Schools Bill 2017-19 Alert Sample


Alert Sample

View the Parallel Parliament page for the Schools Bill 2017-19

Information since 27 Jul 2025, 3:03 p.m.


Schools Bill 2017-19 mentioned

Calendar
Wednesday 14th January 2026
Department for Work and Pensions
Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour - Life peer)

Legislation - Main Chamber
Subject: Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill – report stage (day 1)
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill 2024-26
View calendar - Add to calendar
Monday 1st December 2025 4:30 p.m.
Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)

Westminster Hall debate - Westminster Hall
Subject: e-petition 722377 relating to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill
View calendar - Add to calendar


Parliamentary Debates
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
184 speeches (39,194 words)
Friday 12th December 2025 - Lords Chamber
Department of Health and Social Care
Mentions:
1: Baroness Berridge (Con - Life peer) environment like that.I did not table an amendment also because under the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - Link to Speech

Grooming Gangs: Independent Inquiry
15 speeches (4,460 words)
Thursday 11th December 2025 - Lords Chamber
Home Office
Mentions:
1: Baroness Brinton (LD - Life peer) any of the Bills currently going through Parliament; for example, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - Link to Speech

Child Protection Authority
1 speech (790 words)
Thursday 11th December 2025 - Written Statements
Department for Education
Mentions:
1: Josh MacAlister (Lab - Whitehaven and Workington) Through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill and Crime and Policing Bill, we are strengthening multi-agency - Link to Speech

Village Schools
24 speeches (3,305 words)
Wednesday 10th December 2025 - Westminster Hall
Department for Education
Mentions:
1: Georgia Gould (Lab - Queen's Park and Maida Vale) The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which is progressing through the House of Lords, has some - Link to Speech

Digital ID
239 speeches (28,141 words)
Monday 8th December 2025 - Westminster Hall
Cabinet Office
Mentions:
1: Robbie Moore (Con - Keighley and Ilkley) We are already seeing signs of such a framework in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, the Online - Link to Speech
2: Gregory Stafford (Con - Farnham and Bordon) Moore), but that is often missed in this debate: the provisions in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - Link to Speech

Autumn Budget 2025
152 speeches (54,901 words)
Thursday 4th December 2025 - Lords Chamber
HM Treasury
Mentions:
1: Lord Bishop of Manchester (Bshp - Bishops) immediate and valuable contribution to make to the remaining stages of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - Link to Speech

Local Elections
68 speeches (7,665 words)
Thursday 4th December 2025 - Commons Chamber
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Mentions:
1: David Simmonds (Con - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner) on the Budget’s clearly set out plans for housing, infrastructure, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - Link to Speech

Camden Nursery Sexual Abuse Case
29 speeches (6,209 words)
Thursday 4th December 2025 - Commons Chamber
Department for International Development
Mentions:
1: Bridget Phillipson (Lab - Houghton and Sunderland South) Alongside bringing forward the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, we are taking a number of important - Link to Speech

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
64 speeches (14,194 words)
Monday 1st December 2025 - Westminster Hall
Department for Education
Mentions:
1: None Relevant Document: Second Report of the Education Committee, Scrutiny of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - Link to Speech
2: Liam Conlon (Lab - Beckenham and Penge) The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill is an important piece of legislation for this Government. - Link to Speech
3: Saqib Bhatti (Con - Meriden and Solihull East) , and states:“We believe the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill is poorly drafted and does not - Link to Speech
4: Olivia Bailey (Lab - Reading West and Mid Berkshire) As we have heard, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill is a wide-ranging piece of legislation, but - Link to Speech

Oral Answers to Questions
167 speeches (10,124 words)
Monday 1st December 2025 - Commons Chamber
Department for Education
Mentions:
1: Josh MacAlister (Lab - Whitehaven and Workington) The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill contains a number of measures that would make a big difference - Link to Speech

Crime and Policing Bill
117 speeches (31,707 words)
Committee stage part two
Thursday 27th November 2025 - Lords Chamber
Home Office
Mentions:
1: Lord Meston (XB - Excepted Hereditary) on her earlier Private Member’s Bill and echo amendments by her to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - Link to Speech

Private Equity
19 speeches (8,061 words)
Thursday 20th November 2025 - Grand Committee

Mentions:
1: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green - Life peer) Homes Association told the Public Accounts Committee that measures in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - Link to Speech
2: Lord Wilson of Sedgefield (Lab - Life peer) The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill will improve the safeguarding of children.The noble Lord, Lord - Link to Speech

Teachers: Music, Drama, Art and Design, and Dance
17 speeches (1,485 words)
Monday 17th November 2025 - Lords Chamber
Department for Work and Pensions
Mentions:
1: Baroness Barran (Con - Life peer) Would the Minister reconsider that in the context of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill? - Link to Speech

Safeguarding Children
1 speech (1,228 words)
Thursday 13th November 2025 - Written Statements
Department for International Development
Mentions:
1: Bridget Phillipson (Lab - Houghton and Sunderland South) The first steps are set out in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which will sharply improve - Link to Speech

