Here’s a startling fact: mental health issues are now the leading reason parents choose to homeschool their children. Yes, you read that right. According to the latest data from the Department for Education (DfE), more families than ever are opting for home education, and mental health concerns are at the heart of this trend. The numbers are eye-opening: in the 2024-25 school year, 175,900 children were homeschooled at some point, up from 153,300 the previous year. But here’s where it gets even more revealing—during the autumn term of 2025, one in six children (16%) cited mental health as the primary reason for their homeschooling, while 12% pointed to philosophical or personal preferences.
But this is the part most people miss: homeschooling isn’t just about mental health. Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) also play a significant role. In autumn 2025, 16% of homeschooled children required SEND support, and 7% had an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP). The numbers fluctuated throughout the year, rising from 111,700 in autumn 2024 to 126,000 in autumn 2025, though they dipped to 137,200 by summer 2025. The DfE explains this drop as expected, as some families transition back to traditional schools after securing their preferred placements.
Now, let’s talk about a controversial issue: the ‘scandal’ of children missing out on education entirely. In 2024-25, an estimated 143,500 children were absent from any form of education, a slight decrease from 149,900 in 2023-24. Sir Martyn Oliver, Ofsted’s chief inspector, has called this trend a ‘scandal,’ highlighting the urgent need for action. In autumn 2025 alone, 34,700 children were missing from education, down from 39,200 the previous year. The Children’s Commissioner revealed in 2024 that a staggering one in four children leaving school for homeschooling had SEND—a statistic that raises serious questions about the support systems in place.
Both Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission have warned about missed opportunities to identify and address children’s needs early on. This oversight often leads to students dropping out of school altogether. To tackle this, the Government’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill aims to tighten homeschooling regulations, requiring parents to seek local authority consent in certain cases. But here’s the debate: Is this enough, or are we still failing to address the root causes of why so many children are opting out of traditional schooling?
What do you think? Are these measures addressing the real issues, or are we just scratching the surface? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s spark a conversation that could shape the future of education.
