THE number of Staffordshire children being educated at home has doubled to more than 2,000 since the Covid-19 pandemic, new figures show.
There are currently 2,087 youngsters receiving elective home education (EHE) in the county, up from 1,025 in April 2020.
This reflects a national rise since the pandemic, which has raised concerns over safeguarding and the availability of support for parents who choose to home educate.
Scrutiny committee members at Staffordshire County Council carried out a review into EHE to understand the local situation, the reasons for any increase, and the implications for the authority.
A working group of councillors spoke to parents, children and members of the council’s EHE team. The findings will be reported to the safeguarding and education overview and scrutiny committee next week.
In her introduction to the report, working group chair Cllr Victoria Wilson said:
"We recognise that parents have the right to choose the manner in which their children are educated.
"However, we also wish to ensure that all children are given the best possible opportunity to reach their full potential, both during their compulsory educational years and into their future.
"During our work we have met some fantastic individuals who have helped us understand the complex nature of home education, its challenges and rewards."
Local authorities have a legal duty to ensure the education of EHE children is up to standard, and the county council has five permanent officers who carry out this work.
But the group found that the recent increase in numbers means the team now has little time to carry out "enhanced" work.
Five temporary officers have been recruited to increase capacity – and a recommendation has been made that they be taken on permanently.
The working group also found that social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) is now the biggest reason why Staffordshire parents choose home education. Historically, parents were mostly motivated by philosophical, lifestyle or cultural factors.
SEMH was given as the main reason for 609 of the current EHE children in Staffordshire, while 232 parents said it was 'dissatisfaction with school' and 64 said bullying was behind the decision.
Out of the current EHE cohort, 140 children have been home educated all their life and have never attended a school.
The report says that social media may have been a factor in the rise of EHE, with the Covid-19 pandemic demonstrating to many parents that home education is "achieveable".
But the study points out that it is vital parents understand home education is fundamentally different to the distance learning that was common during the pandemic as that involved support from schools.
Councillors found that the parents they spoke to had "considered in detail the challenges and impacts of choosing to home educate".
The report added:
"Educating children at home works well when it is a positive choice and carried out with a proper regard for the needs of the child.
"The parents we met who home educate their children showed incredible commitment, enthusiasm and dedication to ensuring the best education for their children
"However, if home education is undertaken without this level of understanding and commitment, including the various financial commitments, the results will not be as positive."
The working group’s report makes a number of recommendations, including calls for the council to assess the impact of recent changes in the law around home education to ensure additional resource can be provided if necessary.