Oral Answers to Questions
133 speeches (9,559 words)
Wednesday 12th November 2025 - Commons Chamber
Cabinet Office
Mentions:
1: Keir Starmer (Lab - Holborn and St Pancras) Through our landmark Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, we are requiring every local authority to - Link to Speech

Curriculum and Assessment Review
98 speeches (10,971 words)
Wednesday 5th November 2025 - Commons Chamber
Department for International Development
Mentions:
1: Laura Trott (Con - Sevenoaks) flexibility to extend the curriculum”.I agree, but the Government’s disastrous Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - Link to Speech

Care Leavers
33 speeches (4,831 words)
Monday 3rd November 2025 - Commons Chamber
Department for Education
Mentions:
1: Sally Jameson (LAB - Doncaster Central) The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill marks an important step forward in ensuring that support for - Link to Speech
2: Sally Jameson (LAB - Doncaster Central) I also welcome the in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill the extension of the corporate parenting - Link to Speech

National Curriculum: Religious Education
19 speeches (1,391 words)
Thursday 30th October 2025 - Lords Chamber

Mentions:
1: Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab - Life peer) been part of many discussions we have had recently, not least on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - Link to Speech

Protection of Children Codes of Practice
18 speeches (5,609 words)
Thursday 30th October 2025 - Lords Chamber
Department for Business and Trade
Mentions:
1: Baroness Barran (Con - Life peer) Lord Watson, and others in the House, will know that, as part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - Link to Speech

Children’s Social Care
21 speeches (12,184 words)
Thursday 30th October 2025 - Westminster Hall
Department for Education
Mentions:
1: Darren Paffey (Lab - Southampton Itchen) table; it would go hand in hand with the local care leaver offer that the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - Link to Speech
2: Nick Timothy (Con - West Suffolk) broadly welcomed the measures relating to children’s social care in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - Link to Speech
3: Josh MacAlister (Lab - Whitehaven and Workington) need to root that out at source.The Government’s overall response is the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - Link to Speech

Employment Rights Bill
113 speeches (18,654 words)
Consideration of Commons amendments and / or reasons
Tuesday 28th October 2025 - Lords Chamber
Leader of the House
Mentions:
1: Baroness Barran (Con - Life peer) In the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, the Government accepted the principle of a framework that - Link to Speech
2: Lord Hampton (XB - Excepted Hereditary) Barran, very sensibly creates a floor, not a ceiling, on pay, as in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - Link to Speech
3: Lord Leong (Lab - Life peer) measures in the Employment Rights Bill, the teacher pay measures in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - Link to Speech

Holidays During School Term Time
47 speeches (12,757 words)
Monday 27th October 2025 - Westminster Hall
Department for Education
Mentions:
1: Saqib Bhatti (Con - Meriden and Solihull East) In addition, we attempted to tighten legislation, through the Schools Bill, to put pressure on local - Link to Speech

Black History Month
81 speeches (25,189 words)
Thursday 23rd October 2025 - Commons Chamber
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Mentions:
1: Diane Abbott (Ind - Hackney North and Stoke Newington) example of this rampant colour-blindness when it comes to education: the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - Link to Speech



Select Committee Documents
Tuesday 9th December 2025
Oral Evidence - Coram PACEY, Early Years Alliance, National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), and Early Education

Early Years: Improving support for children and parents - Education Committee

Found: There is a schools Bill going through and I am pleased that SEND is given the priority; it definitely

Tuesday 9th December 2025
Special Report - 6th Special Report - Further Education and Skills: Government Response

Education Committee

Found: The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill will extend this core offer by requiring local authorities

Monday 8th December 2025
Written Evidence - Magic Breakfast
HTS0030 - Home-to-school transport

Public Accounts Committee

Found: Breakfast (HTS0030) 3 Requirements of the breakfast club legislation The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Monday 8th December 2025
Written Evidence - Ambitious about Autism
HTS0012 - Home-to-school transport

Public Accounts Committee

Found: As such, we welcome provisions in the forthcoming Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill which will give

Monday 8th December 2025
Correspondence - Letter from the President of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services relating to the Committee’s evidence session on Financial sustainability of children’s care homes on 17 November 2025, 28 November 2025

Public Accounts Committee

Found: oversight scheme, currently making its way through Parliament as part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Tuesday 2nd December 2025
Oral Evidence - The Department for Education, and The Department for Education

Education Committee

Found: provide a national Staying Close support package, as we set out in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Tuesday 25th November 2025
Written Evidence - Local Government Association
EYS0083 - Early Years: Improving Support for Children and Families

Early Years: Improving support for children and parents - Education Committee

Found: and while these are being extended to cover academies as part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Monday 24th November 2025
Formal Minutes - Formal Minutes for Session 2024-25 October 2024 to September 2025

Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee

Found: Non-Domestic Rating (Multiplier and Private Schools) Bill Correspondence from the Minister of State

Tuesday 18th November 2025
Written Evidence - Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
EYS0061 - Early Years: Improving Support for Children and Families

Early Years: Improving support for children and parents - Education Committee

Found: With this in mind, the College is pleased that the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill includes measures

