There is a lot written about the register, and a good deal of it is wrong. Some sites are telling parents that the register already exists and that they have to sign up to it. Neither is true. This article sets out only what is established, and says plainly where things have not yet happened.
Where the law stands today
Home education is legal in England under section 7 of the Education Act 1996. The duty is on the parent to ensure an efficient, full-time education suitable to the child's age, ability and aptitude, at school or otherwise.
Parents do not have to follow the National Curriculum.
There is currently no legal requirement in England to keep records of home education.
What the new Act does
The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026.
The Act creates a duty on local authorities in England to maintain a Children Not in School register, a duty on parents to provide information for it, and new local authority powers to follow up where provision appears inadequate.
What has not happened yet
The relevant home education provisions are not yet in force. Commencement requires secondary legislation and statutory guidance. Realistic implementation is 2027 at the earliest. A consultation is expected.
So, today, there is no register to sign up to, and nobody can require you to be on one. When that changes, the date will be public, and this article will be updated with it.
What the Act does not do
The Act does not mandate a curriculum. It does not require testing. It does not require parents to hold qualifications. It does not create a routine right of inspection.
If you read a claim that goes beyond that list, treat it with suspicion until you have checked it against GOV.UK or the Commons Library briefing linked above.
What this means for a family right now
Nothing you must do. Nothing you must submit.
What many families choose to do anyway is keep a simple, dated record of what their child has done, because it makes the question "what have we actually covered?" easy to answer, to themselves first of all. How to do that without it taking over your life is covered in what records to keep.
If you have received formal paperwork from your local authority, that is a different situation from the general position described here. Get advice on your own case before you respond.