Sharp rise in parents opting for home-schooling

The number of children being educated at home in North Yorkshire has risen by 21% in a year, according to new figures.

By the end of March, 1,093 children were recorded as being electively home educated (EHE) across the county.

At points in 2017 the total number of children being taught at home was less than 400.

North Yorkshire Council officers say the rate of increase is broadly in line with national trends and said it was not expecting the numbers would reduce to pre-pandemic levels in the short-term.

The first three months of the year saw a higher increase in EHE children than has been seen in any previous quarter year period, with 212 becoming home-schooled.

It is the largest rise in children being home-schooled since the pandemic, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The Association of School and College Leaders has raised concerns that increases in EHE reflects wider problems, including unmet special education needs, rising volumes of pupils struggling with anxiety at school and other mental health issues.

Councillor Alyson Baker, the authority’s Young People’s Champion, said she was “deeply concerned” about the quality of education home-schooled children were receiving.

Executive member for education, Councillor Annabel Wilkinson said: “I know some of the parents chose home education for philosophical reasons, but unfortunately more and more children are leaving schools to become home educated."

She said the council did offer meetings with families considering home-schooling to address any issues raised, but said the final decision was a parental choice.

Ms Wilkinson said the council also asked parents for details about the education to be provided to assess its suitability.

Stuart Carlton, the authority’s director of the children and young people’s service, said the bar at what is considered suitable education for those not attending school was too low and needed national reform.

Charity Education Otherwise has pointed to mounting numbers of parents concluding the school system cannot meet their children’s needs.

Meanwhile the Association of Directors of Children’s Services has said Covid-19 and school closures, of which North Yorkshire has seen a disproportionate number of, had contributed to the increase.