Numbers of home schooled children in north of county set out for first time

There's more than 600 children being taught at home

By Sarah Ward

Photo by Kimberly Farmer on Unsplash

More than 650 children are being taught within a home environment in North Northamptonshire, say education bosses.

215 primary school children and 473 secondary school children are outside of mainstream education and having their education managed by a parent or carer. 32 of that number have an education health and care (EHC) plan and 18 children are involved with social workers. 47 new EHC requests are currently being dealt with by the council.

Since September, North Northamptonshire Council, (which is the local education authority for the area) has issued three statutory attendance orders to homeschooling parents whose child has not been receiving education.

The council’s interim SEN director Neil Goddard told the authority’s education advisory panel last week that the area had seen a small increase in numbers post pandemic but there is a flow of children in and out of home education.

He said:

“From a local authority perspective, interes…