MENTAL HEALTH IS MOST COMMON REASON CHILDREN ARE HOME SCHOOLED
Mental health is the most common reason for children to be schooled at home, according to the latest data.
Figures released by the Department for Education (DfE) on Thursday showed the number of children being home educated at some point in the 2024-25 school year was 175,900, compared to 153,300 in 2023-24.
In the autumn term of 2025, 126,000 children were being educated at home, with one in six (16 per cent) citing mental health as the reason, and 12 per cent due to “philosophical or preferential” reasons.
One in six (16 per cent) children being educated at home in autumn 2025 required special educational needs and disabilities (Send) support, and seven per cent had an education, health and care plan (EHCP).
The number of pupils being home schooled rose from 111,700 in autumn 2024 to 126,000 in autumn 2025, but fell from 137,200 in summer 2025. This decrease was expected, the DfE said, because some home educated children would get their preferred school in the autumn.
The ‘scandal’ of children missing school
The figures also estimate 143,500 children were missing from education entirely at one point during 2024-25, slightly down from 149,900 in 2023-24.
Sir Martyn Oliver, Ofsted’s chief inspector, previously said the increase in children missing education entirely was a “scandal”. The number of children missing education in autumn 2025 was 34,700, lower than the 39,200 in autumn 2024.
The Children’s Commissioner estimated in 2024 that a quarter of children leaving school for home education had Send.
Both Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission have previously warned there are consistently missed opportunities to spot children’s additional needs early enough to get them the support they need and stop them from leaving school.
The Government’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill will introduce stronger restrictions on home schooling that will mean parents will have to get local authority consent to home educate in certain circumstances.
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