126,000
children in EHE in England on the autumn 2025 census date
Home education news
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.
175,900
children in EHE at any point during 2024/25
16% / 7%
EHE children with SEN support / an EHC plan in autumn 2025
Current answer
What the January 2026 home education statistics show
England’s latest home education statistics show a clear rise in elective home education, but the figures need careful reading. The Department for Education’s headline wording is “126,000 children in elective home education (EHE) on census date in autumn 2025” — Department for Education. The full release compares this with 111,700 in autumn 2024. It also reported 175,900 children in EHE at any point during the 2024/25 academic year, up from 153,300 in 2023/24.
The census-date figure is a single point-in-time count. The “at any point” figure is a cumulative academic-year count, so it will usually be higher and should not be treated as the same measure. These are England figures, not a whole-UK total.
The DfE also warns that, because the collection is relatively new and became mandatory in autumn 2024, “changes over time are likely to be in part due to improvements in data quality” — Department for Education. That means the rise is important, but the statistics do not prove one simple cause.
Current answer
What families in England are responsible for
In England, parents are responsible for making sure a child receives suitable full-time education. Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 uses the core phrase “efficient full-time education suitable” — Education Act 1996 — and links suitability to the child’s age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs.
GOV.UK says parents must make sure their child receives full-time education from age 5, but “you do not have to follow the national curriculum” — GOV.UK. This is an important freedom, but it is not the same as having no standard: the education still has to be suitable.
If your child is currently at school, GOV.UK says you should tell the school if you plan to educate them at home. The school must accept a full withdrawal, but can refuse a part-time arrangement. If your child is attending school because of a School Attendance Order, you need local-council permission before home educating.
Councils can make an informal enquiry to check that a child is receiving suitable education at home. If the council is not satisfied, the formal process can include a section 437(1) notice and, later, a School Attendance Order. That is why clear, dated records can be helpful even though families do not have to recreate school at home.
Census date vs “at any point”: why the numbers differ
The two headline counts answer different questions. This table is the safest way to read them.
A comparison of the main DfE elective home education measures for England.
| Measure | Latest figure | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
Children in EHE on the autumn 2025 census date | 126,000, up from 111,700 in autumn 2024 | A point-in-time England count of children the local authority was aware of as electively home educated on that census date. |
Children in EHE at any point during 2024/25 | 175,900, up from 153,300 in 2023/24 | A cumulative count for the academic year. It is not directly comparable with the point-in-time census-date count. |
Children reported as starting EHE during the academic year | 78,000 | Useful for understanding movement into EHE, but it sits within the yearly dataset, not the census-date count. |
EHE children reported as returning to a school setting | 28,100 | Shows that EHE is not always a permanent status for every child. |
Estimated section 437(1) notices and school attendance orders during 2024/25 | 7,400 notices, 2,500 school attendance orders and 600 revoked orders | These are formal concern figures. They should not be read as the usual experience for most home-educating families. |
Key terms in plain English
The statistics use official terms that can sound similar but mean different things. The Department for Education separates elective home education from local-authority-arranged education otherwise than at school, and also separates it from children missing education. In the DfE’s wording, “EHE is different to Education provided by a local authority Otherwise Than At a School (EOTAS)” — Department for Education. That distinction matters when families are thinking about SEND, EHCPs or council contact.
Plain-English definitions of the terms families are likely to see in the DfE release and home education guidance.
| Term | What it means for families |
|---|---|
Elective home education (EHE) | A parent’s choice to educate a compulsory-school-age child at home instead of sending them to school full-time. |
Home education / home schooling | Common reader terms for educating a child at home. Official England sources usually use home education or elective home education. |
Suitable education | Education suitable to the child’s age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs. It does not have to copy school, but it must be more than a label. |
EOTAS / EOTIS | Education otherwise than at school, arranged or secured through the local authority or an EHC plan in specific circumstances. It is not the same as parent-chosen EHE. |
Children missing education (CME) | Children of compulsory school age who are not registered at school and are not receiving suitable education otherwise than at school. |
Education, Health and Care plan (EHC plan / EHCP) | A statutory plan for a child or young person with special educational needs. Home education can affect who arranges provision, so complex cases need specialist advice. |
Informal enquiry | A council check or request for information to satisfy itself that a child is receiving suitable education at home. |
School Attendance Order | A formal order requiring parents to register a child at a named school if the local authority is not satisfied that suitable education is being provided otherwise. |
Official statistics in development | Official statistics still being evaluated for quality and user need. The DfE uses this label for the EHE release. |
Why are home education numbers rising?
