The Know Daily - Thursday 7 May 2026

_{Read in 4m 08s ∙ Listening to Jonas Brothers ∙}

The iconic kiwi (bird not fruit!) is making a return in New Zealand, thanks to a conservation project near Wellington. Since 2022, around 250 chicks have been reintroduced into the wild – with an impressive 90% survival rate that has exceeded expectations. After years of decline, it’s a really encouraging sign that this much-loved national bird is finding its feet again.

📚 Homeschooling

A recent report has shown that homeschooling is on the rise, with the number of children in England who are electively home educated jumping by 15% in one year.

What’s classed as homeschooling?
Officially called elective home education, it’s when parents choose to educate their children outside of the school system, as long as it is suitable for their age, ability and needs. In the UK, it’s legal under the Education Act 1996, which requires children to receive a “suitable” education, but this doesn’t mean they must attend school. Parents don’t have to follow the national curriculum or formal testing, so approaches can vary considerably, from structured lessons to more flexible, child-led learning.

Why are numbers rising?
The increase has been building for years, but the pandemic was a turning point. Many families became more familiar with home learning during lockdowns, and for some, that shift stuck. Research highlighted by The Conversation suggests motivations are mixed: some parents prefer a more personalised approach, while others cite dissatisfaction with schools and a desire to prioritise family time as key factors. 

So what are the rules?
In England, this usually means you can deregister your child from school by writing to the headteacher, although additional steps may apply in certain cases, such as for children with special educational needs. Whilst you’re not required to follow a curriculum or assessments, councils can make enquiries if they believe a child isn’t receiving an adequate education.

Are there any concerns?
It depends who you ask. Supporters say homeschooling can work well, especially when it’s tailored to a child’s needs. But others point to gaps in oversight. As noted by The Week, local authorities have a duty to ensure children are receiving an education, but in practice have limited powers to monitor what’s happening at home. That has raised questions about consistency, safeguarding and whether all children are getting the support they need.

What’s behind the debate now?
Part of it is scale. While home-educated children still make up a relatively small share overall, the pace of growth is prompting questions about the wider system. Some see it as a sign that traditional schooling isn’t working for everyone – particularly around special educational needs provision and wellbeing. Others argue that stronger regulation or a national register could help improve visibility and support.

We’ll be honest: our business is built on the hopes that those that can afford to spare a few pounds can keep The Know free and accessible to all. But we can’t keep it going without your help – anything you’re able to give would go right back into helping us keep publishing in 2026. 💖

🛢️ Oil prices are easing and global markets are rising as the US moves closer to a potential deal with Iran.

• The bigger story: Prices have been climbing due to tensions in the Middle East affecting key oil routes, but signals that US President Donald Trump is working towards an agreement with Iran have helped calm concerns about supply disruptions. That’s bringing prices down and boosting confidence in global markets. For the UK, where petrol prices and energy costs are closely linked to global oil prices, this could help take some pressure off – although things can still shift depending on how negotiations develop.

❤️‍🩹 More than half of women feel their pain is dismissed or ignored, according to a new report. But a free tool is helping women to track and articulate their symptoms so they can have more productive conversations with their doctor.

🔐 It’s World Password Day – here are some handy tips to keep in mind when refreshing your digital security. (#1 don't use ‘password’ as your password!)

🗳️ Local elections are happening across the UK today – check out our explainer for more details on how it works and find you local polling station here. 

👩‍💻 For anyone who doesn’t feel like they fit neatly into one career box, Generalist World is building a community around “zig-zag” paths – and its quiz is helping thousands put a name to their skillset by discovering their Generalist Archetype.

🍄 A single dose of magic mushroom psychedelics can cause anatomical changes in the brain that may explain therapeutic effects for conditions like anxiety, researchers have said.

🎂 A 90-minute show live from the Royal Albert Hall will air tomorrow to celebrate Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday. Tune in here.

🎶 The Rolling Stones have announced a new album that will be released in the summer (and features some pretty big names too!).

⭐ Donate to The Know. Only 0.9% of our readers donate (we see you and we love you 🥹). So if you have a couple of pounds to spare and want to ensure we keep bringing you thoughtful and informative news every day, we’d be so grateful.

⭐ Get clicking - this tells our partners that readers are interested in The Know. Let’s get started with this one!

⭐ Add us to your contacts or primary inbox - this makes sure we reach your inbox (and everyone else’s) each morning.

The Know is on a mission to help everyone start their day feeling informed and hopeful. We only recommend things we genuinely love but sometimes we make money from the links and content we share. This directly supports keeping our journalism free for all.

Trivia answer: A) The famous door is being auctioned because the owner gets a lot of film fans stopping by.

How did you find today’s email?
😍 Loved it! | 😕 Could be better…

Need fewer emails? Click here to hear from us once a week.