Home-education and SEN groups have been full of the same spiral since spring: "Is online school banned?", "Do I need council permission?", "Has the register started?"
For most families in England the answer is calmer than the headlines. The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 is real law. It does not ban home education or accredited online British schooling. Your duty is still a suitable full-time education — at school or otherwise. The Act adds a longer-term framework for children not on a school roll. Some of that is on the statute book; other parts still depend on secondary legislation. Check the live text and GOV.UK before you act.
This is general information for parents considering a UK online school via free matching at online-schools.co.uk — not legal advice for your child.
What the Act actually is
The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 (c. 21) received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026. Read it on Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026“>Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 . It covers safeguarding, social care, breakfast clubs, uniforms, attendance, independent educational institutions, academies, and more.
Inside that package sit the "Children not in school" clauses — withdrawal from school with local-authority involvement, school attendance orders, and information rules (see sections 37–42). Those sections explain the register-and-consent chatter. They do not repeal the right to educate otherwise than at school.
What has not changed: section 7
Your duty is still section 7 of the Education Act 1996 (Education Act 1996, section 7):”>Education Act 1996, section 7): every child of compulsory school age must receive efficient full-time education suitable to age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs, "either by regular attendance at school or otherwise."
Those two words — "or otherwise" — remain the foundation for elective home education and for using a structured UK online school. Education is compulsory. Sitting in a particular classroom is not. Plain English: online-schools.co.ukis-online-schooling-legal-uk/”>Is online schooling legal in the UK?“>Is online schooling legal in the UK?
Children Not in School: framework vs today
Parents usually mix up three ideas: a register of children not in school; stronger information-sharing when a child leaves a roll; and local-authority involvement — with consent in some safeguarding / special-school situations — before certain withdrawals.
Royal Assent does not mean every duty is live tomorrow. Commencement is staggered (see section 78 and commencement regulations). Do not invent a register process that has not been published, and do not assume every family now needs permission to deregister. If a council contact claims "everything changed overnight," ask which commenced provision they rely on, then check legislation.gov.uk and GOV.UK elective home education materials (GOV.UK elective home education“>GOV.UK elective home education).
Deregistration today
Until a commenced rule says otherwise for your situation, the everyday path for a child on a mainstream roll in England is still written notification to the headteacher that you are withdrawing to educate otherwise than at school. The school must remove the name from the admission register and notify the local authority. Stopping attendance without that notice creates attendance problems — not choosing an online school itself.
Steps: online-schools.co.ukderegistration-guide-uk-online-school/”>Deregistration guide“>Deregistration guide
Special-school placements and some EHCP arrangements already needed extra care; get SEND advice (IPSEA / SENDIASS) before you move. Part-time blends: online-schools.co.ukpart-time-online-school-uk-legal/”>Part-time online school — is it legal?“>Part-time online school — is it legal?
Where a UK online school fits
A proper UK online school is live teaching, a published British or international GCSE/A-level pathway, pastoral contact, and a real exam route. Parents usually still sit in the "education otherwise" space, so enrolment proof, timetables and reports matter when a local authority asks how education is provided.
Free matching at online-schools.co.uk introduces accredited options across budgets — how it works (online-schools.co.ukhow-it-works/”>How matching works“>How matching works) and fees and costs (online-schools.co.ukonline-school-fees-costs-uk/”>Fees & costs“>Fees & costs). After a private-school closure, fee pressure, SEN mismatch or school refusal, the legal question is often the same: can we keep British GCSEs without another building scramble? Yes — if you deregister properly when needed and enrol in provision that delivers the syllabus. Mid-year: online-schools.co.ukstart-online-school-january-uk/”>Start online school in January“>Start online school in January
What to do this week
- Read the Act on legislation.gov.uk, not a viral post.
- Confirm roll status and any special-school / safeguarding factor.
- If leaving, send clear written deregistration (or follow the consent path if it applies).
- Choose provision first: timetable, exam board, pastoral support, cost.
- Keep simple records so any local-authority enquiry stays short.
- Use free matching if you want a shortlist.
If you need a calmer British curriculum route, free matching at online-schools.co.uk“>online-schools.co.uk is no-obligation. We are an independent matching service, not a school and not a law firm.
FAQ
Is online school still legal after the Schools Act 2026?
Yes. Section 7 still requires suitable full-time education at school or otherwise. The 2026 Act does not ban accredited online British schooling.
Do I need the Children Not in School register this week?
Only follow a register process that is actually in force and published for your area. Check commencement and GOV.UK, not social-media summaries.
Do I need council permission to switch?
For most mainstream families the historic path is written notification to the school. Consent-style rules target narrower safeguarding / special-school situations once commenced.
Will the local authority contact us?
Often yes — normal suitability checking. Enrolment proof, timetable overview and recent reports usually suffice.
Is matching free?
Yes — free for parents, no obligation to enrol.
Official sources
– https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/21 – https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/56/section/7 – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/elective-home-education
Disclaimer: General information only. online-schools.co.uk is an independent matching service, not a law firm.
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