Tuesday 18th November 2025
Written Evidence - NSPCC
EYS0050 - Early Years: Improving Support for Children and Families

Early Years: Improving support for children and parents - Education Committee

Found: We have welcomed the introduction of legislative measures through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Tuesday 18th November 2025
Correspondence - Letter from Janey Daby MP, Minister for Children and Families, to Lord Gardiner of Kimble, Chair of the Liaison Committee, on the Select Committee on the Children and Families Act 2014

Liaison Committee (Lords)

Found: The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill will enshrine the definition of kinship care in legislation

Monday 17th November 2025
Oral Evidence - Department of Education, Department for Education, and Department for Education

Public Accounts Committee

Found: Immediately after the general election, we brought forward the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Monday 17th November 2025
Written Evidence - National Centre for Excellence in Residential Child Care (England)
CCH0001 - Financial sustainability of children’s care homes

Public Accounts Committee

Found: form price capping and a reduced use of residential settings if the Children’s WellBeing and Schools Bill

Monday 17th November 2025
Written Evidence - Nationwide Association of Fostering Providers
CCH0003 - Financial sustainability of children’s care homes

Public Accounts Committee

Found: work with MPs and Peers that have supported our aims of ensuring the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Monday 17th November 2025
Written Evidence - FairGo CIC
CCH0008 - Financial sustainability of children’s care homes

Public Accounts Committee

Found: The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill introduces a financial‑oversight regime for strategically

Monday 17th November 2025
Written Evidence - Revolution Consulting Limited
CCH0007 - Financial sustainability of children’s care homes

Public Accounts Committee

Found: face of potential profit and price controls such as are mooted by the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Monday 17th November 2025
Written Evidence - Ofsted
CCH0004 - Financial sustainability of children’s care homes

Public Accounts Committee

Found: welcome the commitments to children’s social care reform set out in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Monday 17th November 2025
Written Evidence - Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy
CCH0011 - Financial sustainability of children’s care homes

Public Accounts Committee

Found: proposed financial oversight and profit-capping mechanisms through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Monday 17th November 2025
Written Evidence - The Children's Homes Association
CCH0013 - Financial sustainability of children’s care homes

Public Accounts Committee

Found: britain-increases-taxes-private-equity-carried-interest-32- 2024-10-30/ 21 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childrens-wellbeing-and-schools-bill

Monday 17th November 2025
Written Evidence - Medway Council
CCH0014 - Financial sustainability of children’s care homes

Public Accounts Committee

Found: fair pricing and cost transparency, including through measures in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Wednesday 12th November 2025
Written Evidence - National Hair & Beauty Federation
SBS0034 - Small business strategy

Small business strategy - Business and Trade Committee

Found: We welcome the measures in the Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill to introduce

Tuesday 11th November 2025
Correspondence - c079 - Letter from His Majesty’s Chief Inspector on Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill dated 24.10.25

Education Committee

Found: c079 - Letter from His Majesty’s Chief Inspector on Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill dated 24.10.25

Tuesday 11th November 2025
Oral Evidence - 2025-11-11 15:00:00+00:00

Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee

Found: Smith: Moving now to some questions around local government finance, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Thursday 30th October 2025
Correspondence - Letter from the Chair of the Committee to the Leader of the House relating to the Rail Reform Bill, dated 28 October 2025

Transport Committee

Found: recommendation of the Education Committee in its report on Scrutiny of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Tuesday 28th October 2025
Oral Evidence - Judiciary of England and Wales

Reform of the Family Court - Justice Committee

Found: The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill provides for family group decision -making meetings bringing

Tuesday 28th October 2025
Oral Evidence - Judiciary of England and Wales

Reform of the Family Court - Justice Committee

Found: The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill provides for family group decision-making meetings bringing

Tuesday 28th October 2025
Oral Evidence - The Domestic Abuse Commissioner, CAFCASS, and Nuffield Family Justice Observatory

Reform of the Family Court - Justice Committee

Found: The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill provides for family group decision -making meetings bringing

Tuesday 28th October 2025
Oral Evidence - The Domestic Abuse Commissioner, CAFCASS, and Nuffield Family Justice Observatory

Reform of the Family Court - Justice Committee

Found: The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill provides for family group decision-making meetings bringing

Tuesday 28th October 2025
Correspondence - Letter to Minister for Children and Families on publication of cross-government response to the Domestic Abuse Commissioner's Report dated, 28.10.2025

Education Committee

Found: In its inquiries on the Children’s Wellbeing and the Schools Bill and children’s social care, the Committee

Friday 24th October 2025
Written Evidence - Family Rights Group
ATJ0149 - Access to Justice

Access to Justice - Justice Committee

Found: The Government have acknowledged this issue, and in Clause 1 of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Thursday 23rd October 2025
Written Evidence - Family Rights Group
ATJ0149 - Access to Justice

Access to Justice - Justice Committee

Found: The Government have acknowledged this issue, and in Clause 1 of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Wednesday 22nd October 2025
Correspondence - Correspondence from Minister Ahmed re Autism and ADHD diagnostic pathways for Children and Young People

