126,000
children recorded in elective home education in England on the autumn 2025 census date
Home education support
Home education local authority support gaps: what families can do
A source-backed guide to what councils can ask, why support can feel limited, and practical next steps for documentation, SEND, mental health and advocacy.
388
children per full-time-equivalent EHE worker on average in NSPCC-reported research
Current answer
Quick answer: what local authorities can and cannot usually do
If a local authority contacts you about home education, the core position is simple: you remain responsible for making sure your child receives a suitable education, while the public body may ask whether that education appears suitable. In some parts of the UK, it may also offer limited or discretionary support.
For England, GOV.UK says that when you educate at home, “you do not have to follow the national curriculum”. It also says “The council can make an ‘informal enquiry’” to check whether suitable education is being provided. The legal baseline comes from section 7 of the Education Act 1996: parents must secure an “efficient full-time education suitable to his age, ability and aptitude”.
Council contact is not automatically a sign that you have done something wrong. It also does not mean the council will fund tutors, exams, therapy or resources. Support gaps are real: DfE statistics show a much larger EHE cohort in England, and NSPCC evidence points to significant staffing pressure in local authority home-education teams. A proportionate response is usually to keep clear records, answer reasonable questions in writing, and get specialist advice early if SEND, an EHCP, ALN, an IDP, ASN or mental-health needs are involved.
Key facts before you respond to the council
These points explain why many families experience local authority contact as a mixture of monitoring, signposting and limited practical support.
Home education is a parental choice, not the same as EOTAS/EOTIS.
Elective home education means parents choose to educate outside full-time school. It is different from education arranged by a public body when a child cannot attend school or when education otherwise than at school is written into a plan.
England’s EHE cohort is large and still changing.
DfE statistics reported 126,000 children in elective home education in England on the autumn 2025 census date, and 175,900 children in EHE at some point during 2024/25. The DfE notes the data collection is still relatively new.
Mental health is a major recorded reason in England.
For known or provided primary reasons in autumn 2025, DfE statistics listed “mental health (16%)” as the most reported reason. This does not prove that home education caused or solved a child’s difficulty; it shows why education contact and health support need to be kept separate.
Local authority capacity is part of the story.
NSPCC-reported data said “one full-time equivalent worker is responsible for an average of 388 children” in local authority EHE teams in England. That helps explain why some families receive standardised letters or delayed responses.
New children-not-in-school measures are date-sensitive.
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 includes children-not-in-school measures. Practical requirements may depend on commencement and updated official guidance, so this is a section to refresh regularly.
How support differs across the UK
This page is UK-facing, but home education law, language and public-body practice are not identical across the UK. Use the nation that applies to your child.
Comparison of home education local authority support and caveats across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
| Nation | Main public body | What support or contact may look like | Important caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
England | Local authority or council | Councils may make informal enquiries about whether a child is receiving suitable education and may use school attendance order procedures if they are not satisfied. | Parents usually carry the practical and financial responsibility for EHE. Special-school placement, school attendance order and EHCP issues need separate care. |
Wales | Local authority | Welsh statutory guidance expects local authorities to assist home-educating parents where possible. Support can include access to learning opportunities, exam-centre information, counselling services, Careers Wales, ALN advice and resources where available. | Welsh Government guidance says: “Parents who choose to home educate their children must be prepared to assume full financial responsibility.” Support is still limited by resources and local decisions. |
Scotland | Local authority | Scottish guidance encourages discussion of available support before choosing home education. Authorities may offer discretionary help such as advice, resources, exam-centre access or council facilities where feasible. | Scottish Government guidance says: “Authorities are not legally obliged to provide any resources”. Withdrawal, contact and additional support processes are Scotland-specific. |
Northern Ireland | Education Authority | The Education Authority has an EHE Team that sends guidelines, provides updates, gives advice to schools and offers advice and support to parents on relevant matters if requested. | Northern Ireland uses the Education Authority rather than English-style local authorities for this guidance and contact. |
Where to look for support when the council offer is limited
No single organisation can solve every issue. Choose the support source that matches the actual problem you are facing.
