Safeguarding Pressures Reach ‘Tipping Point’ as Home Education Numbers Rise

A new report warns that safeguarding systems in England are under growing pressure as the number of children educated at home continues to rise.

Tipping point: tackling the challenges in safeguarding children educated at home highlights a significant increase in elective home education over the past five years, without a corresponding growth in local authority capacity to oversee and support these children.

While home education is not a safeguarding risk in itself, the report finds that children educated at home are more likely to be out of sight of universal services, making it harder to identify concerns for the most vulnerable.

Based on a review of safeguarding literature, national Freedom of Information data, interviews with local authority home education teams, and insights from Childline and the NSPCC Helpline, the report sets out the challenges facing Elective Home Education Officers in discharging their safeguarding duties.

The report concludes that the system is approaching a “tipping point” and calls for clearer national guidance, increased investment in specialist roles, and stronger links between home education teams, Early Help services and safeguarding partnerships.