Health and Social Care Committee

Found: Information Sharing, including work on information sharing provisions in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Tuesday 21st October 2025
Special Report - 5th Special Report - The Funding and Sustainability of Local Government Finance: Government Response

Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee

Found: Allowance and enabling implementation of the social care commitments in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill



Written Answers
Children: Data Protection
Asked by: Oliver Ryan (Labour (Co-op) - Burnley)
Friday 12th December 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to Clause 4 of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, if she will set out (a) what safeguards will be put in place to protect information shared under this clause against unauthorized access, misuse, or hacking; (b) how she will define the scope of relevant information, (c) which identifier will be used as the consistent identifier, (d) whether she has taken any independent advice on the strength of oversight procedures, and (e) what steps her Department will take to ensure that marginalized or vulnerable children and families are not disproportionately affected by this data-sharing duty.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Information sharing governance is crucial to Clause 4, and existing data protection requirements will apply. As is the case now, misuse of personally identifiable information is guarded against via governance processes that are the responsibility of data controllers and processors, who use systems to store sensitive children's data and follow the relevant security and processes. Consistent identifier piloting will consider what measures are needed for the number to be used securely and effectively.

“Relevant information” will be set out in statutory guidance, which relevant agencies must have regard to

The NHS number is being piloted as the consistent identifier, we will mandate the consistent identifier via regulations only when confident in the benefits, cost, security and governance

The department is working closely with the Information Commissioner’s Office for both the consistent identifier and the information sharing duty to develop our approach.

Impact and equalities assessments will ensure vulnerable families are not disproportionately affected.

Children: Protection
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Friday 12th December 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help improve child protection services in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department is working closely with local authorities and their partners to improve multi-agency child protection and safeguarding. Officials meet regularly with Surrey County Council, including to discuss local child protection delivery.

We are providing £2.4 billion over the next three years for the Families First Partnership programme to support local areas to embed reforms across Family Help, multi-agency child protection, and family group decision-making. Effective multi-agency child protection arrangements are vital to prevent children from slipping through the cracks.

These teams will bring multi-agency expertise and a clear focus to identify and respond decisively to all forms of significant harm from inside and outside the home and online.

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill will deliver the biggest overhaul of children’s social care in a generation. It puts multi-agency child protection teams on a statutory footing, improves information sharing within and across agencies, and ensures education and childcare settings are part of local safeguarding arrangements.

Foster Care: Care Leavers
Asked by: Neil Shastri-Hurst (Conservative - Solihull West and Shirley)
Thursday 11th December 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of increasing the maximum age for post-foster care arrangements to age 25.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The government is committed to supporting care leavers as they transition to independence.

Staying Put enables care leavers to prepare for independence more gradually in a stable and secure family setting. It enables young people to continue living with their former foster carer(s) when they turn age 18, potentially up to age 21, if both parties want this.

We are committed to Staying Put arrangements but must prioritise the introduction of the Staying Close duty in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which provides support to those who cannot benefit from Staying Put.

Staying Close offers tailored support for care leavers, including help to find and keep suitable accommodation and access to wraparound services such as health and wellbeing, education, training and employment. This measure ensures that eligible care leavers can receive support up to age 25, helping them to build stability and life skills and reducing the risk of homelessness and poor outcomes. This includes young people who might have previously been in a Staying Put arrangement.

Children: Care Homes
Asked by: Jim McMahon (Labour (Co-op) - Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton)
Wednesday 10th December 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of profit per placement for private children’s homes in England.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The Competition and Markets Authority’s 2022 report on the children’s social care market found that the 15 largest providers of placements for looked-after children were making an average profit of 22.6% on children’s homes.

In addition, reports from Revolution Consulting found that aggregate profits among the top 20 children’s homes providers, measured using the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) method, increased from 18.8% to 19.8% between 2021 and 2022. In 2023, the average EBITDA margin was 19%, although this figure excludes Caretech, the largest provider.

The department’s work to improve the data that both we and local authorities have access to on the children’s social care placement market, and the financial oversight scheme we are legislating for through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, will enable greater central government oversight. This work will help us to keep the market under close review.

Children: Protection
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Tuesday 9th December 2025

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) the Government’s plans to bring NHS England into the Department of Health and Social Care and (b) the planned 50% reduction in integrated care board staffing on those boards’ capacity to safeguard children, including their effective participation in multi-agency child protection teams proposed in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government will publish an impact assessment of its plan to bring NHS England into the Department alongside the primary legislation to enact this reform. We do not expect the integration to have an impact on the capacity of integrated care boards (ICBs) to safeguard children, as the existing safeguarding functions of ICBs will be retained.

To ensure ICBs maintain effective safeguarding functions throughout the reform, NHS England has shared best practice on safeguarding with ICBs earlier this year. In November 2025, NHS England also published a strategic commissioning framework for ICBs with a focus on collaboration with local government and wider system partners.

Safeguarding partners, including health, have a legal duty to work together to safeguard and promote children’s welfare, including through the proposed Multi Agency Child Protection Teams. There is no intention to change this duty through the ICB reform.

