EHCP and EOTAS (Education Otherwise Than At School)

EOTAS stands for Education Otherwise Than At School. It is a package of education arranged and funded by the local authority for a child or young person who has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) but for whom attending a school or college would not be appropriate. For some families it is the only realistic route to a suitable education, yet it is one of the least understood parts of the SEND system in England.

This guide explains what EOTAS is, the law behind it, how it differs from home education and alternative provision, when a council must arrange it, and how to build the evidence that supports it.

The Law: Section 61 of the Children and Families Act 2014

EOTAS sits in Section 61 of the Children and Families Act 2014. This section allows a local authority to arrange for some or all of a child's special educational provision to be made somewhere other than a school, post-16 institution or early years setting, where the authority is satisfied that it would be inappropriate for the provision to be made in such a setting.

The word that matters is "inappropriate". The council does not have to show that no school exists. It has to be satisfied that a school placement would be inappropriate for this particular child. That is a different and often lower bar than parents fear. The SEND Code of Practice is clear that EOTAS is a legitimate part of the system and not a last resort to be avoided.

When EOTAS is agreed, Section I of the EHCP (the placement section) is normally left without a named school, and the provision your child needs is set out in full in Section F. Because Section F provision is legally enforceable, the council must secure and fund everything listed there. To understand how the sections work together, read our guide to the sections of an EHCP explained.

How EOTAS Differs From Home Education and Alternative Provision

These three things are often confused, but they are legally very different.

Elective home education (EHE). This is where a parent chooses to take responsibility for educating their child at home. The parent funds it and the local authority is no longer under a duty to secure the provision in the plan. EHE is a parental choice, not a council arrangement.

EOTAS. This is arranged and funded by the local authority. The duty to secure the provision stays firmly with the council. A child on an EOTAS package might receive one-to-one tuition, therapy, online learning, forest school sessions, or a blend of these, all paid for by the authority. The parent does not pick up the bill.

Alternative provision (AP). This is education arranged for children who cannot attend a mainstream or special school for reasons such as illness or exclusion, often in a pupil referral unit. AP is usually short-term and aimed at returning a child to a school setting, whereas EOTAS can be a long-term arrangement built around the child's needs.

When a Council Should Arrange EOTAS

There is no single checklist, but EOTAS commonly becomes the right answer when a child's needs cannot be met in any available school. Typical situations include:

• A child with severe anxiety or emotionally based school avoidance who cannot tolerate a school building, where you may also want our guide on EHCP and school refusal
• A child whose needs are so complex or specific that no school, mainstream or special, can deliver the required provision
• A child who has been repeatedly let down by school placements that have broken down
• A young person with a profile, such as pathological demand avoidance, where the structure of school itself is the barrier, covered in our EHCP for PDA guide

EOTAS is not only for children who are completely out of school. It can also be a partial arrangement, where some provision is made at a setting and some is made elsewhere.

How to Evidence an EOTAS Request

Strong evidence is what turns a request into an agreement. Councils are far more likely to agree EOTAS, and tribunals far more likely to order it, when the bundle clearly shows that school is inappropriate and that the proposed package will meet need.

Show why school is inappropriate. This might be reports from a clinical or educational psychologist, records of failed placements, attendance data showing the child cannot access school, or medical evidence of the harm school is causing. The aim is to demonstrate that the inappropriateness is about the child's needs, not parental preference.

Set out the package you want. Describe in detail the tuition, therapy and activities that will meet each need, and quantify them. Vague wording is the most common reason provision becomes unenforceable, so apply the same discipline you would to any plan, as explained in our guide to Section F specificity.

Cost it sensibly. A well-costed EOTAS package that meets need can be no more expensive than a specialist school place, and sometimes less. Showing the council that the arrangement is reasonable and proportionate removes one of their most common objections.

What to Do if the Council Refuses

If your local authority refuses to arrange EOTAS, or names a school in Section I that you do not believe is suitable, you have a right of appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (SEND). Tribunals regularly order EOTAS where the evidence shows a school placement would be inappropriate. Before you can appeal you will usually need a mediation certificate, and the deadline is strict, so read our guides on the mediation process and on appealing to the SEND Tribunal as soon as a decision letter arrives.

Keep every communication in writing, log the date of any decision, and diarise your two-month appeal deadline the moment you receive a refusal. The families who hold the council to the law, calmly and in writing, are the ones who tend to secure the right outcome.

Last updated: June 2026