Children not in school registers draw closer as MPs debate Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill

On Wednesday (January 8) the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill received its second reading in the House of Commons – offering MPs their first chance to debate the Bill’s proposals.

The proposed legislation covers a range of issues including plans that would see all councils holding “children not in school registers” to keep track of all students being home educated.

The registers would list all children not registered at a school or other alternative provision and councils would be given a legal duty to support any families on the register should they request help with educating their children.

However, the proposed new law will mean that parents will no longer have an automatic right to educate their children at home if their child is subject to a child protection investigation or under a child protection plan.