Social Services: Procurement
Asked by: Jim McMahon (Labour (Co-op) - Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton)
Tuesday 9th December 2025

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment has been made of the trends in insourcing in adult social care and children social care in England.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government works closely with both the Department for Health and Social Care and Department for Education on the provision of, and funding for, social care services. Local Authorities are responsible for delivering adults and children’s social care services, and it is for them to decide how to deliver them locally and ensure there is adequate provision in their communities. The government is taking specific steps to ensure the delivery of quality care services that secure better outcomes whilst achieving value for money for the taxpayer; for example, investment in children’s residential care that includes creating 200 new placements in high-quality council-run children’s homes and powers through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to ensure financial oversight of the children’s care home market.

Secure Accommodation
Asked by: Baroness Barran (Conservative - Life peer)
Monday 8th December 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 17 June (HL Deb col 1963), and following the publication on 17 November of updated guidance for placing children in secure accommodation, whether they still intend to extend the powers that the Secretary of State already has to make regulations in relation to secure accommodation to children deprived of their liberty.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

As part of changes introduced by Clause 11 of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which will amend Section 25 of the Children Act 1989 (CA 1989) to allow for authorisation of a deprivation of liberty in ’Relevant Accommodation’ under the CA 1989, the department can confirm that the same regulation making powers that exist currently for the Secretary of State in relation to Secure Accommodation will also be available for ’Relevant Accommodation’.

It will be made clear in regulations that Secretary of State approval will be required to deprive children under the age of 13 of their liberty via Section 25 of the CA1989 in Relevant Accommodation. As per updated guidance published on 17 November, there is no such regulatory requirement regarding Secretary of State approval for applications to the High Court under its inherent jurisdiction for a deprivation of liberty order – this does not amend the requirements or guidance on the use of Section 25.

Children: Data Protection
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Thursday 4th December 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Government will make an assessment of the potential merits of pausing the implementation of the new Clause 4 of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill until comprehensive public consultation and impact assessments have been completed.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

An assessment of the potential impact on parental rights and informed consent is included in the Bill ECHR impact assessment, available here: https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/59867/documents/6253. Conditions for processing are a matter for local data controllers now, and that will remain the case under this new duty.

To clarify, clause 4 introduces an information sharing duty and makes provision for a consistent identifier to be used across organisations that have safeguarding and welfare functions to support record linkage. Its use has therefore been limited to safeguarding and welfare. Safeguards have been built into this provision, and data protection principles still apply meaning information may only be shared where it is necessary and proportionate. In addition, both measures are clear that any benefits of sharing must outweigh any potential detriment to the child.

As required under Article 36(4) of the UK General Data Protection Regulations, the department has formally consulted the Information Commissioner’s Office. A Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) is not required by the department for the information sharing duty element of clause 4 because personal data will be processed locally. For the consistent identifier element of clause 4, it is currently the position that the department will not be a processor of personal data, so a DPIA is not required as it stands. We will keep this position under review and, should it ever be the case that the department will process personal data as part of either element of clause 4, we would conduct and publish a DPIA.

During the passage of the Bill, the department has committed to undertake public consultation, including with parents, and will comply with requirements for impact assessments.

Clause 4 will be commenced at a later date, rather than immediately upon Royal Assent, to allow for consultation on statutory guidance, further consideration of impact, as well as ongoing piloting and technical design of the consistent identifier. The department will only proceed when we are confident in the benefits, cost, security, and governance.

Children: Data Protection
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Thursday 4th December 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to undertake a consultation with parents, schools, and child protection experts on the new Clause 4 of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

An assessment of the potential impact on parental rights and informed consent is included in the Bill ECHR impact assessment, available here: https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/59867/documents/6253. Conditions for processing are a matter for local data controllers now, and that will remain the case under this new duty.

To clarify, clause 4 introduces an information sharing duty and makes provision for a consistent identifier to be used across organisations that have safeguarding and welfare functions to support record linkage. Its use has therefore been limited to safeguarding and welfare. Safeguards have been built into this provision, and data protection principles still apply meaning information may only be shared where it is necessary and proportionate. In addition, both measures are clear that any benefits of sharing must outweigh any potential detriment to the child.

As required under Article 36(4) of the UK General Data Protection Regulations, the department has formally consulted the Information Commissioner’s Office. A Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) is not required by the department for the information sharing duty element of clause 4 because personal data will be processed locally. For the consistent identifier element of clause 4, it is currently the position that the department will not be a processor of personal data, so a DPIA is not required as it stands. We will keep this position under review and, should it ever be the case that the department will process personal data as part of either element of clause 4, we would conduct and publish a DPIA.

During the passage of the Bill, the department has committed to undertake public consultation, including with parents, and will comply with requirements for impact assessments.

Clause 4 will be commenced at a later date, rather than immediately upon Royal Assent, to allow for consultation on statutory guidance, further consideration of impact, as well as ongoing piloting and technical design of the consistent identifier. The department will only proceed when we are confident in the benefits, cost, security, and governance.

