Department for Education launches consultation on EOTAS provision

The consultation, launched last week (10 July), is for parents, carers, schools, local authorities and sector organisations.

It seeks views on how to strengthen arrangements for children and young people:

• receiving special educational provision through an education otherwise than at school (EOTAS) arrangement;
• not attending school and receiving alternative provision because of health reasons;
• receiving alternative provision in accredited online education providers.

The DfE said: “We want to understand how support can be improved, how responsibilities should be clarified, and how provision can be better quality assured. We are also seeking views on how arrangements can support improved outcomes, including progression and, where appropriate, reintegration.”

Under section 61 of the Children and Families Act 2014, local authorities may arrange special educational provision outside a school or further education setting where it would be inappropriate for that provision to be delivered in a school or further education setting.

The Department for Education refers to these arrangements as Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS) and they are set out in an Education, Health and Care plan.

The consultation closes on 18 September 2026.

Lottie Winson