The best answer is that several pressures appear in the data, but the DfE figures do not prove one single cause. Families’ reasons vary, and a large share of reasons are unknown or not provided.
Mental health and preference reasons appear in the data
Among known or provided primary reasons in autumn 2025, the DfE reported mental health as the most reported reason at 16%, followed by philosophical or preferential reasons at 12%. Almost three in ten reasons were recorded as unknown to the local authority or not provided by parents.
SEND is an important part of the picture
In autumn 2025, 16% of EHE children had SEN support and 7% had an EHC plan, compared with 14% and 5% respectively in the overall school population. That shows SEND and EHCP issues matter, but it does not prove SEND is the only driver.
Older pupils are prominent
The DfE release reported that 19% of EHE children were expected to be in Year 11, and more than a third were expected to be in Years 10 or 11.
Local authority counts vary
The DfE cautions that “High or low counts should not be used as a reflection of ‘good’ or ‘bad’ practice.” Counts can reflect local population, movement, recording and awareness, not just family decisions.
School-fit and wellbeing concerns need sensitive wording
Ofsted’s 2019 exploratory study found special educational needs, medical, behavioural or other wellbeing needs were the main reasons in that study of moves from secondary school to home education. It is useful context, but it was a small, older study and should not replace the 2026 DfE statistics.
A simple record-keeping checklist for home-educating families
There is no single statutory portfolio that every family must keep. The practical aim is to make it easy to explain how your child is receiving suitable education if a council asks. Keep records dated, brief and connected to your child’s needs.
-
A short learning overview
Write a dated summary of the main areas your child is studying and how the learning is organised. This can be flexible rather than a school timetable.
-
Examples of work or activities
Keep samples of writing, maths, project notes, photographs, reading records, practical work, online course records or tutor-session notes.
-
Resources used
List books, websites, courses, tutor materials, videos, museums, community activities or practical projects where they support learning.
-
Progress notes
Every few weeks, note what has become easier, what still needs practice and what the next step is. This is often more helpful than a pile of undated work.
-
SEND adjustments
If your child has SEND, record practical adjustments such as shorter sessions, assistive technology, sensory breaks, adapted resources or extra time.
-
Tutor or course details
If you use a tutor or online course, keep dates, topics covered, resources used and any progress notes. This helps show how the support fits into the wider education plan.
-
School and council correspondence
Keep copies of deregistration letters, council emails, EHC plan paperwork and any replies you send.
-
A simple example format
Date; subject or theme; activity; resource; what improved; next step. For example: “6 May, fractions, worked through equivalent fractions using recipe measurements, needs more practice simplifying fractions next week.”
Example wording you can adapt
A calm reply to a local-authority enquiry
Use this only as a starting point. Add details that are true for your child and avoid sending anything you do not understand or agree with. A local authority asks you to describe how your child is receiving suitable home education.
Thank you for your letter. We are educating [child’s first name] at home. Below is a short summary of their current learning, including the main areas we are covering, examples of recent work or activities, resources used, any support or adjustments, and our next steps.
Current learning summary: [add brief, dated summary].
Examples we can provide or describe include: [add work samples, project notes, reading, tutor or course details, practical learning, photographs, or other relevant records].
Please let us know if there is a specific point you would like us to clarify.
It is calm, factual and focused on suitable education. It avoids sounding as if families never need to respond, while keeping the reply proportionate.
What families can do next
The statistics are useful context, but the next step depends on your child’s situation.
If you only want to understand the figures
Use the 126,000 census-date count for the headline England figure, and the 175,900 academic-year count when explaining how many children were EHE at some point during 2024/25.
If you are already home educating
Keep dated records that show suitable education in practice: what your child is learning, what resources you use, and how the plan is adapting over time.
If school-fit, anxiety or SEND is part of the decision
Separate the decision to home educate from any SEND, EHC plan or wellbeing issue that still needs support. Complex EHCP, special-school or EOTAS questions need specialist advice.
If your child is older
Because older pupils are prominent in the DfE data, make your plan for subjects, qualifications or post-16 next steps explicit early, even if the learning itself remains flexible.
