Anyone who has been following the educational political landscape over the past year will be familiar with the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026. Our greatest concern remains that this legislation fundamentally changes the relationship between parents and the state by introducing new areas of consent and potential breaches of human rights.
The good news is that we are fighting back. Sarah Birrane has bravely stepped forward as the lead claimant to instruct a legal team to seek a Judicial Review. She has chosen to work with Michael Charles, a solicitor who has been closely following this issue from the start. To get this vital challenge off the ground a community fund has been launched.
We need to raise £30,000 initially to ensure Sarah and her team of solicitors, barristers and KCs can begin the formal process. The ultimate goal is closer to £250,000 to cover full court proceedings, but hitting this first milestone is crucial. We urge you to support the Crowdfunder to challenge the risk of reducing rights to family life today. If you cannot donate, please share the link far and wide.
We are at the absolute final day to have our say on the consultation regarding changes to the Special Needs System. This closes today, Monday 18 May.
We know the current system is not fit for purpose. If you are struggling with the complicated wording, we highly recommend utilising the SEND Reform Consultation Guide, an excellent series of short walkthrough videos put together by Rachel that break down the document question by question. Your lived experience as home educators of children with additional needs is invaluable, so please submit your thoughts to the official portal on SEND reform: putting children and young people first.
We continue to see stories in the press highlighting local authorities expressing “shock” at the rising numbers of home-educated children. However, the data confirms what we already know. A recent report on children not in school for Stockton, discussed at a recent local council meeting, revealed that out of 476 children learning at home, 130 cited mental health as their primary reason for leaving traditional education.
With secondary school class sizes frequently exceeding 30 pupils, it is no wonder the system is failing so many complex and diverse learners. When schools cannot meet special educational needs or safeguard mental health, families are left with no choice but to take back control of their children’s futures.
We have also been keeping a close eye on the ongoing discussions around digital privacy and the national consultation on growing up in the online world. Following Jess Phillips’s resignation letter, a very concerning question has been raised: are the outcomes of these consultations pre-determined? Her letter made it increasingly apparent that policy outcomes may have been decided well before the public responses were even processed. Despite this frustrating reality, we must continue to push back against policies that infringe on our private family lives.
Did you know that every government department has a scheduled question time in Parliament? There is only one Education question time session before the summer recess, meaning we have a very limited window to act. MPs have until 16 June to ask our to submit oral questions. so we need to contact them well before the deadline
Do not limit yourself to just the Department for Education. Look at the Dates and Deadlines for Oral Questions and consider asking the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology how AI will be used to process children’s data, or directing questions to the Department of Health. If you ask your MP to pass a question on to a minister, they are largely obligated to do so regardless of whether they personally agree with your stance.
Our next livestream this Friday at 8pm. Come join us on Facebook or YouTube.
Have a wonderful week, keep sharing those links and keep standing strong for home education.
Crowdfunder: Challenge the risk of reducing rights to family life: https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/challenge-the-risk-of-reducing
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act: what parents need to know - GOV.UK blogs: https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2026/05/the-childrens-wellbeing-bill-what-parents-need-to-know/
Report on children not in school highlights ‘complex and increasingly important issue’ for Stockton - Teesside Live: https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/children-education-school-home-send-33945292
SEND Reform Consultation Guide: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTeXBclxkG9z4TsycF9sBdiwDMwGB8aVX
Changes to Special Needs System Consultation: https://edyourself.wordpress.com/2026/05/15/changes-to-special-needs-system-consultation/
Dates and Deadlines for Oral Questions: https://commonsbusiness.parliament.uk/Document/104739/Pdf?subType=Standard
Urgent Consultation - SEND reform: putting children and young people first: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/send-reform-putting-children-and-young-people-first
Jess Phillips’s resignation letter in full: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cglpz89265jo
Publication: Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 (c. 21): https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/21/contents/enacted
Edinburgh mum forced to homeschool says children ‘failed by the system’ - STV News: https://news.stv.tv/east-central/edinburgh-mum-forced-to-home-school-says-children-failed-by-the-system
Ayrshire dad wins homeschooling fight after taking council to court - Glasgow Live: https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/ayrshire-dad-wins-homeschooling-fight-33950556
OPINION - Rise in school withdrawals for home education - portsmouth.co.uk: https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/your-world/opinion-rise-in-school-withdrawals-for-home-education-8543054
Families in Sussex turning to home education instead of schools - The Argus: https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/26087794.rise-parents-home-educating-children-brighton/
Read Again: Understanding the Rise in Home Schooling - Edexec: https://edexec.co.uk/read-again-understanding-the-rise-in-home-schooling/
Home-schooled children to get ‘tracking number’ under new law following Sara Sharif tragedy - MSN: https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/other/home-schooled-children-to-get-tracking-number-under-new-law-following-sara-sharif-tragedy/ar-AA22nlmL
Home-schooled children to be tracked to target welfare ‘blind spots’ - The Times: https://www.thetimes.com/uk/education/article/home-schooled-children-to-be-tracked-to-target-welfare-blind-spots-nvgpqdvt7
The real reason so many British parents homeschool their children - The i Paper: https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/real-reason-british-parents-homeschool-children-4387694
Telegraph – Child safety is the smokescreen as the nanny state goes digital: https://bigbrotherwatch.org.uk/blog/telegraph-child-safety-is-the-smokescreen-as-the-nanny-state-goes-digital/
‘Education for all’: SEND reform bill announced: https://schoolsweek.co.uk/education-for-all-send-reform-bill-announced/
SEND reforms will target ‘shameful’ transitions from school: https://schoolsweek.co.uk/send-reforms-will-target-shameful-transitions-from-school/
