Last Wednesday, 29 April, the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill received Royal Assent and became the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026. The home-ed community has been waiting for this moment for over a year. There's a lot of fear circulating online. We want to give you the calm, informed version. The most important thing to know first: Nothing changes overnight. Royal Assent does not mean immediate enforcement. Regulations need to be drafted. Statutory guidance needs to be written. Public consultations have to happen before any of the home education provisions can take legal effect. Realistically, that process will take months — possibly into 2027. Home education has not become unlawful. Your right to educate your child at home is still protected. What the Act introduces Three main changes to be aware of, when they eventually come into force: A national register of children not in school. All home-educated children will need to be registered with their local authority. Parents will be required to provide basic information and keep it updated. Permission requirements for some families. Families whose children are currently on a child protection plan, or who have been on one within the past five years, may need local authority permission to begin home educating. Local authority engagement. Once a child is on the register, local authorities may request information visits within set windows. The exact timelines and processes will be defined in the regulations to come. What we recommend right now 1. Don't act in panic. The system isn't in place yet. 2. Don't deregister or move quickly based on what you've read on social media. Misinformation is spreading fast. 3. Keep your existing records of your child's home education in good order. 4. Watch this space. We'll post calm, accurate updates as the regulations develop. If you want to read the official text, search for "Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026" on legislation.gov.uk. The Department for Education will publish guidance over the coming months.

🚨 URGENT — What the Children's Wellbeing Bill Means For Your Family The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill is expected to receive Royal Assent at Easter 2026. This is the biggest change to home education law in the UK in decades. Here is what is changing: ✦ Mandatory registration — all home educating families in England must register with their local authority. This is new. ✦ Local authority consent — if your child is being withdrawn from school and there are existing safeguarding concerns, you will need LA consent before withdrawing. ✦ Home visits — LAs can request a visit within 15 days of registration. You still have the right to decline. Written evidence is always a valid alternative. What is NOT changing: ✦ You do not need permission to home educate ✦ You do not need to follow the National Curriculum ✦ You do not need qualified teachers ✦ Your right to home educate remains fully protected under Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 What to do right now: 1. Download the free Children's Wellbeing Bill 2026 plain English guide in The Legal Vault — everything explained clearly with no jargon. 2. Download the UK Deregistration Guide — your full legal rights explained step by step. 3. Download six ready to send LA Letter Templates — for every situation you may face with your local authority. All three are free in The Legal Vault at skool.com/the-thriving-child-4074 If you are considering deregistering — do it now before the Bill passes. Current law still applies until Royal Assent. If you have already deregistered — your existing provision is not affected. Continue as normal. We will update this post the moment Royal Assent is confirmed. The Thriving Child is your real time guide through every change in home education law. You are protected. You are informed. You are not alone. — The Thriving Child