Hundreds of children are currently being home educated in Cheshire West and Chester, with thousands in fines and a number of prosecutions issued to some parents because their children have failed to attend school.

Following a freedom of information request submitted by home education charity Educational Freedom, the council has lifted the lid on the current picture regarding home education for children in the borough.

According to the figures, there were 679 children from 530 households being home schooled as of September.

During a 12-month period from September 2023-24, a total of 22 formal 'notices to satisfy' were served on parents or guardians.

Such notices are issued by education authorities when they believe a child is not being properly schooled.

They require parents or guardians to demonstrate that their child is receiving a suitable education.

A subsequent 13 school attendance orders were then issued, which are legal directives requiring a child to attend school. 

The figures revealed that of the 13 parents or guardians given the orders, five were successfully prosecuted for non-compliance, with combined fines and costs of almost £2,300 in total being handed out by the courts.

Another five were awaiting prosecution at the time the figures were released.

Two orders were revoked, one because the parent was undergoing cancer treatment and their child was due to start college, and another because the wrong date of birth had been given.

The number of children being home schooled in England has rocketed in recent years.

According to the Government, in autumn last year there were 111,700 receiving their education at home, an increase from 92,000 on the previous autumn term – a hike of 21%.