The number of children being educated at home increased again last year to more than 175,000, according to government figures.

Data released by the Department for Education today shows the number of children being electively home educated at some point in 2024-25 rose to 175,900, up from 153,300 in 2023-24.

In the autumn term of 2025, 126,000 children were being educated at home, with 16 per cent citing mental health as the reason, and 12 per cent due to “philosophical or preferential” reasons.

Some 16 per cent of children being educated at home in autumn 2025 required SEN support, and 7 per cent had an education, health and care plan.

The DfE said a different methodology was used this year, leading to “not directly comparable” figures, which may be a factor in the recorded increase in children educated at home.

Data was first collected from local authorities voluntarily in autumn 2022, and collection became mandatory in autumn 2024, but today’s release says that the new estimates “closely align with previous estimates produced by the Association of Directors of Children’s Services”.

The quality of data will improve over time as the collection becomes established, the DfE added.

Calls for SEND investment

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union, said: “It is striking how mental health remains the reason most frequently identified, and the increase in the proportion of pupils being educated at home for this reason highlights the need for further investment in community mental health services.”

The government’s forthcoming special educational needs and disabilities reforms must also ensure families can get the right support they need to learn in the right setting, he added.

The number of pupils being home educated increased from 111,700 in autumn 2024 to 126,000 in autumn 2025, but fell from 137,200 in summer 2025.

This seasonal decrease is expected, the DfE said, as some home-educated children will get their preferred school in the autumn.

Missing from education

The figures released today also estimate that 143,500 children were missing from education entirely at one point during 2024-25, slightly down from 149,900 in 2023-24.

It comes after Ofsted chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver said the increase in children missing education entirely is a “scandal”.

The number of children missing education in autumn 2025 was 34,700, lower than the 39,200 missing in autumn 2024.

The children’s commissioner estimated that in 2024, a quarter of children leaving school for home education had SEND.

Both Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission have previously warned that there are consistently missed opportunities to spot children’s additional needs early enough to get them the support they need and stop them from leaving school.

The government’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill will introduce stricter restrictions on home schooling, meaning parents will need to obtain local authority consent to home educate in certain circumstances.

The bill will also introduce compulsory registers of children not in school in each council area.

Mr Whiteman said that without a register, there is a danger of children becoming lost outside the system.

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