2,400 Hertfordshire children are being educated at home – up 22% in a year

The number of children in Hertfordshire being educated at home has increased, according to the latest data published by the county council.

In December, 2,422 youngsters were studying outside schools – 22% more than in the same month in 2022.

The figures will be presented in a report to a meeting of the authority’s resources and performance cabinet panel on Tuesday (April 16).

The report also highlights ‘children missing education’ (CME) – that’s youngsters of compulsory school age who are not registered at a school and are not receiving “suitable education otherwise”.

In December, 394 children and young people in Hertfordshire were recorded as missing education – up 8% compared to December 2022.

Of those, 96 are awaiting specialist provision and 17 are in an “assessment phase”. A total of 43 children have been on the council’s CME list for more than 12 months.

“Robust CME processes are in place and there is now more capacity to monitor CME,” says the report. “The service is confident that, for the most part, children will be returned to education more quickly as a result.”