The Safeguarding and Education Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Staffordshire Council met on Thursday 11 June 2026 to discuss the growing issue of elective home education (EHE) within the county. The committee reviewed a comprehensive report from a dedicated working group, which highlighted a significant increase in EHE numbers, mirroring national trends, and made several recommendations to address the associated challenges. The committee discussed the draft work programme for the upcoming year.

Elective Home Education (EHE)

The committee received a detailed report from the Elective Home Education (EHE) Working Group, which had been tasked with investigating the rise in children being educated at home in Staffordshire. The report indicated a substantial increase in EHE numbers, with approximately 2,080 pupils now being electively home-educated in the county, a figure that has risen significantly since 2018. This trend is mirrored nationally and among Staffordshire's statistical neighbours.

The working group identified several reasons for this rise, with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) issues now being the most common reason cited by parents, surpassing historical philosophical, lifestyle, or cultural motivations. The COVID-19 pandemic also played a role, with some families finding home education achievable during lockdowns. The report also noted that a significant number of EHE children have identified Special Educational Needs (SEN) or Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs).

Key concerns raised included the potential for children to go unseen from a safeguarding perspective, although research suggests EHE children are not inherently more at risk than those in mainstream education. The report highlighted the challenges faced by the EHE team in managing increasing caseloads and the implications of new legislation, the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which will introduce a compulsory Children Not in School Register and new powers for local authorities.

The working group made five key recommendations:

• Making temporary EHE officer posts permanent: To address the increased demand and anticipated workload from new legislation.
• Regular monitoring of EHE numbers: To ensure the EHE team has sufficient capacity to meet future demand.
• Assessing resource needs for new legislation: Once the implications of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill are clarified, an assessment of extra resources required for the EHE team should be undertaken.
• Exploring practical ways to share best practice: Encouraging schools to adopt a proactive and supportive approach to EHE, similar to that seen at The De Ferrers Academy, to ensure parents make informed decisions.
• Developing a location resource log for specific GCSE subjects: To help home-educated children access a wider range of GCSE syllabi, particularly in subjects like Design & Technology, which require specific facilities.

The committee noted that the recommendations would be formally received by the Cabinet Member for Education and SEND, Councillor Janet Higgins, for a decision within two to three months. The working group also recommended reconvening in 12 months to review the impact of these recommendations and the new legislation.

Work Programme Planning

The committee discussed the draft work programme for the upcoming municipal year. This included items such as the final report from the EHE Working Group, which was presented at this meeting, and the SEND Reform Plan. Additional items suggested for inclusion were scrutiny of unregistered care homes and the impact of social media on children's mental health. The committee acknowledged that the work programme is a dynamic document and can be amended as needed.

The meeting also marked the final attendance of Helen Phillips, Scrutiny & Support Officer, who was commended for her dedication and service over 40 years.