Home educators across the UK are deeply concerned about the proposed Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which seeks to introduce tighter regulations on home education. While the government claims these measures are about safeguarding children, many parents fear they represent unnecessary government overreach that could compromise parental rights and make home education needlessly bureaucratic.

Mandatory Registration: A Step Toward Control?

One of the bill’s key proposals is a compulsory register for all home-educated children. While some parents understand the idea of local authorities keeping track of who is home educating, they worry this is the first step toward greater restrictions.

In many cases, home-educated children thrive precisely because their education is tailored to their needs, free from the rigid and often stressful environment of mainstream schooling. The fear is that registration will evolve into excessive monitoring, forcing parents to justify their educational choices to officials who may not understand alternative learning approaches.