If a council contacts you
Reply calmly, keep copies of correspondence, and explain suitable education with dated examples rather than a vague statement that learning is happening.
Sources used in this guide
These are the main public sources behind the figures, definitions and family-facing rules in this article.
- Open source
Department for Education: Elective home education, Autumn term 2025/26
- Open source
GOV.UK: Educating your child at home
- Open source
DfE: Elective home education guidance
- Open source
Education Act 1996, section 7
- Open source
Education Act 1996, section 437
- Open source
IPSEA: elective home education and education otherwise
- Open source
Ofsted: moving to home education in secondary schools
- Open source
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026
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 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.
Support and clarity
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to the questions people ask most often.
How many children are home educated in England?
The latest DfE release reported 126,000 children in elective home education in England on the autumn 2025 census date. It also reported 175,900 children in EHE at any point during the 2024/25 academic year. These are different measures, so they should not be merged or treated as a UK total.
Are these home education statistics for the whole UK?
No. The January 2026 DfE release used in this article covers England. Many families search for “homeschooling statistics UK”, but home-education rules and data collections differ across the UK nations.
Why are home education numbers rising?
The DfE data points to several pressures rather than one proven cause. In autumn 2025, mental health was the most reported known or provided reason at 16%, philosophical or preferential reasons were 12%, and almost three in ten reasons were unknown or not provided. SEND and EHCP characteristics also matter, but they do not explain every family’s decision.
Do home-educated children have to follow the National Curriculum?
GOV.UK says home-educating families do not have to follow the National Curriculum. The education must still be suitable for the child’s age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs.
Can the council ask about home education?
Yes. GOV.UK says councils can make an informal enquiry to check that a child is receiving suitable education at home. If the council is not satisfied, the formal process can include a section 437(1) notice and a School Attendance Order.
Does a child with an EHCP need permission to be home educated?
A child attending a special school needs council permission before being educated at home. A child attending a mainstream school does not need council permission solely because they have an EHC plan. EHC plan provision can be affected by elective home education, so complex SEND cases need specialist advice.
What records should home-educating families keep?
Useful records include dated learning summaries, resources used, examples of work or practical learning, progress notes, tutor or course details, SEND adjustments and copies of school or council correspondence. This is practical preparation, not a single required template.
Are Children Not in School registers already in force?
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 includes Children Not in School register measures and received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026. Practical duties depend on commencement regulations and current guidance, so families should not assume a new process applies to them unless an official update or council communication says so.
Is home education the same as EOTAS?
No. Elective home education is parent-chosen education at home. EOTAS or EOTIS is education otherwise than at school arranged or secured through the local authority or an EHC plan in specific circumstances.
Sources and references
Sources and references
Official guidance
- 1.Elective home education: autumn term 2025
Official landing page for the January 2026 England elective home education statistics release.
- 2.Elective home education, Autumn term 2025/26
Headline counts, reason categories, SEN/EHC plan proportions, year-group data, local-authority caveats, starts, returns and school-attendance-order statistics. Updated 2026-01-29.
- 3.Elective home education methodology
Definitions and methodology for elective home education statistics, including EHE, EOTAS and children missing education distinctions.
- 4.Educating your child at home
Parent-facing guidance on home education, curriculum, council enquiries, special schools, EHC plans and School Attendance Orders in England.
- 5.Elective home education guidance
DfE guidance for local authorities, schools and parents on elective home education. Page originally published 2007-11-01; updated 2024-08-19.
- 6.Education Act 1996, section 7
Primary legislation for the parental duty to secure suitable education.
- 7.Education Act 1996, section 437
Primary legislation for notices and School Attendance Orders where suitable education is in question.
- 8.Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 Bill page
Parliamentary record of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026.
- 9.Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026
Primary legislation containing Children Not in School register provisions.
- 10.Children missing education statutory guidance
Statutory guidance for local authorities and schools on children missing education.
Peer-reviewed research
- 1.Exploring moving to home education in secondary schools
Exploratory research context on school-fit, SEND, medical, behavioural and wellbeing-related moves to home education.
News and analysis
- 1.Families to save up to £1,000 as children’s reforms become law
Government update confirming the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 became law.
Other sources
- 1.Elective home education quick guide
Specialist SEND charity guidance on elective home education and EHC plans. Updated 2024-01-28.
- 2.Home education and education otherwise
Specialist SEND guidance distinguishing elective home education from EOTAS or EOTIS.