England’s Children’s Commissioner Raises Concerns Over Rise in ‘Forced’ Home Education

England’s children’s commissioner suggests certain families are being “forced” into homeschooling their children, following a BBC investigation that revealed a twofold increase in the number of families opting for this educational path over the past five years. Data from freedom of information (FOI) requests indicates that UK councils recorded over 66,000 instances of children transitioning to home education during the 2023-2024 period, a rise from 28,000 in 2019-2020. Dame Rachel de Souza expressed that she was “deeply concerned” by these statistics, stating that home education serves as a final option for students whose requirements are not adequately addressed within traditional school settings. The government announced its initiative to reform the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system, aiming to provide earlier support to a greater number of children. Additionally, it has committed to establishing registers for children not attending school, which would enable local authorities to “better identify and support all home educated children”. Elective home education experienced a significant increase during the pandemic, with official figures slated for release in December. However, prior to that release, data acquired by the BBC via FOI requests indicates the following: Dame Rachel, whose mandate involves safeguarding and advancing children’s rights, observed that numerous families are resorting to home education due to desperation rather than as a deliberate choice. She stated, “I think it’s shocking to see how many children have been home educated because I know so many of them are not doing it because they want to.” She added, “I’m deeply, deeply concerned. I think this is forced home education.” She further noted that children frequently taught at home include those with special educational needs, those residing in the most disadvantaged areas, and those facing the risk of exclusion. Dame Rachel commented, “They’re becoming electively home educated as a last resort. They’re not getting what they need in school. I don’t think it is a positive choice for many young people. Many of these children are the lockdown generation who actually were at home and have found it difficult to get back.” Daisy, a seven-year-old from Somerset, experiences visual difficulties, which made it challenging for her to read text on worksheets and the classroom board. She has a prescription of plus nine in one eye and previously used an eye patch to aid in preserving her vision. In May 2024, her mother, Sarah, felt compelled to homeschool her. Sarah stated, “She was really struggling. She was refusing to go to school. She was unhappy, withdrawn and wasn’t succeeding.” Sarah explained that Daisy was lagging in reading and mathematics, and that her special educational needs were not acknowledged. She further added, “She knows that her learning level is so far behind that most of the schools around here just don’t have the funding or resources to be able to support Daisy.” Daisy expressed enjoyment in her mother’s help at home but indicated a desire to return to school eventually. She remarked, “When Mummy drives past my old school, I feel sad, because I miss my friends.” Nevertheless, Daisy reported feeling happier and more confident since transitioning to home education, and she enjoys socializing with friends through play dates and activity groups. Government data from autumn 2023 estimated approximately 92,000 children were being home educated in England. This figure represents the total number of children homeschooled on that specific day, not solely new cases, and marks an increase of about 11,000 compared to 2022. The increase was primarily driven by families expressing concerns regarding their children’s mental health. Conversely, the number of families citing dissatisfaction with SEND provision saw the most significant growth, rising by 71% from 1,618 in 2022 to 2,760 last year. The Department for Education (DfE) commenced gathering home education data in Autumn 2022. As of October 2024, it became a mandatory obligation for local authorities to submit their respective figures. A DfE spokesperson stated, “Our mission is to break down the barriers to opportunity, so every pupil has the best life chances.” The spokesperson continued, “That includes making sure every child is receiving a suitable education for their age, ability, aptitude, and any special educational needs whether they are in school or at home.” They further added, “We are legislating for Children Not in School registers so local authorities can better identify and support all home educated children, and reforming the SEND system so more children receive earlier and better support to thrive in education.” The Welsh government affirmed that while the majority of children benefit most from school attendance, it acknowledges the right to home educate. It emphasized that home education ought to be a positive decision, and in instances where families select this option, local authorities bear a legal responsibility to guarantee that all children receive an appropriate education. The Scottish government noted that since the pandemic, some students have faced difficulties returning to school, leading to an investment in a network of virtual head teachers designed to assist vulnerable young people in their return. An Education Authority Northern Ireland spokesperson commented, “Many factors may contribute to a parent’s decision to electively home educate their child.”