The number of children in Hertfordshire who are being educated at home has increased, by almost a third.

Back in September 2019 the county council had records of 1355 children being electively educated at home, rather than at school.

But this September they say that number had risen by 381, to 1736. That's an increase of 28 per cent.

Concerns around the increase in the number of parents withdrawing their children from Hertfordshire schools have been shared by a leading Labour councillor.

Leader of the council's Labour group and Hitchin councillor Judi Billing – who is also the Labour group's education spokesperson – also believes the increase in home education reflects parents' Covid concerns.

"I think people are scared about what's happening in schools – and I don't blame them," said councillor Billing.

"There is a lot of infection swirling around in schools – but there may also be a few who enjoyed home schooling when they had to do it.

"I think more should be done to support home education – but particularly more should be done to safeguard those children."

Councillor Billing says she is concerned that as a result of home education some children will 'fall through the cracks'.

She told the LDRS: "I worry about home schooling – not because I don't think people should have the choice – but I worry about children being away from social settings.

"And I worry a lot about the lack of inspection and control that would make sure these children are learning properly.

"Of course the vast majority are – but I think there's a real worry about children falling through the cracks."

The county council's executive member for education, libraries and localism Terry Douris says it's impossible to know for certain why parents opt to home-educate.

"I can understand people's anxieties," said councillor Douris.

"But what I am concerned about is that these children, who are being home educated, may not necessarily be getting the right education to see them through later life.

"I would ask [parents] to accept that schools are inherently very safe places – and all the procedures that we have in place are designed to make it as safe as humanly possible."

Councillor Douris stressed that children can always return to a school setting. But he warns that those who do return may find they are in a "disadvantaged position," because of what they have missed.

The data on home education was supplied by the county council, in response to a request by the Local Democracy Reporter Service.

It also showed that between July 1 and November 20 this year there was an increase in the number of enquiries the county council received about home education.

Last year (2019) during the same period the council registered 303 enquiries about home education. But this year that figure more than doubled to 618.

Meanwhile the council say they have not yet issued a single fine for non-attendance since the start of term.

A spokesperson for the county council said that schools may have issued warning letters to parents as part of their penalty notice process.

But he said that – as of November 20 – the local authority had received penalty notice applications, but that none had been issued.