Received a letter about a school attendance order? Don’t panic.
School Attendance Orders (SAOs) are the Local Authority’s legal route to compel school attendance when they believe home education is unsuitable. They sound terrifying, but they’re also rare and usually avoidable.
Most families never receive one. And of those who do, most get them withdrawn by providing evidence of suitable education.
This guide covers everything you need to know about school attendance orders – what they are, the legal process, how to avoid them, what to do if you receive one, and your rights throughout.
Knowledge is power. Understanding school attendance orders means you can respond effectively and protect your right to home educate.
What’s Covered in This Guide
- → What is a School Attendance Order?
- → Legal Basis for SAOs
- → The SAO Process Step-by-Step
- → What Happens Before an SAO
- → Receiving Notice of Intent
- → How to Respond to an SAO Notice
- → What Evidence to Provide
- → If an SAO is Actually Issued
- → What Happens in Court
- → How to Avoid an SAO
- → Common LA Mistakes with SAOs
- → Where to Get Help
- → Frequently Asked Questions
What is a School Attendance Order?
A school attendance order is a legal notice issued by a Local Authority requiring a parent to register their child at a named school.
When Can They Issue One?
An LA can only issue a school attendance order if:
- They believe a child of compulsory school age is not receiving suitable education, AND
- The child is not registered at a school, AND
- They have followed the proper legal process
Key Point:
The LA must have EVIDENCE that education is unsuitable. They cannot issue an SAO just because you haven’t responded to their inquiries or because they disagree with your educational philosophy.
What an SAO Is NOT:
❌ NOT the same as a school attendance fine (different thing entirely)
❌ NOT automatic if you deregister from school
❌ NOT issued just because you refuse home visits
❌ NOT issued because you don’t follow National Curriculum
❌ NOT issued just because your child “isn’t at school level”
How Common Are They?
School Attendance Orders are RARE:
Thousands of families home educate in UK
Only a small number of SAOs issued annually per LA
Many are withdrawn when families provide evidence
Very few reach court
Legal Basis for SAOs
Understanding the law helps you understand your position.
Education Act 1996, Section 437
“If it appears to a local education authority that a child of compulsory school age in their area is not receiving suitable education, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise, they shall serve a notice in writing on the parent requiring him to satisfy them within the period specified in the notice that the child is receiving such education.”
What This Means:
The LA must:
- Have reason to believe education is unsuitable
- Serve written notice
- Give you time to respond (at least 15 days)
- Consider your evidence
Your Rights:
✓ Right to respond with evidence
✓ Right to challenge LA’s assessment
✓ Right to proper legal process
✓ Right to legal advice
✓ Right to withdraw child from named school if SAO is served
The SAO Process Step-by-Step
Here’s exactly how the school attendance order process works:
Stage 1: Initial Concerns
What happens:
- LA becomes aware you’re home educating (usually from school notification)
- LA may send informal inquiries
- LA may request information about educational provision
Your response:
- Provide evidence education is suitable (optional but recommended)
- Written report, photos, work samples
Stage 2: Notice Under Section 437(1)
What happens:
- If LA believes education is unsuitable, they serve formal notice
- Notice states their concerns
- Gives you 15+ days to respond
- Asks you to “satisfy them” education is suitable
Your response:
- Respond within deadline with detailed evidence
- Address their specific concerns
- Provide comprehensive educational provision information
- Seek advice from Education Otherwise
Stage 3: Notice of Intent to Issue SAO (Section 437(3))
What happens:
- If LA still believes education unsuitable, they serve notice of intent
- States they intend to issue SAO unless satisfied within 15 days
- Names the school they’ll require attendance at
Your response:
- Respond with even more detailed evidence
- Address every concern raised
- Consider mediation
- Seek legal advice NOW
Stage 4: SAO Issued (Section 437(3))
What happens:
- If LA still not satisfied, formal SAO issued
- Order names specific school
- Requires registration within 15 days
Your options:
- Register child at named school, OR
- Provide evidence education is now suitable, OR
- Prove child is registered at another school, OR
- Amend order to name different school (if you can prove named school unsuitable)
Stage 5: Court Action (Section 443)
What happens:
- If you don’t comply with SAO, LA can prosecute
- Criminal offense not to comply
- Magistrates’ Court hearing
- Potential fine up to £2,500
What Happens Before an SAO
Understanding early warning signs helps you avoid a school attendance order altogether.
