Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill – a register for children who are home educated

On 17^th December 2024 a new bill is being introduced to Parliament to implement a register to identify children who are not in school in England. The register is part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill and is expected to come into force in 2025.

The register will allocate children with unique identifier numbers in a bid to ensure that no children are missed.

The bill is also expected to ensure that teachers and schools are involved in decisions around safeguarding.  The Local Authority will be granted the power to insist on a child’s school attendance should it deem the home to be unsuitable or unsafe.

For children who are suspected to be at risk of significant harm and therefore subject to child protection plans or a child protection investigation the automatic right to home school is removed.

This bill is being introduced on the day that Sara Sharif’s father, stepmother and uncle will be sentenced for her murder. It is known that Sara was taken out of school in April 2023 after teachers spotted her bruises and reported this to Children’s Services.  She was murdered just 4 months later on 8^th August 2024.

Dame Rachel de Souza, Children’s Commissioner, has said the bill “lays a foundation for change in many children’s lives.”  Bridget Phillipson, Education Secretary, has described the bill as a “seminal moment for child protection.”

Whilst many children are home educated for good reasons and thrive in the opportunities home education brings, sadly it can be used by some families as a means of avoiding detection placing the most vulnerable children at further risk.

If you or someone you know would benefit from legal advice or assistance in relation to the above issues, please do not hesitate to get in touch with a member of our experienced Child Care team at info@biscoes-law.co.uk or 0239266 0261.