Children not in school

Two sets of statistics have just been published concerning children who are not present in mainstream schools.

Some parents prefer to educate their children at home known as elective home education (EHE). As at census date in autumn 2023, an estimated 92,000 children were in EHE, an increase from an estimated 80,900 in the previous autumn term. During the 2022/23 academic year, an estimated 126,100 children were EHE at any point. This is an increase from an estimated 116,300 in 2021/22. Where a child was EHE more than once during the year, they are only recorded once.

The second set of statistics relates to children who are missing from education and not home educated.

As at census date in autumn 2023, there were an estimated 33,000 children missing education (CME), an increase from an estimated 24,700 in the previous autumn term. During the 2022/23 academic year, there were an estimated 117,100 CME at any point. This is an increase from an estimated 94,900 in 2021/22. Where a child was missing education more than once during the year, they are only recorded once. 

As this is a new data collection (first collection in autumn 2022) increases may well be due at least in part to improvements in data quality.

For more information about elective home education, see the DAG Busy Governance Guide to EHE.