Red Flags That LA Has Concerns:
🚩 Repeated requests for information
🚩 Increasingly formal tone in letters
🚩 Statements like “we are not satisfied”
🚩 Mentions of “suitable education”
🚩 References to Section 437
🚩 Requests becoming demands
What You Should Do:
- Take it seriously – Don’t ignore their concerns
- Respond promptly – Within any deadline given
- Provide evidence – Comprehensive, detailed, addresses concerns
- Seek advice – Education Otherwise, local home ed group
- Keep records – All correspondence, evidence provided
- Consider mediation – Before things escalate
Common Reasons for LA Concerns:
- No response to inquiries
- Vague or minimal information provided
- Evidence suggests very limited education
- Child seems not to be learning basics (reading, writing, maths)
- Concerns about child’s welfare
- Previous school raised safeguarding issues
Receiving Notice of Intent
If you receive notice of intent to issue a school attendance order, here’s what to do:
Immediate Actions:
- Don’t panic – This is still preventable
- Read it carefully
- What are their specific concerns?
- What deadline are you given?
- What school are they naming?
- Contact Education Otherwise
- They have advisors who’ve dealt with SAOs
- Can review LA’s case
- Advise on response
- Join local home ed group
- Others may have dealt with your LA
- Can advise what works
- Emotional support
- Consider legal advice
- If concerns are unreasonable
- If LA not following proper process
- If you need representation
What NOT to Do:
❌ Ignore it
❌ Miss the deadline
❌ Respond with anger or hostility
❌ Provide vague or minimal information
❌ Assume it will go away
How to Respond to an SAO Notice
Your response to a school attendance order notice is crucial.
Structure of Your Response:
1. Opening Statement
Example:
“I am writing in response to your notice dated [date] regarding the education of my child, [Name]. I can confirm that [Name] is receiving efficient, full-time education suitable to [his/her] age, ability, and aptitude as required by Section 7 of the Education Act 1996.”
2. Address Each Concern Specifically
If they said: “We are concerned about literacy progress”
You respond:
“Regarding literacy: [Name] reads daily for 30+ minutes. Current reading level is [x]. Recent books read include [list]. Writing practice occurs through [journal/project work/letters]. Spelling is practiced via [method]. Attached are samples of [Name]’s writing from [dates] showing clear progress.”
3. Provide Comprehensive Educational Overview
Include:
- Educational philosophy: Brief explanation of approach
- Resources used: List what you use (online programs, books, workbooks)
- Subjects covered: Show breadth of education
- Typical week: What learning actually looks like
- Progress: What child has achieved, learned, developed
- Socialization: Groups, activities, friends
- Future plans: Where education is heading
4. Provide Evidence
Attach:
- Photos of child learning/doing activities
- Samples of work (writing, maths, projects)
- Records of learning (reading logs, activity diary)
- Certificates from activities
- Letters of recommendation (if applicable)
5. Closing Statement
Example:
“I trust this information satisfies you that [Name] is receiving suitable education as required by law. I am committed to providing [Name] with an education that meets [his/her] needs and enables [him/her] to develop academically, socially, and emotionally. Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.”
Tone and Style:
- Professional and respectful
- Factual, not defensive
- Comprehensive but concise
- Addresses concerns directly
- Confident but not arrogant
What Evidence to Provide
Strong evidence can prevent a school attendance order from being issued.
Types of Evidence That Work:
1. Written Work Samples
- Writing from different dates (shows progress)
- Maths work
- Project reports
- Creative writing
- Any subject-specific work
2. Photos of Learning
- Child engaged in activities
- Science experiments
- Art projects
- Museum/educational trips
- Reading
- Hands-on learning
3. Records of Learning
- Reading log (books read with dates)
- Learning diary or journal
- Activity log
- Trip record
- Online program screenshots (progress tracking)
4. Curriculum Documentation
- List of resources used
- Lesson plans (if you use them)
- Topics covered
- Future planning
5. Progress Evidence
- Before and after work samples
- Skills developed
- Knowledge gained
- Comparison over time
6. Socialization Evidence
- Groups attended
- Classes/activities
- Sports teams
- Home ed meet-ups
- Friendships
Pro Tip:
Quality over quantity. 10 pages of well-organized, relevant evidence is better than 100 pages of random work. Address their specific concerns with targeted evidence.
