The new government elected in July 2024 set out plans for new laws in the Kings Speech on July 17th. Further detail can be found in the background briefing notes including information about a Children Not In School Register as part of the Children’s Wellbeing Bill (see pages 63-66)
The background briefing refers to “creating a duty on local authorities to have and maintain Children Not in School registers, and provide support to home-educating parents. These measures will ensure fewer children slip under the radar when they are not in school and more children reach their full potential through suitable education.”
Update December 2024
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill had its first reading in the House of Commons on December 17th 2024. My page about the bill is here https://edyourself.org/childrens-wellbeing-schools-bill/
The last government consulted on revised guidance under the current law but no decision was made. Read more here https://edyourself.org/2023-consultation-revised-ehe-guidance/ Current guidance can be found here https://edyourself.org/guidance/
Copying Schools Bill?
Proposals for a Children Not In School Register are not new. They were included in the Schools Bill under the previous government in 2022. Read more here https://edyourself.org/schools-bill/ The registration measures in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill have many of the same elements, but new items have also been added such as certain categories requiring permission to home educate.
Home Education Register
It is important to note that this is NOT a home education register as such, although it has been widely described as such in the media. The register will of course include home educated children since by definition they will not be registered at school. However, there will be other groups of children not registered at school including children attending unregistered settings. (Most settings are not currently required to register but a minority may be operating as illegal schools, read more here )