Knowledge obtained from Bolton Council exhibits that, as of September 2, 2026, there have been 771 youngsters of obligatory college age recognized to the authority to be receiving elective house training.
That determine has nearly doubled from 395 recorded on the identical date in 2021 and has elevated greater than tenfold from simply 70 youngsters in 2016.
In response to the council, the figures mirror a wider nationwide pattern which noticed a big rise in house training throughout and after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Authorities statistics present that 126,000 youngsters had been receiving an elective house training in autumn 2025, which was a rise by an estimated 14,300 in comparison with the earlier autumn time period.
A spokesperson for Bolton Council stated: “Nationally, there was a big enhance in home-schooling through the COVID-19 pandemic, though Bolton’s figures stay beneath the nationwide common.
“Whereas Bolton has many glorious faculties, there are a variety of explanation why households could go for home-schooling instead.
“This choice ought to by no means be taken frivolously, and we all the time urge dad and mom or carers to do intensive analysis beforehand.
“As a council, we provide help and steerage to households to develop their kid’s academic programme.”
Elective house training is the place dad and mom select to teach their youngsters outdoors the college system and take duty for offering their kid’s training.
Mother and father in England have a authorized obligation to make sure their little one receives an acceptable full-time training from the age of 5, whether or not in school or by house training.
Those that educate their youngsters at house usually are not required to observe the nationwide curriculum.
Native authorities have powers to make enquiries the place they should set up whether or not a baby is receiving an acceptable training.
If considerations stay, they will think about additional motion, together with requiring a baby to attend college.
Mother and father who want to educate a baby at house ought to inform their college if the kid is at present enrolled and completely different guidelines could apply in sure circumstances, together with for some youngsters attending particular faculties or these topic to high school attendance orders.
Bolton Council stated it continues to supply recommendation and help to households who select this route, serving to dad and mom and carers develop their kid’s studying programme.
Are you at present house educating your little one in Bolton? I would like to listen to about your experiences, whether or not you latterly made the choice or have been educating at house for a number of years. E mail maddie.avery@newsquest.co.uk together with your story.