What Home Educators Need to Know About the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026
The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026 and is now an Act. Here's what changed yesterday, what home education rules are still waiting to start, and what your family should do now.
Applies to
England & Wales
Home ed start
No date yet; 2027 still likely
Bottom line
Now law, not live yet
At a Glance: What Home Educators Need to Know
- The bill is now an Act after Royal Assent on 29 April 2026
- Registration will become mandatory for home educated children in England and Wales once those sections start
- Local authorities can request home visits within 15 days of registration under the new system
- Refusing a visit can trigger a School Attendance Order once the Act is commenced
- You do not need to do anything immediately because the home education sections are not in force yet
The most important thing to know right now
The Act is now law, but the home education rules have not started yet.The commencement section leaves those start dates for ministers to activate later. Until then, continue with your current arrangements and follow any existing requirements from your local authority.
Four Big Changes for Home Educating Families
The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 introduces several new requirements for home educators. Here's how they could affect your family.
Mandatory registration
Right now, telling your local authority you're home educating is voluntary in most areas. Under the new Act, it becomes mandatory once the home education sections are commenced.
- Every child being home educated must be on the official register
- You'll need to provide your child's details and keep them updated
- Changes (like new tutors or online providers) must be reported within 15 days
- This applies to children already being home educated, not just new families
Local authority home visits
The Act gives local authorities new powers to request home visits once these sections are in force - and refusing could have consequences.
- LAs must "consider where the child lives" within 15 days of registration
- They can request a home visit during this period
- If you refuse a visit, the LA can start the School Attendance Order process
- The visit is meant to assess if the environment is "conducive to suitable education"
Permission for some families
If your family has had involvement with children's services, you may need the local authority's permission before you can home educate once the relevant sections start.
- Applies if your child has a current Child Protection Plan
- Also applies if they've had a plan at any time in the past 5 years
- The LA decides if home education is in your child's "best interests"
- If they say no, they can require your child to attend school
School Attendance Orders made easier
The Act makes it simpler for local authorities to require a child to return to school if they're not satisfied with home education.
- Refusing a home visit is now grounds for starting the SAO process
- The SAO process itself is being streamlined to make it faster
- If an SAO is issued and not complied with, parents can face prosecution
What Happens Next
Key dates to watch. Mark your calendar for the public consultation - that's your chance to have your say.
Royal Assent
The bill completed Parliament and became the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026.
Commencement Decisions Still Needed
The home education clauses do not switch on automatically. Ministers still need to bring them into force with commencement regulations.
Draft Guidance Consultation
The Department for Education is expected to publish draft guidance for how the new system will work, followed by a public consultation period.
New System Goes Live
Home education measures could start once regulations and guidance are in place. 2027 still looks like a realistic estimate, but no fixed date has been announced.
Why the consultation matters
After Royal Assent, the government is expected to publish draft guidance explaining exactly how the new system will work - what information you'll need to provide, what home visits will involve, and how local authorities should make decisions. There will be a public consultation period where home educating families can respond. This is your opportunity to influence the details before they're finalised.
How the Bill Became an Act
The bill changed significantly before becoming law. Here are the moments that matter most for home educating families.
Royal Assent: the bill became law
- •The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill became the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026
- •Home education rules did not start immediately on Royal Assent; commencement regulations are still needed
- •The final live disagreement in ping-pong was about child access to social media, not home education
Major changes for home educators
- •LAs must "consider where the child lives" within 15 days of registration
- •Home visits can be requested much earlier in the process
- •Refusing a visit is now grounds for starting School Attendance Order process
- •Child Protection Plan lookback extended from current plans to any time in past 5 years
Wales added to the bill
- •Bill originally applied to England only
- •Amendments extended CNIS measures to Wales
- •Wales will have different implementation timescales
Bill first introduced
- •Original proposal for mandatory registration of children not in school
- •Permission required for children on Child Protection Plans
- •Free breakfast clubs and uniform cost measures also included
Can I see the final ping-pong papers?