Home-education documentation and peer knowledge
Use home-education charities and local peer groups for practical examples of education reports, local council practice and everyday record-keeping. Education Otherwise has parent-facing guidance on responding to enquiries and preparing reports.
EHCP, EOTAS or special educational provision in England
Use SEND-specialist advice when the question is not just “is education suitable?” but “who is responsible for securing provision?”. IPSEA and Contact explain the difference between elective home education and education otherwise arrangements.
Wales ALN and IDP questions
Use Welsh Government ALN guidance if your child may have additional learning needs or already has an IDP. The public body duties are not the same as England’s EHCP process.
Mental-health support
Use NHS, GP or local health pathways for wellbeing and clinical concerns. Keep that separate from your education report so a health concern is not lost inside a curriculum discussion.
Service failure or unclear council handling
If the problem is how a council service has handled your case, use the council complaints process first. In England, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman may be the next step after the council process is complete.
Documentation checklist for a local authority enquiry
A calm written response is often more useful than a long argument. The aim is to show suitable education and ask for any genuine support clearly.
-
Clarify what is being asked.
Keep the letter or email. Note whether the council describes the contact as an informal enquiry, a formal notice, a request for a meeting or something else.
-
Write a concise education report.
Explain what your child is learning, the resources used, how education is suitable to age, ability, aptitude and any SEN/ALN/ASN, and how you know progress is happening.
-
Use examples where they help.
You are not usually trying to recreate a school folder. A short reading list, photos of practical work, topic notes, maths examples or a weekly rhythm can make the education easier to understand.
-
Separate SEND, ALN, ASN and health documents.
Keep EHCP, IDP, therapy, GP, CAMHS, assessment and support letters in a separate file. These issues can change responsibilities and should not be hidden in a general update.
-
Keep a contact log.
Record dates, names, deadlines, what was asked, what you sent and any support promised. Save emails and screenshots of online forms.
-
Ask for support in writing.
Be specific: exam-centre information, local groups, ALN/SEND contacts, mental-health signposting, library or resource access, or a named officer for follow-up.
-
Act early if the tone becomes formal.
If the council mentions section 437, a school attendance order, special-school permission, an EHCP/IDP dispute or safeguarding concern, get specialist advice as soon as possible.
A calm advocacy sequence if support is limited
These steps keep the focus on facts, records and the specific support you need.
-
Identify the actual issue
Is the problem a request for evidence, a SEND/ALN/ASN issue, a mental-health concern, exam access, a delay, or a complaint about the way you have been treated?
-
Reply in writing
Acknowledge the contact, answer reasonable education questions, and ask the council to state any concerns, deadlines and available support clearly.
-
Provide proportionate evidence
Send a concise report and examples that help explain the education. Do not overshare private health or family information unless it is relevant and you are comfortable sharing it.
-
Use specialist advice for complex needs
If the issue involves an EHCP, IDP, EOTAS/EOTIS, special-school permission, severe anxiety, therapy or social care, speak to a specialist advice organisation before agreeing to a major change.
-
Escalate service handling carefully
If a council service has not answered, has not followed its own process, or has not dealt with your complaint properly, use the council complaints process and then the appropriate Ombudsman body where applicable.
A message you can adapt
Suggested wording: ask for clarity and support in writing
When a local authority or the Education Authority has contacted you, or when you want a clearer written answer about what support is available.
Hello [Name],
Thank you for contacting me about [child’s name]. I am educating [child’s name] at home and I want to respond constructively.
Please confirm in writing:
- the specific concern or question you would like me to answer;
- whether this is an informal enquiry, a formal notice or another process;
- any deadline for my response; and
- what support or information is available locally for [SEND/ALN/ASN, mental-health needs, exam access, resources or peer groups].
I can provide a concise written education report covering current learning, resources, suitability to age, ability, aptitude and [SEN/ALN/ASN], and how progress is being noticed.
