Draft Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 (Establishment of Schools) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026

Parliament approved a statutory instrument on 8 July 2026 that makes technical consequential amendments to existing education legislation, updating references and provisions across the statute book to align with the new legal framework for opening state-funded schools established by the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026. The vote passed by 369 ayes to 102 noes, with the regulations having been laid before the House on 20 May 2026. The practical effect of these regulations is to ensure that legislation referring to the process for opening new schools is consistent with the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, which ended the legal presumption that new state schools must be academies. The regulations also expand procedural powers around pupil referral units (PRUs), which are specialist settings for children who cannot attend mainstream school. The changes affect local authorities, voluntary organisations, academy trusts, and ultimately pupils and families, particularly those seeking places in alternative or specialist provision. The vote divided almost entirely along party lines. Labour MPs, including those listed under the Labour and Co-operative Party designation, voted unanimously in favour, as did the Liberal Democrats, the Greens, the SDLP, and several smaller groupings. Conservatives voted 91 to 0 against, joined by the Democratic Unionist Party and two Reform UK MPs. There were no notable cross-party rebels. This vote is the latest in a series of divisions connected to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, which has generated repeated parliamentary contests since April 2026, including several votes on Lords amendments.