What is the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill?

The CWS Bill is major new legislation introduced in England, designed to reform children’s social care and the education system. Its official aim is to protect children, strengthen welfare-services and raise standards in schools. 

Key areas of the Bill include:

  • Strengthening safeguarding and children’s social care systems (e.g., multi-agency child protection teams, information-sharing duties).  
  • Introducing a unique identifier number for children to enable better data-linking across health, social care and education.  
  • Regulation of independent educational institutions and increased inspection powers for schooling providers.  
  • New rules for children not in school, including home-education oversight and a possible register of children not attending school.  
  • Adjustments to academy freedoms, curriculum requirements and institutional governance in the education sector.  

This sounds like a dream, on paper. So why are many parents and home-educators concerned?

 

While many of the Bill’s goals are well-intentioned (keeping children safe, improving fairness), there are several provisions that raise serious concerns about the rights of parents to decide how their child is educated and about the freedoms of children with diverse needs.

 

1. Reduced flexibility for home-education and non-standard schooling

The Bill proposes heightened oversight of children not in mainstream school, including home-educated children. Some commentary flags that parents might lose the assumed right to choose home-education without state approval in certain circumstances. 

For families who are navigating neurodivergent child journeys—sensory needs, ARFID, alternative learning styles—this threatens flexibility and tailored approaches.

 

2. Greater data-sharing and unique child identifiers

Linking education, health and social care data via unique identifiers may help in safeguarding, but it also raises questions about privacy, parental consent, and how data will be used in decisions about children. 

Parents of children who are neurodivergent or follow non-traditional educational pathways may feel this erodes their autonomy and increases external scrutiny.

 

3. Institutional regulation that may limit choice

The Bill brings more regulation for independent schools, alternative provision, and any non-mainstream settings. While regulation can be positive, there’s concern it could push families toward one “approved” model and reduce choice for specialist settings. 

For children who require sensory-friendly, flexible or therapeutic educational approaches, this may be limiting.

 

4. One-size-fits-all curriculum and standards

Critics argue the Bill may reduce institutional autonomy (academies, independent providers) and enforce more uniform curriculum and inspection regimes. That could mean fewer options for families seeking a different pace or style of learning for children whose needs don’t fit the mainstream mould. 

 

Why this matters for your child

 

If your child:

  • Has sensory processing differences, ARFID, motor difficulties, or other neurodivergent needs
  • Thrives in non-traditional learning environments (home-education, blended schooling, specialist provision)
  • Requires a flexible, custom-designed educational and therapeutic approach

then the changes the Bill proposes are not just policy — they’re very real influences on what your child’s educational future might look like.

 

You may feel that:

  • You’ll have less choice over how, when and where your child learns
  • Increased monitoring might feel intrusive rather than supportive
  • The safest and most respectful environment for your child could become harder to access

 

What can you do now?

  • Stay informed: read the Bill’s policy summary from the Government.  
  • Speak to your MP or local councillor about how this will impact families like yours
  • Write to the Department for Education / autumn consultation calls when they appear
  • Join or support community groups advocating for home-education rights and neurodivergent support
  • Consider how your family could respond to new monitoring or registration requirements if they become law

 

Our stance

While we wholeheartedly support safeguarding and ensuring every child has the chance to thrive, we believe:

  • Parent-choice in education is a fundamental right
  • Families of neurodivergent children must have flexible, tailored pathways — not forced ones
  • Data sharing / institutional oversight must always respect privacy, consent, and diverse family needs
  • Education regulation should enable innovation and tailored support — not restrict it

 

We will continue to monitor the Bill’s progress and will share updates and actions as things develop.

You can see the bill here - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childrens-wellbeing-and-schools-bill-2024-policy-summary#:~:text=The%20Children's%20Wellbeing%20and%20Schools%20Bill%20aims,protect%20children%20and%20raise%20standards%20in%20education.

 

If you want to act then feel free to copy the below email to your MP 

 

Dear 

I am writing as your constituent to express serious concern about the proposed Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill.

 

This bill, as written, threatens parental rights and the freedom to choose how children are educated. Mandated state-approved “wellbeing” and monitoring sounds positive on the surface, but in practice it risks:

 

Government overreach into private family life

  • Reduced autonomy for parents and carers
  • Pressure toward state-preferred schooling routes
  • Erosion of the legal right to home-educate freely
  • Potential negative impact on neurodivergent and disabled children, whose needs are often better met outside mainstream settings

 

Parents know their children best — and they deserve support, not scrutiny or forced compliance with a one-size-fits-all model.

 

I urge you to oppose the bill and demand proper consultation with parents, SEND families, and home-education communities before any further steps are taken.

 

Please confirm you will raise this matter and represent the concerns of families like mine.

 

Kind regards,

[Your Name]

[Postcode]

 

 

 

📌 If you want support

If you’re a parent or carer of a neurodivergent child and want to discuss how this Bill might affect your options — reach out. I offer coaching and support to help you navigate educational pathways, understand your rights, and advocate for your child’s best fit.