Children: Data Protection
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Thursday 4th December 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to introduce safeguards to help ensure that the digital identity system introduced under Clause 4 of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill protects children’s privacy and data protection rights.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

An assessment of the potential impact on parental rights and informed consent is included in the Bill ECHR impact assessment, available here: https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/59867/documents/6253. Conditions for processing are a matter for local data controllers now, and that will remain the case under this new duty.

To clarify, clause 4 introduces an information sharing duty and makes provision for a consistent identifier to be used across organisations that have safeguarding and welfare functions to support record linkage. Its use has therefore been limited to safeguarding and welfare. Safeguards have been built into this provision, and data protection principles still apply meaning information may only be shared where it is necessary and proportionate. In addition, both measures are clear that any benefits of sharing must outweigh any potential detriment to the child.

As required under Article 36(4) of the UK General Data Protection Regulations, the department has formally consulted the Information Commissioner’s Office. A Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) is not required by the department for the information sharing duty element of clause 4 because personal data will be processed locally. For the consistent identifier element of clause 4, it is currently the position that the department will not be a processor of personal data, so a DPIA is not required as it stands. We will keep this position under review and, should it ever be the case that the department will process personal data as part of either element of clause 4, we would conduct and publish a DPIA.

During the passage of the Bill, the department has committed to undertake public consultation, including with parents, and will comply with requirements for impact assessments.

Clause 4 will be commenced at a later date, rather than immediately upon Royal Assent, to allow for consultation on statutory guidance, further consideration of impact, as well as ongoing piloting and technical design of the consistent identifier. The department will only proceed when we are confident in the benefits, cost, security, and governance.

Families: Data Protection
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Thursday 4th December 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has (a) conducted or (b) plans to conduct a risk assessment on the implications of the new Clause 4 of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill for data security and the protection of sensitive family information.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

An assessment of the potential impact on parental rights and informed consent is included in the Bill ECHR impact assessment, available here: https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/59867/documents/6253. Conditions for processing are a matter for local data controllers now, and that will remain the case under this new duty.

To clarify, clause 4 introduces an information sharing duty and makes provision for a consistent identifier to be used across organisations that have safeguarding and welfare functions to support record linkage. Its use has therefore been limited to safeguarding and welfare. Safeguards have been built into this provision, and data protection principles still apply meaning information may only be shared where it is necessary and proportionate. In addition, both measures are clear that any benefits of sharing must outweigh any potential detriment to the child.

As required under Article 36(4) of the UK General Data Protection Regulations, the department has formally consulted the Information Commissioner’s Office. A Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) is not required by the department for the information sharing duty element of clause 4 because personal data will be processed locally. For the consistent identifier element of clause 4, it is currently the position that the department will not be a processor of personal data, so a DPIA is not required as it stands. We will keep this position under review and, should it ever be the case that the department will process personal data as part of either element of clause 4, we would conduct and publish a DPIA.

During the passage of the Bill, the department has committed to undertake public consultation, including with parents, and will comply with requirements for impact assessments.

Clause 4 will be commenced at a later date, rather than immediately upon Royal Assent, to allow for consultation on statutory guidance, further consideration of impact, as well as ongoing piloting and technical design of the consistent identifier. The department will only proceed when we are confident in the benefits, cost, security, and governance.

Children: Personal Records
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Thursday 4th December 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment has her Department made of the potential impact of Clause 4 of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill on parental rights and the principle of informed consent.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

An assessment of the potential impact on parental rights and informed consent is included in the Bill ECHR impact assessment, available here: https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/59867/documents/6253. Conditions for processing are a matter for local data controllers now, and that will remain the case under this new duty.

To clarify, clause 4 introduces an information sharing duty and makes provision for a consistent identifier to be used across organisations that have safeguarding and welfare functions to support record linkage. Its use has therefore been limited to safeguarding and welfare. Safeguards have been built into this provision, and data protection principles still apply meaning information may only be shared where it is necessary and proportionate. In addition, both measures are clear that any benefits of sharing must outweigh any potential detriment to the child.

As required under Article 36(4) of the UK General Data Protection Regulations, the department has formally consulted the Information Commissioner’s Office. A Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) is not required by the department for the information sharing duty element of clause 4 because personal data will be processed locally. For the consistent identifier element of clause 4, it is currently the position that the department will not be a processor of personal data, so a DPIA is not required as it stands. We will keep this position under review and, should it ever be the case that the department will process personal data as part of either element of clause 4, we would conduct and publish a DPIA.

During the passage of the Bill, the department has committed to undertake public consultation, including with parents, and will comply with requirements for impact assessments.

Clause 4 will be commenced at a later date, rather than immediately upon Royal Assent, to allow for consultation on statutory guidance, further consideration of impact, as well as ongoing piloting and technical design of the consistent identifier. The department will only proceed when we are confident in the benefits, cost, security, and governance.

Home Education
Asked by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Clapham and Brixton Hill)
Wednesday 3rd December 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her department plans to provide Local Authorities with extra funding to support training of social workers and council workers to improve understanding of home education.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department ran a public consultation on the proposed duties and measures for Children Not in School in 2019. The consultation was open to all to contribute, including academic experts in educational pedagogy, and the department responded in 2022. We have continued to engage with home education experts since then as part of development of the measures for inclusion in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill and on plans for implementation of these post-Royal Assent.

