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, 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 Equivalent Food Provision (EFP) in the form of a supermarket voucher to a child between 5 and 16 years of age who meets the following criteria:
- the benefits-related criteria for free school meals; and
- has a finalised Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP); and
- is receiving Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS) under section 61 of the Children and Families Act 2014 and has no provision named in section I of their EHCP.
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