If you believe more information is needed, please explain why and identify the relevant guidance you are relying on.
Kind regards, [Your name]
It answers contact calmly, asks for the exact concern, keeps a written record and makes the support request specific without conceding that a meeting or home visit is the only possible response.
Key terms in plain English
These terms are easy to mix up. Using the right term helps you ask the right question.
Plain-English definitions for terms used in home education local authority contact.
| Term | Plain-English meaning | Useful source |
|---|---|---|
Elective home education (EHE) | A parent’s choice to educate a child outside full-time school. | |
Suitable education | Education that is efficient, full-time and suitable to the child’s age, ability, aptitude and relevant needs. | |
EOTAS / EOTIS | Education otherwise than at/in school, arranged or secured through a public-body process rather than chosen as ordinary elective home education. | |
EHCP | An Education, Health and Care Plan in England. EHE can change who secures special educational provision, but it does not automatically cancel the plan. | |
IDP | An Individual Development Plan in Wales for a learner with additional learning needs. | |
SEND / ALN / ASN | Different UK terms for special or additional needs: SEND/SEN in England, ALN in Wales and additional support needs or ASN in Scotland. | |
Children missing education (CME) | Children of compulsory school age who are not registered at school and are not receiving suitable education otherwise. Suitable EHE is not CME. | |
Education report | A written explanation of home education, resources, suitability and progress, often used to answer a council enquiry. |
Sources used in this guide
These are the main official, research and specialist sources used for this article.
- Open source
GOV.UK: Educating your child at home
- Open source
Department for Education: elective home education guidance
- Open source
DfE statistics: elective home education, autumn term 2025
- Open source
Education Otherwise: Home Education Support
- Open source
NSPCC: local authority home-education team capacity
- Open source
Welsh Government: elective home education guidance
- Open source
Welsh Government: ALN and elective home education
- Open source
Scottish Government: home education guidance
- Open source
Education Authority Northern Ireland: educating your child at home
- Open source
IPSEA: home education and education otherwise
- Open source
Contact: home education
- Open source
NHS: how to access mental health services
- Open source
Ofsted and CQC: support for children with SEND who are not in school
- Open source
UK Parliament: Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026
- Open source
GOV.UK and Ombudsman complaint information
Related Ed Centre pages
Continue exploring Home education news and explainers for families
These linked pages help students and parents move between closely related guidance instead of reaching a dead end.
Home education news and explainers for families
Source-led guides for moments when home-education rules, statistics or local-authority expectations change. Read dates carefully and pair posts with current official guidance for your UK nation.
Children Not in School register: England Guidance
The 2026 Act has received Royal Assent, but several register, consent and oversight duties depend on start dates and guidance. Here is what families can understand and prepare for now.
Homeschooling Statistics UK: Why Interest Is Rising
A 2025 survey suggests more parents are exploring home education. Here is what the figures mean, how they compare with official data, and what families should weigh up before making a decision.
Home education guidance in Scotland and Wales: what families need to know
A family-facing comparison of the Welsh and Scottish guidance, including child voice, local-authority contact, voluntary home visits and the key ways England differs.
Home education statistics: what England’s latest DfE figures mean for families
The January 2026 DfE release shows a further rise in elective home education in England. Here is what the figures mean, where SEND and EHCP caveats fit, and what records can help families.
Support and clarity
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to the questions people ask most often.
What support can a local authority give for home education?
It depends on where you live and what the issue is. In England, councils can ask about suitable education and may signpost support, but routine funding for tutors, exams or resources should not be assumed. Wales has statutory guidance expecting local authorities to assist where possible, while Scotland describes support as discretionary and Northern Ireland uses the Education Authority EHE Team.
What can a local authority ask to see for home education?
In England, GOV.UK says the council can make an informal enquiry to check that a child is getting suitable education at home. A concise written education report is often a practical response. Education Otherwise also says: “No, the local authority has no automatic right of access to your home.” That does not remove the need to respond sensibly to reasonable questions.
Do I need to inform the local authority if I home educate?
