Councils Tackle Rising Elective Home Education

A notable increase in elective home education is prompting concern among local authorities, who are addressing a combination of factors. Families are choosing to educate their children at home due to worries about anxiety, bullying, and special educational needs like autism or dyslexia. This trend is not attributed to a single cause but rather a confluence of pressures.

Key contributing factors include the lingering mental health impacts of the pandemic, difficulties within school relationships, and the challenges families face during crucial transition periods, such as GCSE years. In a few instances, elective home education is a response to a breakdown in school support or to avoid formal exclusion. While parents have the legal right to home educate, safeguarding risks are a concern when children lack regular professional contact.

In response, Barnsley Council has initiated the 'Every Child in School Everyday' plan, targeting a nearly one-third reduction in elective home education by 2026/27. The council is emphasizing early intervention, with education welfare teams successfully helping over 200 children return to school last year. Additional staffing resources are being allocated to support pupils in Years 9 to 11, where home education numbers are most pronounced, ensuring children are safe and adequately supported.