A former Suffolk headteacher has raised "real concern" over support in schools as data has revealed almost 600 more children in the county are enrolled in home schooling now than before the Covid pandemic.
Statistics obtained via a Freedom of Information request show that, in August of 2019, 1,383 children were registered in elective home education.
This total has increased each year since 2019, with 1,424 children registered in 2020, 1,767 in 2021 and 1,858 in 2022.
Last year the total rose to 1,975, almost 600 more than the pre-pandemic total.
Geoff Barton, former headteacher at King Edward VI School in Bury St Edmunds and current general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said it was "incredibly sad" if parents are home-educating because they feel their child is not getting the support they need in school.
He called on the government to invest in education to ensure this is "never the case" and schools have the resources they need to help all pupils to thrive.
Mr Barton said: "It is a real concern that there has been such an increase in home education following the pandemic.
"The reasons for this are numerous and complex but major factors are likely the worsening mental health among young people and the growing number of children with unmet special educational needs.
"The crisis in SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) funding is limiting the amount of specialist help that schools are able to offer, while cuts to children's services mean there are often long waits for external support."
A spokesperson for Suffolk County Council said: "The role of Suffolk County Council is to provide support for home educating families and to intervene if we are given reason to believe that a child is not receiving a suitable education.
"We provide support by calls, emails or visits and can signpost families to resources, activities, local amenities and how to access other services within health and education. We also offer advice and guidance on different approaches to home education.
"When a child becomes electively home educated in Suffolk, the team consult with parents and ask them for information about the education they are providing their children. From here, the council will contact families to seek assurance that the education remains suitable and offer any further guidance that may be needed."
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