In England, if your child is currently at school, you should tell the school if you are taking them out completely; GOV.UK says the school must accept that. Local authority permission is needed in specific situations, including where a child attends because of a school attendance order or where a child with SEN attends a special school. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have different processes.
What should a home education report for the local authority include?
Keep it concise and practical: what your child is learning, resources used, how education is suitable to age, ability, aptitude and any SEN/ALN/ASN, examples of learning, and how progress is being noticed. If there are SEND, ALN, ASN, EHCP, IDP or health issues, keep those documents together but do not let them replace the education explanation.
Can I home educate if my child has an EHCP?
Yes, but get specialist advice before withdrawing or agreeing to changes. In England, an EHCP is not automatically cancelled because a child is home educated, but the local authority’s duty to secure special educational provision can change if it decides parents have made suitable alternative arrangements. Special-school placement also needs particular care.
Does the council have to pay for home education, exams or tutors?
Usually, families should not assume funding will be provided. Welsh Government guidance says parents who choose home education must be prepared to assume full financial responsibility, including public examinations, although local authorities are expected to assist where possible. Scottish Government guidance says authorities are not legally obliged to provide resources, though they may choose to offer discretionary support.
Where can home-educating families get SEND or mental-health support?
For SEND, EHCP or EOTAS/EOTIS questions in England, start with specialist sources such as IPSEA or Contact. In Wales, use ALN and IDP guidance; in Scotland and Northern Ireland, use the relevant nation-specific advice. For mental-health concerns, NHS guidance points families to GP referral and some self-referral options. Keep health support separate from your education evidence.
What can I do if local authority support feels limited or unclear?
Keep a contact log, ask for concerns and deadlines in writing, provide a proportionate education report, and ask for the specific support you need. If the issue is a service failure, use the council complaints process first. If the complaint remains unresolved, the appropriate Ombudsman body depends on where you live and the issue involved.
Sources and references
Sources and references
Official guidance
- 1.Education Act 1996
Primary legislation for suitable education, children not receiving suitable education and school attendance order powers.
- 2.GOV.UK
Parent-facing GOV.UK guidance on home education in England, council enquiries, curriculum and special-school permission.
- 3.Department for Education
Department for Education guidance collection for elective home education in England.
- 4.DfE statistics
DfE statistics for elective home education in England, including autumn 2025 counts, reasons and SEN/EHCP data.
- 5.Welsh Government
Welsh Government statutory guidance on elective home education and local authority support expectations.
- 6.Welsh Government
Welsh Government guidance on ALN, IDPs and elective home education.
- 7.Scottish Government
Scottish Government home education guidance.
- 8.Scottish Government
Scottish Government good-practice section on discretionary local authority support and resources.
- 9.Education Authority Northern Ireland
Education Authority Northern Ireland guidance on educating a child at home and the EHE Team.
- 10.NHS
NHS guidance on accessing mental health services.
- 11.Ofsted and CQC
Ofsted and CQC context on inconsistent support for children with SEND who do not attend school full-time.
- 12.UK Parliament
UK Parliament page for the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026.
- 13.GOV.UK
GOV.UK guidance on making a council complaint.
- 14.Ombudsman guidance
Ombudsman guidance on different final-stage bodies for local councils across the UK.
- 15.Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman complaints page for England.
Peer-reviewed research
- 1.Education Otherwise
Education Otherwise 2025 paper on support challenges for home-educating families in areas of multiple deprivation.
- 2.NSPCC
NSPCC evidence on home-education team capacity pressure in English local authorities.
Other sources
- 1.IPSEA
IPSEA guidance on home education, education otherwise, EOTAS/EOTIS and EHC plans.
- 2.Contact
Contact guidance for families of disabled children considering home education in England.
- 3.Education Otherwise
Education Otherwise guidance on SEND, EHCPs, EOTAS and accessing services.
- 4.Education Otherwise
Education Otherwise FAQ for experienced home educators, including council contact, reports and home access.
- 5.Education Otherwise
Education Otherwise fact sheet on education reports.