Number of children recorded for home schooling from 2018-2023
Case reference FOI2023/01777
Published 21 November 2023
Request
I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request the following information:
1. The number of children registered for elective home education over the past five school years (2022/23, 2021/22, 2020/21, 2019/20, 2018/19)
Ideally I would like a monthly breakdown of this information for Sept 2022 - August 2023 - as well as the four years preceding this (Sept 2021 - August 2022; Sept 2020 - August 2021; Sept 2019 - August 2020; Sept 2018 - August 2019)
2. If you have monthly data for September and October 2023 that you can provide separately that would also be helpful.
Response
I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request the following information:
1. The number of children registered for elective home education over the past five school years (2022/23, 2021/22, 2020/21, 2019/20, 2018/19)
Ideally I would like a monthly breakdown of this information for Sept 2022 - August 2023 - as well as the four years preceding this (Sept 2021 - August 2022; Sept 2020 - August 2021; Sept 2019 - August 2020; Sept 2018 - August 2019)
Please find below a snapshot of the number of children who were recorded as electively home educated (EHE) at the end of each academic year. I have been advised that monthly breakdowns are not held.
2018/19 = 218
2019/20 = 213
2020/21 = 270
2021/22 = 300
2022/23 = 305
I have also been advised the local authority keeps a voluntary register of all children, where it is aware that a child is in receipt of elective home education. Please note point 3.7 of the document Elective home education Departmental guidance for local authorities which makes clear that registration is not a legal obligation for either parents or authorities:
Elective home education Departmental guidance for local authorities
3.7 Local authorities may often choose to go further than this - for example by operating voluntary registration schemes so that support can be given more readily to those who wish to receive it, and by providing more information on home educated children in their locality. Such schemes can also help authorities discharge the responsibilities which they have under ss. 436A and 437 of the 1996 Act (see below) and the department would encourage those authorities which do not operate voluntary registration to consider doing so. However, registration is currently not a legal obligation for either parents or authorities.
2. If you have monthly data for September and October 2023 that you can provide separately that would also be helpful.
Please find below the numbers of children from Reception to Year 11 recorded, as being in receipt of elective home education (EHE).
Sep-23 = 282
Oct-23 = 284
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.