EOTAS stands for Education Otherwise than at School. It is educational provision made to meet the needs of children and young people who, for whatever reason, cannot attend a mainstream or special school, and is a formal special education package made under an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), which the local authority remains legally responsible for. If you feel this is something that might be appropriate for your child, we would encourage you to speak to SEND Family Services in the first instance.
EOTAS is different to Elective Home Education.
Free School Meals, Equivalent Food Provision (EFP), and children in receipt of Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS) as part of their EHCP
Suffolk County Council (SCC) has agreed new arrangements in line with the Department for Education’s Free School Meals (FSM) non-statutory guidance published on 25 March 2024.
- SCC will provide, upon parental request, Equivalent Food Provision (EFP) in the form of a supermarket voucher to children between 5 and 18 years of age who meet all of the following criteria :the child would meet the benefits-related criteria for free school meals if they were on roll at a school; and has a finalised Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP); and
- is receiving EOTAS under section 19 or section 61 of the Children and Families Act 2014 and has no provision named in Section I of their EHCP (s61) or has specialist named as type in Section I but no placement (s19).
You can download the Equivalent Food Provision Policy below, or if you think your child would qualify for EFP please contact efp.eotas@suffolk.gov.uk.