Part of the Learn Without Limits CIC knowledge base for ALN families in Wales.

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act in Wales: A Parent and Professional Guide

Published 17 May 2026

Start here for Learn Without Limits CIC’s Wales-focused series on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, Additional Learning Needs (ALN), home education, safeguarding, privacy and implementation in Wales.

Why we created this series

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 introduces major changes around children not in school, safeguarding visibility, information-sharing and local authority oversight.

For families of children with Additional Learning Needs (ALN), electively home educated (EHE) children, children receiving Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS), and children with complex or emerging needs, the practical impact of these changes will depend heavily on how the framework is implemented in Wales.

Much of the wider public discussion around the Act has focused on England.

This series focuses specifically on:

  • Wales;
  • Welsh ALN law;
  • Welsh well-being duties;
  • safeguarding;
  • implementation risks;
  • prevention;
  • relational practice;
  • and the practical realities facing families and professionals.

Our aim is not to create fear or conflict.

Our aim is to support thoughtful, proportionate and well-informed implementation which keeps children’s long-term well-being at the centre.

Start here

Part 1

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act: What Welsh ALN and Home-Educating Families Need to Understand First

An overview of what the Act changes, what applies in Wales, what has not changed, and why implementation quality matters.

🔗 Read Part 1

Part 2

What the Act Actually Changes for Home-Educating Families in Wales

A closer look at children not in school registers, local authority powers, information duties and the practical implications for home-educating families in Wales.

🔗 Read Part 2

Part 3

ALN, Home Education and “Suitable Education” After the Act

How Welsh ALN law, IDPs, ALP, EOTAS and “suitable education” may interact with the new framework.

🔗 Read Part 3

Part 4

Privacy, the Children Not in School Register, and Domestic-Abuse Safety in Wales

A Wales-focused discussion of safeguarding, data-sharing, Article 8 privacy rights, domestic-abuse safety, trauma-aware implementation and relational practice.

🔗 Read Part 4

Part 5

Wales’ Well-being Law Meets Westminster Welfare Tools

How the new framework interacts with Welsh well-being law, Future Generations principles, prevention policy, safeguarding systems, technology change and professional-system pressures.

🔗 Read Part 5

Why this conversation matters

The challenge facing Wales is not simply:

“How do we improve visibility?”

The harder question is:

“How do we improve safeguarding, visibility, and early support while still preserving trust, proportionality, and meaningful family partnership?”

Many families and professionals already recognise that the ALN system is under strain.

At the same time, safeguarding concerns, digital risks, attendance pressures, and complex family situations continue to evolve.

We believe Wales has an opportunity to approach implementation thoughtfully and collaboratively before systems harden around poor assumptions.

Our approach

Learn Without Limits CIC believes:

  • safeguarding matters;
  • prevention matters;
  • trust matters;
  • and relational practice matters.

We support:

  • proportionate safeguarding;
  • early intervention;
  • disability-aware practice;
  • trauma-aware implementation;
  • collaborative problem-solving;
  • and constructive dialogue between families, professionals and policymakers.

We also recognise that both families and professionals are often operating under significant pressure.

Our goal is not to inflame conflict.

Our goal is to contribute towards practical, informed, and child-centred discussion.

Prevention, Bridging, and Progression in the ALN System

🔗 Read article

Audit Wales says the ALN system is under strain. Families already knew.

🔗 Read article

Online safety, ALN and the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act in Wales

🔗 Read article

Events and open-call briefings

As part of this work, Learn Without Limits CIC holds quarterly open-call briefings to share emerging parent insight, discuss implementation issues, and encourage constructive dialogue between families, professionals, policymakers and stakeholders.

General events programme

🔗 Learn Without Limits CIC events

Book our next quarterly briefing

🔗 LWL Quarterly Briefing 3: Emerging Parent Insight and ALN System Navigation

This series provides general information only and should not be treated as legal advice.