2026 EHE stats brief overview (all data correct as of 24/7/26, this will be updated when anything changes). 

Throughout the first half of 2026 Educational Freedom have carried out multiple FOI (freedom of information requests), you can read an overview of the results below. 

The statistics below are compiled from Freedom of Information responses and publicly available information. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, data recording practices differ between authorities and some figures may not be directly comparable. Any commentary reflects Educational Freedom's interpretation of the data and should be read alongside the underlying figures.

And new for the summer of 2026 every LA has it's own LA portfolio, based on FOI responses, publicly available information and your feedback.   You can view your LA portfolio from here. If you want your experience of your LA adding to the portfolio please fill in this survey. 

The results:

12 LAs either outright refused to reply, or did not send a response.

These were:

Aberdeen (No response received by the date of publication.)

Bridgend (No response received by the date of publication.)

Brighton (refused, not responded to 2nd)

Derby (No response received by the date of publication.)

East Sussex (refused, not responded to 2nd)

Isles of Scilly (No response received by the date of publication.)

Kensington and Chelsea (refused)

Solihull (refused, no responded to 2nd)

Somerset (No response received by the date of publication.)

West Lothian (No response received by the date of publication.)

Wigan (No response received by the date of publication.)

If you live within one of these authorities and are interested in the outcome of these requests, you may wish to ask your local authority why a response has not yet been provided

The remaining LAs (195) reported 152336 known home educators as of the 1st April 2026.

40097 new since October 2025

Not all LAs record if they have home educated children accessing 14-16 provision. 

Most do not count flexischooling in EHE, unfortunately some do.

Those that record the data identified 1700 of their known home educated children came from private school. 

Not all LAs record how many of their known EHE children have an EHCP and a large number do not record those with SEND without an EHCP. Those that were able to provide figures resulted in an average of 19% of known home educators to have SEND.  

The average for those who had a home visit between October 2025 and April 2026 was 10%, though it should be noted with 12 not replying, and more than 40 unable to provide a figure, this number could be different. 
It should be noted, the FOI did not seek to clarify the reason for the visits, whether unannounced, forced or chosen. 

46 local authorities reported home visit rates significantly above the overall average of 10%. The FOI data does not distinguish between visits that were requested by families, mutually agreed, or initiated by the authority. It would therefore be inappropriate to assume that all reported visits were voluntary or invited. 

Angus 88%

Argyll & Bute 26%

Barnsley 90% with 233 families having more than one visit 

Birmingham 20%

Blackburn and Darwin 40%

Caerphilly 20%

Cardiff 20%

Carmarthenshire 48%

Ceredigion 46%

Conwy 28%

Darlington 57%

Denbighshire 29%

East Riding of Yorkshire 60%

Flintshire 34%

Gwynedd 20%

Halton 41%

Hammersmith and Fulham 16%

Harrow 28%

Hounslow 25%

Lewisham 25%

Luton 46%

Merthyr Tydfil 43%

Middlesbrough 68%

Neath Port Talbot 51%

Newcastle 24%

Newport 64%

North East Lincolnshire 33%

Rochdale 66%

Sefton 68%

Shropshire 45%

Slough 24%

South Gloucestershire 31%

Southend on sea 74%

Stoke on Trent 28%

Surrey 25%

Swansea 29%

Swindon 22%

Tameside 74%

Torbay 31%

Torfaen 30%

Tower Hamlets 27%

Vale of Glamorgan 24%

West Sussex 38%

Wiltshire 35%

Wirral 38%

Wrexham 62%

s437(1) and SAO were down from the previous data collection. 

s437(1) is a formal notice to satisfy, served if the LA have concerns about the suitability of the education. SAO is a school attendance order if the s437(1) did not satisfy their enquiries.

There was an average of 2.8% of children subject to a s437(1) and 0.9% an SAO between October 2025 and April 2026. Down from 5% and 1.7% respectively in 2025. 2026 figures are more in line with the 2024 figures of 2.4% and 0.9%. 

*our own case-load tells us many families have received multiple notices in short periods of time.

Many LAs who were a concern in 2025 are no longer serving the same high numbers of either s437(1) or SAO. We cannot say whether this reflects changes in local authority practice, wider national trends or increased awareness following publication of our previous research.

Blackpool. Blaenau Gwent, Doncaster, Hertfordshire, Lincolnshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Portsmouth and Redbridge continue to report figures considerably above the national average.

There were no concerns with Cheshire East or North Lincolnshire in 2025 but there are in this data collection. The reasons for this increase cannot be determined from the FOI data.

Those with a high number of s437(1) do not have a similar number of SAO. Educational Freedom continues to receive evidence from families across England and Wales that formal notices under s437(1) are being issued after parents decline requests for home visits or choose not to provide evidence that the law does not require, such as photographs of learning, tutor reports or extensive written records. Where a notice is used for that purpose, rather than because there is genuine reason to believe a suitable education is not being provided, we consider that to be an improper use of the statutory process. The disparity between the number of s437(1) notices and the comparatively low number of School Attendance Orders in many areas raises further questions about how these powers are being exercised. While the FOI data cannot establish the reason for each individual notice, our casework suggests this remains an issue in a number of authorities.

Unfortunately LAs did not respond in any meaningful way about the outcomes of these notices or SAO. Educational Freedom has supported a number of families whose School Attendance Orders have not ultimately been upheld in court, particularly where concerns centred on the type of evidence requested rather than the suitability of the education itself. 

You can view the raw data here (this is a live working document) 

Our FOI research asked LAs to tell us about any training they have taken part in, some sharing copies of training material. We asked when policies were updated and if home educators were involved, we also looked at the LA website. 

You can view your LA portfolio from here. If you want your experience of your LA adding to the portfolio, or if your experience sheds light on the above stats,  please fill in this survey.