Internal exclusions may not lead to fewer suspensions, early research suggests: https://schoolsweek.co.uk/internal-exclusions-may-not-lead-to-fewer-suspensions-early-research-suggests/
School’s out: the rise of home education: Speeches Battle of Ideas Festival 2025:
School’s out: the rise of home education – Part 2 The Q&A Battle of Ideas Festival 2025:
Participate in our free speech focus group research: https://bigbrotherwatch.org.uk/blog/free-speech-focus-group-study/
Reset the ICO: https://www.openrightsgroup.org/campaign/reset-the-ico/
The ICO isn’t doing its job – why the data watchdog needs an overhaul: https://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/the-ico-isnt-doing-its-job-why-the-data-watchdog-needs-an-overhaul/
Big Brother Watch response to the use of live facial recognition at protests: https://bigbrotherwatch.org.uk/facialrec/big-brother-watch-response-to-the-use-of-live-facial-recognition-at-protests/
ORG response to Consultation on the ICO’s approach to data protection complaint handling: https://www.openrightsgroup.org/publications/org-response-to-consultation-on-the-icos-approach-to-data-protection-complaint-handling/
Big Brother Watch responds to the King’s speech: https://bigbrotherwatch.org.uk/press-releases/big-brother-watch-responds-to-the-kings-speech/
Single Data List: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/single-data-list
Pre-appointment hearing for the Chair of Ofcom - Science, Innovation and Technology Committee - 20 May 2026 at 9:30am: https://committees.parliament.uk/event/27248
HoL Debate on the AddressEducation, culture, technology and energy security - Tue May 19 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0100 (British Summer Time): https://whatson.parliament.uk/event/cal55337
Written Parliamentary Questions - Procedure Committee - 20 May 2026 at 2:45pm: https://committees.parliament.uk/event/27287
Westminster Hall debate, Domestic abuse and safeguarding within the family justice system - 21 May 2026 from 1:30pm until 3:00pm: https://whatson.parliament.uk/event/cal55393
Oral questions DSIT - 20 May 2026 at 11:30am: https://whatson.parliament.uk/event/cal55344
King’s Speech 2026: background briefing notes - N/A: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/kings-speech-2026-background-briefing-notes
PM vows to tear up “status quo” that failed young people on apprenticeships and skills - The Prime Minister will meet with apprentices to underline the Government’s drive to overhaul the apprenticeship system, break down barriers to opportunity for young people and ensure the economy works for people in every pa…: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-vows-to-tear-up-status-quo-that-failed-young-people-on-apprenticeships-and-skills
New missions to transform childhoods of most disadvantaged - New education missions launched to open doors for children in the most under-served communities: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-missions-to-transform-childhoods-of-most-disadvantaged
The Southport Inquiry: Phase 1 report: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-southport-inquiry-phase-1-report
The Combined Authorities (Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Access to Information and Audit Committees) (Amendment) Order 2026: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2026/517
Statistics: secure children’s homes: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-secure-childrens-homes
Pupil attendance in schools: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/pupil-attendance-in-schools
Apply to access the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-to-access-the-longitudinal-education-outcomes-leo-dataset
Statutory guidance Children’s social care national framework: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childrens-social-care-national-framework
Crime and Policing Act 2026: factsheets: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/crime-and-policing-act-2026-factsheets
Health Bill: patient safety measures - impact assessments: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-bill-patient-safety-measures-impact-assessments
Health Bill: abolishing Healthwatch - equality impact assessment: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-bill-abolishing-healthwatch-equality-impact-assessment
Health Bill: reforming the foundation trust model - equality impact assessment: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-bill-reforming-the-foundation-trust-model-equality-impact-assessment
Health Bill: equality impact assessments summary: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-bill-equality-impact-assessments-summary
Health Bill: impact assessments summary: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-bill-impact-assessments-summary
Health Bill: single patient record - equality impact assessment: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-bill-single-patient-record-equality-impact-assessment
Health Bill: transferring HSSIB to CQC - equality impact assessment: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-bill-transferring-hssib-to-cqc-equality-impact-assessment
Health Bill: abolishing NHS England - equality impact assessment: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-bill-abolishing-nhs-england-equality-impact-assessment
Health Bill: ICBs as strategic commissioners - equality impact assessment: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-bill-icbs-as-strategic-commissioners-equality-impact-assessment
Health Bill: single patient record and information sharing - impact assessment: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-bill-single-patient-record-and-information-sharing-impact-assessment
Health Bill: abolishing NHS England - impact assessment: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-bill-abolishing-nhs-england-impact-assessment
Health Bill: structural measures to ICBs and foundation trusts - impact assessments: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-bill-structural-measures-to-icbs-and-foundation-trusts-impact-assessments
Post-16 L2 and L3 qualifications: 2027 proposed subject content: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/post-16-l2-and-l3-qualifications-2027-proposed-subject-content
Regulating post-16 vocational and technical qualifications at levels 2 and 3: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/regulating-post-16-vocational-and-technical-qualifications-at-levels-2-and-3
Assistive software funded through Disabled Students’ Allowance: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/assistive-software-funded-through-disabled-students-allowance
Seventh UK National Action Plan for Open Government: call for evidence: https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/seventh-uk-national-action-plan-for-open-government-call-for-evidence
16 to 19 level 1 English and maths qualifications: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/16-to-19-level-1-english-and-maths-qualifications
AI and other digital technology in children’s social care: https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/ai-and-other-digital-technology-in-childrens-social-care
Proposal on support for pupils with medical conditions at school: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposal-on-support-for-pupils-with-medical-conditions-at-school
Growing up in the online world: a national consultation: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/growing-up-in-the-online-world-a-national-consultation
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