The number of children being educated at home in England has risen sharply, according to the latest government statistics, with experts pointing to a crisis in support for pupils with mental health and learning difficulties.
Sharp Rise in Home Educated Pupils
Figures released by the Department for Education (DfE) show that 175,900 children were recorded as being electively home educated at some point during the 2024/25 academic year. This marks a significant increase of 15% from the 153,300 children reported in the previous year.
The data for the autumn term of 2025 alone highlights the scale of the shift, with 126,000 children out of a school-eligible population of around nine million being taught outside the mainstream system during that period.
Mental Health and SEND Needs Drive the Change
A deep dive into the reasons behind this trend reveals concerning patterns. In the autumn 2025 term, one in six (16%) of home educated children were withdrawn primarily due to mental health concerns. A further 12% were educated at home for philosophical or preferential reasons chosen by their families.
The data underscores the high level of additional needs among this group. 16% of home educated pupils required SEND support, while 7% had a formal Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). The Children's Commissioner had previously estimated in 2024 that a quarter of children leaving school for home education required SEND support.
Jo Hutchinson, co-director for early years and wellbeing at the Education Policy Institute (EPI), stated: "It is deeply concerning that the number of children in elective home education continues to climb. We need to ensure children with SEND and mental health difficulties feel they belong in the mainstream system."
Experts and Advocates React to the Figures
Education specialists and support groups attribute the increase to a combination of systemic failures and growing parental awareness. Michelle Zaher, co-director of the non-profit Educational Freedom, explained that many families feel they have no alternative.
"Most of the families we support didn't set out to home educate," she said. "They were forced into it because their child was struggling, unsupported, or traumatised by their experience at school. Parents will therefore act in their child's best interests and home educate their child rather than allow their child to be further failed."
She also cited local authority failures to implement EHCPs appropriately and chronic underfunding for essential SEN support in schools as key drivers.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders' union, highlighted the mental health aspect: "It is striking how mental health remains the reason most frequently identified... This highlights the need for further investment in community mental health services."
The report also revealed that 34,700 children were recorded as missing education entirely in autumn 2025, though this was down from 39,200 the previous year.
The government has responded by pointing to its proposed Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which aims to introduce tighter rules, including Children Not in School registers to help local authorities identify and support children. A DfE spokesperson reiterated the government's commitment to school attendance, citing expanded mental health support teams and an investment of at least £3 billion to create more specialist SEND places.
