Number of children in home education in North Northamptonshire has risen by almost 50 per cent over the past three years

The number of children in home education in North Northamptonshire has risen by almost 50 per cent over the last three years.

The amount of youngsters without a school place entirely is also on the rise.

According to figures obtained in a Freedom of Information request sent to North Northants Council by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, 1,012 children are being home-schooled in the county as of last month.

This is up from 679 children in February 2022 - a jump of 49 per cent.

Parents can decide to home-school their children at any stage of their child’s education by writing to the headteacher to be removed from the school roll.

By doing so, parents must also accept responsibility for ensuring their child or children receive efficient, full-time education.

National figures have also gone up - at census date in autumn 2023, an estimated 92,000 children were in elective home education, an increase from an estimated 80,900 in the previous autumn 2022 term.

This is a jump of 13 per cent in just one year.

Jason Smithers, leader of North Northamptonshire Council, said: “Home-education has increased nationally, and North Northamptonshire is no different.

"There are a variety of reasons for this, including lifestyle choices.

“We support the rights of parents to educate their child at home.

"There is no requirement for parents to follow the national curriculum, however, parents must inform us how they plan to educate their child.

“Where children are educated at home, we work in partnership with parents to ensure the child receives a suitable education that considers their age, ability, aptitude, and any special educational needs they may have.

“A home education plan is needed from those opting to take this path for their child, or children, and our officers check and verify this.

"If we don’t believe that an appropriate education is being delivered, we can investigate and if necessary, work with parents to direct the child back to school attendance.

“We take safeguarding our young residents seriously and where there are concerns, home education officers investigate these and ensure that they are flagged up to the relevant teams.”

Further figures obtained from North Northants Council also show an increase in the number of children missing from education who are without a school place, where mainstream education and home-schooling are not in place.

This has risen by 46 per cent over the past year, from May 2023 to February 2024, from 198 to 290 children ‘missing’ education.

The figures have been broken down into three categories, including children currently in the school admissions process, those excluded or absent from school and, finally, others awaiting a specialist placement linked to an Education, Health and Care Plan.

The group that has grown the most over this period is the number of special educational needs children without a school place, rising from 62 in May 2023 to 116.

The council has said this is linked to the increased demand, and limited supply, for specialist places locally.

Cllr Smithers added: “Creating additional SEND places is a priority for us as a council and we are working hard, in partnership with the DfE, to ensure that this happens.

“North Northamptonshire Council Executive has recently approved a capital project at Corby Business Academy.

"When completed this Autumn it will have created an additional 28 special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) pupil places, helping us address the growing demand for SEND school places in the council area.”