Rise in number of home educated children in Jersey

Kayleigh says her children's behaviour has improved since they left school

More children are being home educated in Jersey, a Freedom of Information (FOI) Request has found.

Government figures show the number of children being educated at home has risen from 57 in the academic year 2020/21 to 84 in 2023/24 - an increase of nearly 50%.

In the UK, a BBC investigation has found the number of children moving to home education has risen to the highest level since the Covid-19 pandemic.

One mum in Jersey said home education allowed her to shape learning around the needs of her children.

Eighty four children are currently registered as home educated in Jersey

Kayleigh, who recently took her two children out of primary school, said their behaviour had improved.

She said Sampson, 6, seemed to be neurodivergent and was getting quite angry at school, while Dahlia, 4, was struggling with noise levels in the classroom.

Kayleigh said she was "not a fan" of the traditional school system, which had "too much focus on English and maths" and not enough on the creative side.

She said half their time was structured lessons, loosely following the school curriculum and the rest was led by the children, including nature walks, bug hunts and art lessons.

Kayleigh said there should be more government support for parents who home educate, including funding towards books and other resources.

Government data shows the number of children being educated at home has been increasing

In Jersey, parents have to apply to register their children with the government department for Children, Young People, Education Skills (CYPES) before they begin home educating.

Government data shows the number of children registered as home educated with CYPES increased by 20% from the academic year 2022/23 to 2023/24.

Minister for Education Deputy Rob Ward said the government had taken a "step forward" by appointing a point of contact for parents during the registration process.

Under Jersey's education law, children do not have to follow the curriculum taught in schools but they must receive education that is "equal to" what they'd get in school.

'Best possible outcomes'

Mr Ward said the government had set up an exam centre at Highlands College for home educated children and also covered some of their exam costs.

He said ongoing support for home educated children with special educational needs was also provided, adding there was "a positive relationship with those who are home educating because we all want the same thing for the children, which is the best possible outcomes".

Therapist and campaigner Anne Laure Jackson said the attitude to home education was very different when she moved to Jersey in 2012

The government has also worked with the Jersey Association of Home Educators (JAHE), which was set up as a non-profit in 2021 to support home educating families.

Occupational therapist and home education campaigner Anne Laure Jackson has worked in schools at the same time as home educating her own children.

She said attitdudes towards home education had changed since she moved back to Jersey in 2012.

'Phenomenal change'

"It was almost like how dare you be so audacious to think you can home educate," she said, adding there had been a "phenomenal change" in the island with a growth in understanding from the education department and the community.

She said the pandemic opened the eyes of a lot of families to what was possible for their children.

"Home education is not anti-school it's about where is the best fit for your child," she said.