The Safeguarding and Education Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Thursday 11 June 2026 to discuss the rising numbers of children being electively home-educated (EHE) in Staffordshire. The committee reviewed a report from a dedicated working group, which highlighted concerns about the capacity of the EHE team to manage the increasing demand and the implications of new legislation. The committee also discussed the council's work programme for the upcoming year.

Elective Home Education (EHE)

The committee received a comprehensive report from the Elective Home Education (EHE) Working Group, which had been tasked with investigating the rise in children being educated at home. Councillor Victoria Wilson, Chair of the Working Group, presented the findings, noting that EHE numbers in Staffordshire had risen significantly, mirroring a national trend. The group had met with various stakeholders, including EHE officers, school representatives, parents, and a young person who was electively home-educated.

Key findings from the report included:

• Rising Numbers: Staffordshire had seen a significant increase in EHE numbers, with approximately 2,080 pupils being home-educated. This trend was consistent with national figures and those of statistical neighbours. The report highlighted that EHE numbers had risen from 829 in December 2018 to 1,996 in June 2025.
• Reasons for EHE: While historically philosophical, lifestyle, or cultural reasons were most common, Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) issues had become the primary driver for choosing EHE. Exam stress, particularly for Year 11 pupils, was also a significant factor. The COVID-19 pandemic had also influenced this trend, with some parents finding home education achievable during lockdowns.
• Safeguarding Concerns: While research indicated that children educated at home were not inherently more at risk than those in mainstream education, the report acknowledged that children could go unseen. The EHE team employed a RAG rating system to assess safeguarding and educational suitability, although this process had recently been separated to provide clearer assessments. No children in care were electively home-educated.
• New Legislation: The forthcoming Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill was expected to introduce a compulsory Children Not in School Register and remove the automatic right for parents to home-educate if a child was subject to a child protection investigation or plan. The report noted that further clarification was needed on the implementation of this legislation, including resource implications and penalties for non-registration.
• Quality and Standards: Parents are legally responsible for providing a suitable education, but the definition of suitable was open to interpretation. While the EHE team reviewed education annually, parents were not currently required to provide evidence of their child's education if they chose not to. The report highlighted the commitment and dedication of parents who provided a high standard of home education, but also cautioned that this was not always the case, particularly when parents were unaware of the complexities and financial commitments involved.
• Post-16 Challenges: The report identified challenges for electively home-educated young people transitioning to post-16 opportunities, particularly apprenticeships. The NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) rate for EHE young people was significantly higher than for other statutory education leavers.

Recommendations:

The Working Group proposed five recommendations:

1. Make temporary EHE Officer posts permanent: To address the increased demand and anticipated workload from new legislation, the five temporary EHE Officer posts should be made permanent.
2. Monitor EHE numbers and capacity: The impact of the continued rise in EHE numbers should be regularly monitored to ensure the EHE team has sufficient capacity.
3. Assess resource needs for new legislation: Once the implications of the new legislation are clarified, an assessment of the extra resource required for the EHE team should be undertaken and made available.
4. Share best practice: Practical ways should be explored to share best practice approaches from schools, such as that seen at The De Ferrers Academy, across Staffordshire schools.
5. Explore GCSE resource log: The possibility of developing a location resource log for specific GCSE subjects should be explored to support home-educated students.

The committee agreed to recommend these proposals to the Cabinet Member for an executive response, with a request for a response 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 also reviewed the draft work programme for the upcoming year. Helen Phillips, Scrutiny and Support Officer, presented the proposed items, which included the deferral of a presentation on Children's Services Referrals, the SEND Reform Plan, and a briefing from representatives of Trinity on the return home interview process. Two additional items were suggested for inclusion: scrutiny of unregistered care homes and the impact of social media on children's mental health. The committee agreed to accept the draft work programme, with the understanding that it was a dynamic document subject to change.

The meeting also marked the final attendance of Helen Phillips, who was commended for her dedication and support to the committee over her 40-year career.