By Rebecca Caswell-Fox, CEO of KidsAid – 21st July.
More and more families across the UK are turning to home schooling – and these figures continue to climb. Over the past five years, the number of children being home educated has nearly doubled.
At KidsAid, we’re seeing this shift firsthand. Many of the children referred to us for mental health support are also experiencing school refusal, being home educated, or are on a waiting list for alternative education.
So, what’s behind this trend? Is home schooling becoming a positive, empowered choice – or is it linked to the worsening mental health of children and young people?
The COVID-19 pandemic marked a significant turning point in the rise of home schooling across the UK. During lockdowns, many families turned to home schooling out of necessity. But for some children – particularly those dealing with anxiety, sensory processing difficulties, or past trauma – being at home brought unexpected relief. The environment was calmer. The stress of the school day lifted. And when schools reopened, many families chose not to return.
For some, the return to traditional classrooms has been too overwhelming, and this seems to have contributed to a noticeable rise in school refusal and avoidance.
School refusal is rarely about defiance. It is often a cry for help – a visible sign of emotional or psychological distress.
According to the Department for Education, over 21% of pupils were persistently absent from school during the 2022/23 academic year, more than double the rate before the pandemic.
For families facing this reality, mornings can become emotional battlegrounds. In many cases, home schooling is not a rejection of education, but a decision made out of desperation – a forced choice or compassionate response to protect a child’s wellbeing when the education system cannot meet their emotional needs.
One of the biggest drivers of home schooling in the UK is the growing number of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN).
Although awareness and diagnosis of conditions such as autism, ADHD, and sensory processing disorder have improved, many mainstream schools still lack the resources, training, and staffing required to fully support neurodivergent learners.
Overcrowded classrooms, rigid structures, and limited specialist support often lead to emotional breakdowns, behavioural challenges, and withdrawal.
Long waiting lists for NHS support and specialist school placements leave many families with no realistic option but to turn to home schooling – even if it wasn’t their original intention.
The UK government has acknowledged the growing number of home-schooled children and the urgent need for SEN reform.
Positive steps include proposed changes to the SEN system for earlier, more effective support and a planned national register for home-educated children to help local councils offer guidance and oversight.
These are welcome, but not enough. Real impact will come with consistent funding, improved accountability, and stronger collaboration across education, mental health, and social care services.
We are in the middle of a child mental health crisis. Rates of anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, and behavioural difficulties among children and young people are climbing.
While many teachers and school staff are doing their best, schools are under huge pressure. Resources are stretched. Most educators don’t have training in mental health or SEN inclusion. And school counsellors – where they exist – are often overwhelmed.
This leaves too many children unsupported, misunderstood, and at risk. For many families, choosing home schooling becomes a last resort – a way to protect their child when no other help is available.
Education is more than academic success. It nurtures emotional health, strengthens confidence, supports social development, and helps children feel secure and supported.
If we want to reduce the number of families turning to home schooling out of desperation, we need system-wide change:
By making these changes, we can support children earlier – and prevent mental health issues from escalating into crisis.
The increase in home schooling across the UK is not just a trend – it’s a signal that our education system isn’t working for every child.
Families are speaking up with their actions. They’re choosing different paths because their children aren’t thriving in the current system.
At KidsAid, we’re committed to supporting children, families, and schools – so that every child feels safe, seen, and supported, no matter where or how they learn.
Explore our mental health services, refer a child or family, or find out how you can support our mission to improve young lives.