hub for a multi-agency discussion. If you think that your child would benefit from this then please email your EHE Officer who will discuss this with you and share the form that needs completion. We have had some really positive outcomes for our home educated children and would like to extend this support further.
Did you know that families can also access support through Talkwell and the School Nursing Service through self-referral?
There is also a range of support for families relating to neurodiversity:
Support a child's neurodiversity > Glos Health & Care NHS Foundation Trust
By working together, we aim to ensure every child feels supported, heard and able to thrive. Support is flexible and accessible for all.
Free Resources for Home Educated Families
GHLL have resources available for Home Educated families relating to a number of different areas. In order to access these parents can contact the team (ghll@gloucestershire.gov.uk) and request access to the resources. You will be able to look at the planning and reporting tools with the ability to a “curriculum plan”. In addition to this there is a Family tab on the GHLL website which includes resources to support a number of different aspects including bereavement, bullying, depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicide to name just a few.
If you would like support with explaining puberty to your children then there are booklets available. In addition to this there is guidance relating to Relationship and Sex Education.
Working with different services and highlighting what they have available to home educated families is all part of our relational practice within Gloucestershire where we want to work with our Home Educated families.
Meet the Team
If there is something you would like included in our termly newsletter, then please do let us know. Or join us at our open meeting on Wednesday 4th March at 2:00 pm on Microsoft Teams.
This newsletter has been designed and written by the Lead for EHE in Gloucestershire to keep our Elective Home Education (EHE) families informed about the support and opportunities available to you. As an EHE team, we would like this document to be collaborative with the community where we can share information and celebrate EHE in Gloucestershire.
Support for EHE Families
We offer advice and guidance to parents considering or undertaking home education.Contact: 01452 426015 or email parentadvisers@gloucestershire.gov.uk
You can also access Navigation Hub for families through your EHE Officer.
More info: Gloucestershire EHE Support.
Access to Health Care Services
Vaccinations are offered for children in and out of a school setting. To book your own appointment you can use a unique code for Home Educated children: GC888883.
Full details can be found in our flu vaccination for all school aged children letter.
Helping GCC Home Education Officers to support you
Gloucestershire operates as a Restorative approach. Restorative Practice focuses on building positive relationships and resolving conflict through dialogue and mutual respect. It encourages accountability, empathy, and collaborative problem-solving, creating a supportive environment that strengthens wellbeing and community connections.
Keeping your Children Safe
Are you using personal tutors, carers, or therapists?The government has just announced that parents will be able to get Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks when hiring private tutors, carers and therapists, among others to help give parents greater peace of mind. This change will come into effect from January 2026.
The Music Works
The Music Works offers lots of opportunities for Home Educated Families. Gloucester – the first Tuesday of every month, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. £5 per month @ Mix andMash Forest of Dean – Coming soon
Exam Support
Private exam candidates are now being accepted at Dean Close School