Overview of Homeschooling in the UK: Status & Issues

Parents have a legal right to educate their child at home (instead of sending them to a school) from ages 5-16 under Section 7 of the Education Act 1996.
The education provided must be “efficient,” “full-time,” and suitable to the child’s age, ability, aptitude, and special educational needs (if any).

The number of children being home educated has been rising, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Many parents tried homeschooling during lockdowns and have continued beyond.
A recent survey (Wolsey Hall Oxford / Perspectus Global) shows that about 32% of British parents are considering or would strongly consider homeschooling. Top reasons: bullying, mental health, large class sizes or classroom disruption, feeling mainstream schooling doesn’t give enough one-to-one attention.

There is increasing interest from government to tighten regulation and oversight, particularly around safeguarding. For example, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill (introduced December 2024) contains proposals that affect homeschooling families.
- Proposed changes include: a mandatory register of children not in school (including home educated ones), greater powers for local authorities to intervene if they think a child’s welfare or education isn’t being met, especially for children under child protection plans.
- Increased information-sharing requirements and possibly more monitoring of home environments.
  Concerns have been raised by home education advocates about the potential burdens of extra bureaucracy: cost, privacy issues, whether local authorities have resources to properly evaluate home education arrangements.

Flexibility: Parents can tailor pace, style, curriculum to the child. Good for kids who struggle in traditional schooling (for reasons of anxiety, bullying, special educational needs).
Mental health: Many parents report better wellbeing for their children when removed from stressful school environments.
Potential for richer or more varied education: field trips, online learning, family involvement.

Quality and consistency: Without oversight, there’s a risk children don’t receive adequate education in key skills or subjects.
Socialisation: Some kids miss out on peer groups, extracurricular opportunities, social experiences.
Resources and cost: Parents bear the cost of materials, exams, often need to provide much more time. Also, not all parents feel equipped to teach some subjects well.
Safeguarding gaps: Cases (like Sara Sharif) have shown that children can be “hidden” under home education when abuse or neglect is involved. This is one of the reasons for proposed legal changes.

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill is central to current debate. Homeschooling community is watching carefully because it shifts how much oversight, registration, and intervention might be required.
Public opinion seems increasingly sympathetic to some of the concerns parents have: mental health, SEND provision, frustration over large class sizes and disruption in mainstream schools.
At the same time, governments (national and local) are more keen to ensure kids in home education are not overlooked for safeguarding, or that home ed isn’t used as an escape from legal obligations. Registers for non-school attendance are being discussed.

Policy & Practice in Bristol

Here’s what I found about how Bristol deals with home education (“Elective Home Education” or EHE).

Parents in Bristol have the right to educate their child at home.
If a child is of compulsory school age, you must provide full-time education that is suitable. Bristol’s guidance emphasises this.
Children being removed from school rolls: The school must notify the council if a child is taken off its roll for home education; the school can’t legally back-date that removal.

Bristol has published a “Guidance and procedures” document (PDF) for Elective Home Education, which spells out the responsibilities of parents, schools, and the council.
The council has an Elective Home Education Officer who handles enquiries and issues between parents and council. Contactable via their website.
If the child has Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) or attends a special school, extra involvement from the council’s SEND team is required. Annual reviews might be expected.

The council in Bristol does not pay for educational materials, exams, or resources for parents unless specific arrangements are made (i.e. no general financial support).
The law doesn’t allow automatic registration or forced attendance of home educated children unless there are safeguarding concerns or unless parent can’t or doesn’t provide suitable education. But the proposed new laws may change that.

Watch the Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill: if passed with the proposed changes, it may require home education providers/parents to register with local authorities more formally, share more information, possibly submit to periodic reviews or checks.
Safeguarding: legal changes are explicitly aimed at ensuring children aren’t being mistreated or neglected under the cover of home education. Cases like Sara Sharif are driving push for oversight.
SEND support: One of the biggest grievances parents have is lack of support in schools for children with special educational needs. Some parents feel forced to homeschool because of this. If policy doesn’t improve, pressure will increase.
Local authority capacity: If more regulation is imposed (e.g. home visits, monitoring, a mandatory register), councils will need more resources. Otherwise, implementation will lag or be inconsistent.