More families are choosing home education – but many feel forced into it

Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children’s Commissioner for England, described this trend as “deeply concerning,” highlighting how children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and those in deprived areas are disproportionately affected. “Many of these children are the lockdown generation who struggled to return to traditional schooling,” she said.

Unmet needs driving families away from schools

A significant number of families point to unmet educational, mental health, and SEND requirements as reasons for withdrawing their children from school. Figures obtained by the BBC through FOI requests reveal that:

• at least 66,496 children moved to home education in 2023-2024. In 2019-20 the figure was 28,558
• the North and Midlands saw the biggest percentage rises in England. At least 10,453 children moved to home education in 2019-20, compared to 27,502 in 2023-24
• children moving to home education doubled in most regions, but more than tripled in the North East, and rose by 85% in the East of England

Wendy Charles-Warner from Education Otherwise noted a shift in motivations for home education: “Lifestyle choice was once the primary driver. Now, many parents feel forced to home educate because the system is failing their child.”

Katie Cox, whose autistic daughter struggled with sensory issues and anxiety, traditional schooling was unworkable, told Schools Week that her daughter “wasn’t coping, and the school lacked understanding,” she explained. Since transitioning to home education, her daughter is thriving, though Cox acknowledges the journey hasn’t been easy.

The impact of poverty and exclusions

Councils in areas with higher child poverty rates have reported some of the largest rises in home education. In Hartlepool, where 37% of children are eligible for free school meals, the number of home-educated children doubled last year.

Knowsley, where four in 10 children qualify for free school meals, saw a 54% rise in home education cases. Local authorities suggest that issues such as persistent absenteeism and school exclusions play a significant role.

Professor Becky Allen, chief analyst at Teacher Tapp, warned of the risks for disadvantaged families, telling Schools Week: “We could see large numbers of children from backgrounds where families lack resources to support independent education, sitting at home all day with limited oversight.”

Support needed for home-educating families

While some parents praise the flexibility and control home education offers, others highlight the challenges, from financial strain to a lack of guidance. Sarah, who began home educating her visually impaired daughter Daisy earlier this year, said: “I felt forced into it. Daisy was struggling, and her needs weren’t recognised.”

Despite these difficulties, Sarah has seen her daughter thrive at home, describing her as happier and more confident. But Sarah is also aware of what’s missing: “Parents need more support, whether it’s online tutoring or specialist resources.”

The government has committed to reforming the SEND system and introducing a register for children not in school. This aims to ensure all home-educated children receive a suitable education.

Currently, parents aren’t required to notify councils if they choose to home educate, making accurate data difficult to obtain. Conservative MP Flick Drummond is leading efforts to legislate for the register.

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