What NOT to Include:
❌ Every single piece of work (too much)
❌ Irrelevant information
❌ Personal attacks on LA or school
❌ Angry commentary
❌ Legal threats (save for solicitor if needed)
If an SAO is Actually Issued
If a school attendance order is formally issued despite your response:
Immediate Steps:
- Get legal advice IMMEDIATELY
- Contact Education Otherwise
- Consider solicitor
- Review LA’s decision-making
- Review the SAO
- Is the named school appropriate?
- Did LA follow proper process?
- Are their grounds reasonable?
- Consider your options
- Comply (register at school)
- Provide further evidence
- Request different school
- Challenge the SAO
Option 1: Comply with SAO
When this makes sense:
- Education genuinely wasn’t working
- Child wants to return to school
- Family circumstances changed
- Fighting would cause more stress than compliance
Process:
- Register child at named school within 15 days
- Inform LA of registration
- SAO is satisfied
- Can home educate again in future if circumstances change
Option 2: Provide Further Evidence
When this makes sense:
- Education IS suitable but poorly evidenced previously
- You’ve made improvements since notice
- You have new evidence
Process:
- Submit comprehensive evidence within 15 days
- Address every concern raised
- Request LA reconsider
- May lead to SAO withdrawal
Option 3: Request Different School
When this makes sense:
- Named school is unsuitable (distance, SEN provision, etc.)
- Another school would be more appropriate
Process:
- Write to LA stating grounds for amendment
- Provide evidence named school unsuitable
- Suggest alternative school
- LA may amend SAO
Option 4: Challenge the SAO
When this makes sense:
- LA didn’t follow proper process
- Their assessment is unreasonable
- Education clearly IS suitable
- You have strong legal grounds
Process:
- Get legal representation
- Prepare defense
- Wait for court proceedings
- Present evidence in court
What Happens in Court
If you don’t comply with a school attendance order and LA prosecutes:
The Hearing:
Location: Magistrates’ Court
Charge: Failing to comply with School Attendance Order (Section 443)
Possible outcomes:
- Case dismissed (LA failed to prove education unsuitable)
- SAO withdrawn (you prove education suitable)
- Guilty verdict (fine up to £2,500)
- Conditional discharge
Your Defense:
You can argue:
- Education IS suitable
- Present all evidence
- Show breadth and quality
- Demonstrate progress
- LA didn’t follow proper process
- Didn’t give proper notice
- Didn’t consider your evidence fairly
- Decision was unreasonable
- SAO is invalid
- Named school inappropriate
- Grounds for SAO insufficient
What You Need:
- Legal representation (solicitor experienced in education law)
- All evidence of educational provision
- All correspondence with LA
- Expert witness (optional but helpful)
- Character witnesses (optional)
Reality Check:
Very few SAO cases reach court. Most are resolved long before this stage. If you’re facing court proceedings, you absolutely need legal representation. Contact Education Otherwise and a solicitor immediately.
How to Avoid an SAO
Prevention is better than cure. Here’s how to avoid a school attendance order:
1. Provide Evidence from the Start
When LA first contacts you:
- Respond promptly
- Provide comprehensive information
- Show education is suitable
- Address any concerns raised
2. Keep Records
Ongoing:
- Photos of learning activities
- Work samples (dated)
- Reading logs
- Activity records
- Trip diary
Makes responding to LA much easier.
3. Actually Provide Suitable Education
Obvious but crucial:
- Ensure child is learning
- Cover basics (reading, writing, maths)
- Provide breadth
- Show progress
- Suitable for child’s age and ability
4. Respond to LA Concerns
If LA raises concerns:
- Take them seriously
- Address them directly
- Provide evidence
- Make improvements if needed
- Don’t ignore or avoid
5. Maintain Communication
With LA:
- Respond to inquiries
- Be professional and courteous
- Provide annual reports (voluntary but helpful)
- Keep dialogue open
6. Know Your Rights
But also know:
- Your responsibilities
- What LA can reasonably request
- When to compromise
- When to stand firm
7. Seek Support Early
If concerns arise:
- Contact Education Otherwise
- Join local home ed group
- Ask for advice
- Don’t wait until SAO threatened
Common LA Mistakes with SAOs
Local Authorities sometimes make errors in the school attendance order process:
Procedural Errors:
- Not giving proper notice periods
- Not following Section 437 process correctly
- Skipping stages
- Not considering evidence fairly
- Naming inappropriate school
Substantive Errors:
- Treating “different from school” as “unsuitable”
- Requiring National Curriculum compliance
- Demanding evidence beyond what’s reasonable
- Making home visits a condition
- Applying unreasonable standards
If LA Makes Errors:
- Document the error
- Raise it in your response
- Seek legal advice
- May invalidate SAO process
- Could be grounds for challenge
Where to Get Help
Don’t face a school attendance order alone.