Yes. The UK Parliament website still publishes the final papers used during ping-pong, so you can trace what changed before Royal Assent. You can also read the full debates on Hansard.
Questions Home Educators Are Asking
Straight answers to the most common questions about the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026.
Do I need to do anything right now about the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026?
No. The Act became law on 29 April 2026, but the home education sections are not in force yet. Continue with your current arrangements and follow any existing requirements from your local authority while you wait for commencement regulations and guidance.
What changed on 29 April 2026?
The headline change is legal status: the bill received Royal Assent on Wednesday 29 April 2026 and is now the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026. The final ping-pong disagreement on 28 April was about child access to social media, not home education, so there was no last-minute rewrite of the home education clauses.
Will the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act force me to let someone into my home?
When these sections are brought into force, the Act allows local authorities to request a home visit, but you can still refuse. However, refusing a visit is a reason the authority can use to start the School Attendance Order process. The visit is meant to assess whether your home environment is "conducive to suitable education", but the practical detail still depends on future guidance.
What information will home educators have to provide under the new Act?
You'll need to give your child's basic details and information about anyone involved in their education, such as tutors, clubs, and online providers. You'll also need to report changes within 15 days. The exact form of the register and any supporting detail still need to be set out in regulations and guidance.
I've had a social worker involved in the past. Will the Act affect me?
It depends. If your child has had a Child Protection Plan at any time in the past 5 years, you'll need the local authority's permission to home educate once that part of the Act starts. If they decide home education is not in your child's best interests, they can require school attendance. This is one of the most significant changes in the Act for some families.
Can the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act still change?
The main primary legislation is now fixed. Parliament has passed it and Royal Assent has happened. What can still change is the implementation detail: commencement dates, regulations, and official guidance on how the home education system will operate in practice.
When will home educators have to register under the new Act?
There is no announced start date yet. The commencement section does not automatically switch on the home education clauses on Royal Assent or after two months, so ministers still need to bring them into force separately. 2027 remains a sensible estimate, but it is not a confirmed deadline.
What can home educators do to prepare for the Act?
Keep records of your child's education, such as notes, examples of work, photos of activities, and a rough picture of what resources you use. This is not required by current law, but it will put you in a stronger position if your local authority asks questions later. Also watch for the public consultation on draft guidance, because that is your chance to comment on how the system should work in practice.
Can I still see the final ping-pong amendments?
Yes. The UK Parliament publications page still shows the final papers from the last ping-pong rounds, including Bill 439 and HL Bill 197 from April 2026. Hansard also has the debates, and specialist home education organisations such as Ed Yourself explain the home education clauses in plainer English.
What Home Educators Can Do Now
While you wait for the new system to start, here are some practical steps to prepare.
Keep Records
Start keeping notes about your child's education now. It's not required by current law, but it will help if your local authority asks questions later.
- •Photos of activities and projects
- •Lists of books read or resources used
- •Brief notes on progress in each subject
- •Examples of written work or creative projects
Watch for the Consultation
The draft guidance consultation is your chance to influence how the new system works. Home educating organisations will likely coordinate responses.
- •Follow Education Otherwise and Ed Yourself
- •Join home education forums and groups
- •Respond to the consultation when it opens
- •Share your views with your MP
Know Your Current Rights
Until the home education sections of the Act are brought into force, the current rules still apply. Make sure you understand your existing rights and responsibilities.
- •Section 7 of the Education Act 1996
- •Current Elective Home Education guidance
- •Your local authority's current process
Connect with Others
You're not alone in this. Thousands of families are in the same position. Connecting with others helps you stay informed and supported.
- •Join local home education groups
- •Follow national organisations
- •Attend meetups and events
- •Share information with other families
Where This Information Comes From
We've used official Parliament and government sources, plus specialist home education analysis.
Important disclaimer
This page provides general information only and is not legal advice. The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 is now law, but different sections start on different dates and implementation details are still to come in regulations and guidance. Always check current official guidance and seek professional advice for your specific circumstances. We've done our best to be accurate, but you should verify important details against official sources.