Funding and training will be provided to support local authorities to fulfil their new duties under the Children Not in School measures.

Home Education
Asked by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Clapham and Brixton Hill)
Wednesday 3rd December 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her department consulted academic experts in pedagogy in home education on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department ran a public consultation on the proposed duties and measures for Children Not in School in 2019. The consultation was open to all to contribute, including academic experts in educational pedagogy, and the department responded in 2022. We have continued to engage with home education experts since then as part of development of the measures for inclusion in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill and on plans for implementation of these post-Royal Assent.

Funding and training will be provided to support local authorities to fulfil their new duties under the Children Not in School measures.

Teachers: Qualifications
Asked by: Anna Gelderd (Labour - South East Cornwall)
Wednesday 3rd December 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of differences in teacher qualification requirements by multi-academy trusts and local authority-maintained schools on the consistency of educational standards.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Evidence shows that high quality teaching is the most important in-school factor that improves outcomes for children, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) is the professional qualification for primary and secondary teachers and underpins high quality teaching by ensuring teachers meet the Teachers’ Standards. It is right that we expect teachers to be professionally qualified and the department is taking steps to ensure consistency in educational standards across all state funded primary and secondary schools. Teachers in local authority-maintained schools and special schools are already required to have QTS.

Through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, we are seeking to extend the requirement to academies, so all pupils, including those with SEND, benefit from well-trained, professionally qualified teachers. This change will ensure that teachers too benefit from the knowledge and training that underpins QTS across both local authority-maintained schools and academies.

Children: Abuse
Asked by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Clapham and Brixton Hill)
Tuesday 2nd December 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her department has consulted with a) NSPCC, b) Women's Aid, and c) other charities, on the potential implications of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill on children who have been victims of abuse from a parent.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

​​The department has engaged with a number of charities on policies where they have a direct interest, as part of wider consideration of the Bill’s impact on children and families.

We have spoken to the NSPCC on multiple occasions about the Bill and have engaged closely with the Domestic Abuse commissioner on Family Group Decision Making.

Moreover, as part of their consideration of the Bill in the House of Commons, the Public Bill Committee invited written evidence from outside organisations and members of the public and took oral evidence from relevant stakeholders. The NSPCC and a number of other charities provided evidence, which has informed Parliamentary debate and ongoing thinking on the Bill’s measures.

Children: Data Protection
Asked by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Clapham and Brixton Hill)
Tuesday 2nd December 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to carry out a data privacy impact assessment for the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department is ensuring that measures outlined in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill align with data protection principles, as set out in the Data Protection Act 2018, UK General Data Protection Regulations (UK GDPR) and the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.

The department has met its obligation under Article 36(4) of UK GDPR to consult with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) on relevant measures involving the use of personal data, such as the Children Not in School registers.

The department is engaging with the ICO to ensure that any data protection risks identified are properly mitigated and is carrying out data protection impact assessments, where relevant.

Children in Care: Costs
Asked by: Lord Bailey of Paddington (Conservative - Life peer)
Thursday 27th November 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address rising costs of placements for children in care, and to ensure the availability of high-quality, affordable placements nationwide.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Every child in care should have a safe, loving home which is also value for money for the taxpayer.

The department is empowering local authorities to secure the best placements for looked after children at a price that is fair to the taxpayer. We know local authorities cannot do this alone, so we are also taking action at a national level to reshape the market. Through our package of measures, including those set out in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, we will rebalance the market, improve competition, regulation and commissioning of placements, shine a light on the level of profit being made, and bring greater visibility to the prices local authorities are paying.

Young Carers
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend)
Tuesday 25th November 2025

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve the identification of young carers across other health services in the context of plans to change the Mental Health Act Code of Practice.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Local authorities must take reasonable steps to identify young carers in their area and assess their needs. To support local authorities in their child protection duties, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, currently making its way through Parliament, strengthens this by introducing a duty on safeguarding partners to enhance multi-agency working with children and families.

Reforms to the Mental Health Act will encourage recording young carers in Advance Choice Documents, providing crucial information for professionals during crises. The Mental Health Bill also ensures carers are actively involved in patients’ statutory care plans, supported by guidance in the revised Mental Health Act Code of Practice.

NHS England is improving young carer identification and support through general practice guidance and better data sharing across health, education, and social care. In partnership with the Department for Education, it is leading a cross-Government project with young carers and voluntary organisations to reduce inequalities and strengthen support pathways.

Multi-academy Trusts
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Friday 21st November 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill on multi-academy trusts.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

I refer the right hon. Member for Aldridge-Brownhills to the answer of 22 April 2025 to Question 903828.

Home Education: Registration
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Thursday 20th November 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to send information to home educating parents on the registration measures within the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Following the Bill’s attainment of Royal Assent, the department intends to make regulations and publish statutory guidance outlining how local authorities must publicise the registers and the duties of parents in relation to the registers.

We will consult on the guidance ahead of implementation, so home educating parents can share their views on how they would like to receive information on the registration measures.

