The Safeguarding and Education Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Thursday 11 June 2026 to discuss the significant rise in elective home education (EHE) in Staffordshire and to review the council's work programme. The committee noted recommendations from the Elective Home Education (EHE) Working Group regarding the permanence of temporary EHE officer posts and the assessment of resource requirements due to new legislation.

Elective Home Education (EHE)

The committee received a comprehensive report from the Elective Home Education (EHE) Working Group, which highlighted a significant and ongoing rise in the number of children being educated at home in Staffordshire, mirroring a national trend. The working group's investigation revealed that while parents have the right to choose home education, concerns exist regarding the support provided to these children and the resource implications for the council.

The report indicated that Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) issues have become the most common reason for parents choosing EHE, surpassing historical philosophical or lifestyle reasons. This trend is particularly noted among Key Stage 4 students, where exam stress is a significant factor. The number of EHE children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) or identified Special Educational Needs (SEN) has also increased.

The working group found that while many parents are highly committed and provide a good quality of education, there are challenges. These include the financial and logistical burdens of examinations, particularly for subjects like Design and Technology, and difficulties in accessing post-16 opportunities such as apprenticeships. The report also noted that while research suggests EHE children are not inherently more at risk of safeguarding issues than their school-attending peers, the potential for children to go unseen remains a concern.

New legislation, the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, is expected to introduce a compulsory Children Not in School Register and remove the automatic right to home educate for children subject to child protection plans. While welcomed, these changes will have resource implications for the council.

The EHE Working Group made five key recommendations:

• That the five temporary additional EHE Officer posts be made permanent.
• That the impact of the continued rise in EHE numbers be regularly monitored to ensure capacity meets future demand.
• That an assessment of extra resource required be undertaken once the impact of new legislation is clarified.
• That practical ways be explored to share best practice in EHE support across Staffordshire schools.
• That the possibility of developing a location resource log for specific GCSE subjects be explored.

The committee noted these recommendations and the proposal for the working group to reconvene in 12 months to review their impact and the outcomes of the new legislation. The recommendations are to be formally submitted to the Cabinet Member for Education and SEND for a decision.

Work Programme Planning

The committee reviewed the draft work programme for 2026-27. Key items to be included are:

• A presentation on the SEND Reform Plan, following the submission of Staffordshire's strategic plan to the Department for Education and NHS England.
• An update on Adult Safeguarding activity and performance.
• A briefing from Trinity Support Services on the Return to Home Interview service.
• A review of the Joint Targeted Area Inspection report.
• Consideration of community safety implications arising from the increasing use of e-bikes and similar vehicles.

The committee also noted that the executive response to the Elective Home Education Working Group recommendations would be considered on 15 October 2026.