In England, under section 19 of the Education Act 1996 a local authority must arrange suitable education for a child who cannot attend school through illness, exclusion or otherwise — and may commission online provision within an alternative-provision or EOTAS package. The thresholds are high and evidence is required, so funding is never automatic.

For families whose child genuinely cannot attend school, a pressing question is whether the local authority might fund an online school place. The answer is a qualified yes — possible in specific circumstances, but not straightforward. This guide explains the routes honestly, and their real limits. It is general information for England, not legal advice.

Jurisdiction: this covers England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own frameworks. Seek advice specific to your situation.

Will the council pay for online school?

Sometimes, in specific qualifying circumstances — but it is never automatic, and the thresholds are high. The core duty is in section 19 of the Education Act 1996: a local authority must make arrangements for suitable education for children of compulsory school age who, by reason of illness, exclusion, or otherwise, would not otherwise receive suitable education. Where that duty is triggered, the alternative provision the authority arranges can include online provision.

Crucially, though, it is the local authority that decides how to discharge its duty, and it must be satisfied the s.19 threshold is met — which requires supporting evidence (for example, medical evidence that a child cannot attend). It is a duty to provide a suitable education, not necessarily the specific provision a family prefers. So a council may fund an online school place in a qualifying case, but a family cannot assume it, and should expect to evidence why their child cannot access suitable education otherwise. Read who online school is for.

Does the local authority fund alternative provision online?

It can. "Alternative provision" is the education a local authority arranges for children who cannot attend a mainstream school, and it is increasingly delivered online as well as in physical AP settings. Where the s.19 duty is engaged, or where a child has an EHCP and an EOTAS (Education Otherwise Than At School) package is agreed, an online school can form part of the commissioned provision.

The distinction worth understanding is between two routes. Section 19 alternative provision is often a stop-gap or interim arrangement for a child temporarily unable to attend (for example, during illness). EOTAS via an EHCP — made possible by section 61 of the Children and Families Act 2014 — is the route for ongoing provision where the authority is satisfied that educating the child otherwise than in a school is appropriate; it is the more formal, enforceable, ongoing route and requires this to be agreed through the EHC process. Both can, in principle, fund online provision, but both involve the authority being satisfied of the need and deciding the provision. Read about learning support and the SENCO at an online school.

Getting online school funded for a child who can't attend

If your child cannot attend school and you are seeking funding, the realistic route is roughly this: engage with the school and local authority early; gather evidence (medical, psychological, or from professionals) showing your child cannot access suitable education in school; ask the school or authority to consider its section 19 duty, or — if your child has or may need an EHCP — pursue the EOTAS route through the EHC assessment or review process; and be prepared to specify why online provision would meet your child's needs.

Be realistic about the limits: authorities face high demand and tight budgets, the thresholds are genuinely high, and families often need to advocate persistently, sometimes with specialist SEND advice or advocacy support, to secure funding. Many families ultimately fund an online school themselves because it is more affordable than specialist provision and quicker than securing LA funding — while others succeed in obtaining funding where the threshold is clearly met. Because this is complex and consequential, seek advice from a SEND advice service (such as your local SENDIASS), an advocacy organisation, or a specialist education-law adviser. Speak to the admissions team about enrolling.

Who pays for education if my child can't go to school?

The starting point is that a parent is responsible for ensuring their child receives a suitable education, and many families fund an online school themselves. But where a child genuinely cannot attend school for a qualifying reason, the local authority's section 19 duty may mean it becomes responsible for arranging (and funding) suitable alternative education — which can include online provision. And where a child has an EHCP naming provision, the authority is responsible for securing that provision.

So the honest answer is: usually the parent, but in specific qualifying circumstances the local authority may be legally responsible for arranging and funding education for a child who cannot attend. Which applies depends on the child's circumstances and whether the legal thresholds are met — worth getting advice on for your specific situation.

Frequently asked questions

Will the council pay for online school? Possibly, in qualifying circumstances, but never automatically. Under section 19 of the Education Act 1996, a local authority must arrange suitable education for a child who cannot attend school through illness, exclusion or otherwise, and may commission online provision as part of that — but the thresholds are high and evidence is required. It decides how to discharge the duty.

Does the local authority fund online alternative provision? It can. Alternative provision is increasingly delivered online, and an online school can form part of what an authority commissions — either as interim section 19 provision, or, for ongoing provision, through an EOTAS package via an EHCP (section 61, Children and Families Act 2014). Both require the authority to be satisfied of the need.

How do I get online school funded for a child who can't attend? Engage early with the school and local authority, gather evidence that your child cannot access suitable education in school, and ask the authority to consider its section 19 duty or the EOTAS route via an EHCP. Expect high thresholds; seek SEND advice or advocacy support.

Who pays for my child's education if they can't go to school? Usually the parent, who is responsible for ensuring a suitable education. But where a child genuinely cannot attend for a qualifying reason, the local authority's section 19 duty may make it responsible for arranging and funding suitable alternative education, which can include online provision. It depends on meeting the legal thresholds.

If your child cannot attend school, seek advice specific to your situation from a SEND advice service or education-law adviser, and speak to the Teneo admissions team about how an online place could work.

General information for England, not legal advice. Funding thresholds are high and decisions rest with the local authority. Seek advice specific to your circumstances.