Education Otherwise
Website: educationotherwise.org
What they offer:
- Advice line for members
- Experience with SAOs
- Can review LA correspondence
- Help draft responses
- General support and guidance
Cost: Membership required (£30-40/year)
Home Education UK
Website: home-education.org.uk
What they offer:
- Information about legal rights
- Sample responses
- Community support
Local Home Education Groups
Find on Facebook: Search “[Your Area] Home Education”
What they offer:
- Experience with your specific LA
- What works with your LA officers
- Emotional support
- Practical advice
Solicitors
When to consult:
- SAO has been issued
- LA not following proper process
- Court proceedings threatened
- Complex situation
Find: Look for solicitors experienced in education law
Citizens Advice
Website: citizensadvice.org.uk
What they offer:
- Free legal advice
- Help understanding rights
- Guidance on process
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a school attendance order?
A school attendance order is a legal notice issued by a Local Authority requiring a parent to register their child at a named school. It can only be issued if the LA has evidence the child is not receiving suitable education and proper legal process has been followed. Most families never receive one, and many that do get them withdrawn by providing evidence of suitable education.
Can the LA issue an SAO just because I refuse home visits?
No. The LA can only issue a school attendance order if they have evidence education is unsuitable. Refusing home visits alone is not grounds for an SAO. However, if you refuse all contact and provide no evidence of suitable education, the LA may argue they cannot confirm education is suitable, which could eventually lead to SAO proceedings. Providing written reports usually prevents this.
How long does the SAO process take?
From initial notice under Section 437(1) to actual SAO issuance takes minimum 30 days (15 days for first notice, 15 for notice of intent). In practice, the process often takes months as LAs give families opportunities to provide evidence. If SAO is issued and you don’t comply, court proceedings can take additional months. Most cases are resolved well before reaching court.
What happens if I ignore an SAO?
If you don’t comply with a school attendance order (by registering child at named school or proving education is suitable) within 15 days, the LA can prosecute you in Magistrates’ Court. If found guilty, you face a fine up to £2,500. However, you can defend yourself by proving education is suitable or showing the LA didn’t follow proper process. Never ignore an SAO – seek legal advice immediately.
Can an SAO be withdrawn?
Yes. Many SAOs are withdrawn when families provide adequate evidence that education is suitable. Even after formal SAO issuance, if you can demonstrate suitable education, the LA should withdraw it. This is why responding comprehensively to early notices is so important – it’s much easier to prevent SAO issuance than to get one withdrawn.
Do I have to send my child to the school named in the SAO?
If you choose to comply with the SAO, you can request a different school if the named one is unsuitable (too far, doesn’t meet SEN needs, etc.). The LA may amend the order. Alternatively, you can register at any school and inform the LA – once registered at any school, the SAO is satisfied. Or you can prove education is suitable and avoid school attendance altogether.
Can I home educate again after an SAO?
Yes. If you comply with an SAO and register your child at school, you can deregister and home educate again in the future (assuming not a special school or EHCP). However, be prepared for the LA to monitor more closely. If circumstances have genuinely changed and you can now provide suitable education, you have the right to home educate again.
How can I prevent getting an SAO?
The best prevention is providing evidence of suitable education from the start. When the LA contacts you, respond promptly with comprehensive information about your educational provision including resources used, subjects covered, work samples, photos, and progress. Keep ongoing records. Address any LA concerns seriously. Maintain professional communication. Actually provide suitable education. Most families who do this never face SAO proceedings.
SAOs Are Rare – But Take Them Seriously
Here’s what you need to remember about school attendance orders:
They’re uncommon. Thousands of families home educate without ever receiving an SAO.
They’re preventable. Providing evidence of suitable education from the start stops most SAO processes.
They’re not the end. Even if issued, SAOs can be withdrawn or successfully defended.
But take them seriously. If you receive any formal notice, respond promptly and comprehensively.
Get help early. Education Otherwise, local groups, and legal advice can make the difference.
The key message: Actually provide suitable education. Keep records. Respond to LA inquiries. If you do these things, you’re unlikely to ever face an SAO.
And if you do? Don’t panic. Respond properly. Seek support. Most families resolve it without reaching court.
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