Children: Social Services
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Wednesday 19th November 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department has taken with local authorities to improve children services.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department is committed to children’s social care reform to ensure opportunity for all children. Our policy statement ‘Keeping children safe, helping families thrive’, outlines our vision and core legislative proposals. We have subsequently introduced several measures in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, a key step towards delivering the government’s Opportunity Mission.

Specifically, we have confirmed the national rollout of Family Help, multi-agency child protection and Family Group Decision Making reforms. These reforms are being delivered through the Families First Partnership (FFP) programme, a national government programme to support Safeguarding Partners, including local authorities, to implement the reforms. In 2025/26 the reforms are backed by £541 million of funding, more than doubling direct investment in preventative services.

Through the FFP programme, the government is giving families and children access to better local support services to break the cycle of late intervention and help more children and families to stay safely together.

Pupils: Personal Records
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Wednesday 19th November 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department made of the adequacy of the use of single unique identifiers for schools, in the context of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Provision in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to introduce a single unique identifier (SUI) for children is based on extensive user research, including engagement with schools and education settings. Our 2023 report, ‘Improving multi-agency information sharing’, highlighted that while schools use identifiers such as the unique pupil number (UPN), these are not recognised across other agencies that process and share information relating to safeguarding and welfare, creating fragmentation and risk.

To address this, the department began pilot activity in April 2025 to test the feasibility of using the NHS number as a consistent identifier within health and children’s social care. Future piloting will test this across wider safeguarding partners, including education. The intention is not to replace identifiers that are currently used in education, but to design how the SUI can work alongside existing identifiers to improve information sharing and strengthen safeguarding.

Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Friday 14th November 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure provisions in the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill maintain data protection requirements.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department recognises its responsibility to ensure the highest standards of data privacy and transparency in respect of personal data, and we are ensuring that this is prioritised as the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill progresses.

We are ensuring that measures outlined in the Bill align with data protection principles, as set out in the Data Protection Act 2018, UK General Data Protection Regulations (UK GDPR) and the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.

The department has met its obligation under Article 36(4) of UK GDPR to consult with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) on all measures involving the use of personal data. We continue to engage with the ICO for measures relating to the single unique identifier and the children not in school.

The department is engaging with the ICO to ensure that data protection risks identified are properly mitigated and will publish summaries of the assessments once they are complete.

Home Education
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Friday 14th November 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what consultation her Department undertook with parents of home educated children on the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill includes a proposal for compulsory Children Not in School registers and an accompanying duty on parents to give information for these registers. The department consulted on this proposal as part of its ‘Children Not in School’ consultation, which ran between April and June 2019. The consultation received almost 5,000 responses, 74% of which were from parents and young people.

Home Education: Assessments
Asked by: Vikki Slade (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Tuesday 11th November 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department holds data on families with home-educated children who are unable to (a) secure a place in a GCSE examination centre and (b) afford exam entry fees.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department does not hold data on families with home educated children who are unable to secure a place in a GCSE examination centre or afford exam entry fees.

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill will introduce the first ever duty on local authorities to provide support for home educating families in their areas who are registered with them and who request support. This support could include advice and information on how to access examinations.

Breakfast Clubs
Asked by: Kim Johnson (Labour - Liverpool Riverside)
Tuesday 11th November 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many phases of roll-out of free breakfast clubs will there be; when is the next phase due to start rolling out; which schools will be eligible for the second phase roll-out; and when can all state primary schools expect to have free breakfast clubs.

Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The government is committed to deliver on its pledge to provide a free breakfast club in every state-funded school with primary-aged children. The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill means that those schools with children on roll from Reception to Year 6 are required to offer a free breakfast club before the start of each school day. This will ensure every child, regardless of circumstance, has a supportive start to the school day.

So far, the department has delivered 2.6 million breakfasts and has offered places to almost 180,000 pupils across the country. Following the success of the early adopters, we will start the first phase of national rollout of the clubs from April 2026. We are investing a further £80 million into the programme to fund approximately 2,000 additional schools between April 2026 and March 2027. This will benefit around 500,000 more children.

Further information, including specifics on eligibility, funding and expectations for schools will be provided later in the Autumn term. This will include detailed guidance as well as a wider package of support.

Children in Care and Care Leavers: Equality
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Wednesday 5th November 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of making care experience a protected characteristic on (a) inequities and (b) levels of discrimination against (i) children in care and (ii) care leavers.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The government is committed to tackling the stigma, discrimination, and poor outcomes experienced by care-experienced young people. We believe the most effective way to address this is by raising awareness of the challenges they face, which will be achieved through introducing corporate parenting responsibilities across government departments and relevant public bodies.

By placing a duty on government departments and relevant public bodies, the corporate parenting duty will create a culture shift to support improved outcomes for young people in the care system and those with care experience.

The legislation captures the bodies that we believe have the biggest impact on the lives of children in care and care leavers, including departments and bodies linked to educational attainment, employment support, and the criminal justice system. The government does not have plans to amend legislation to make care experience a protected characteristic.

The impact of the measures in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill on business, equalities and child rights has been evaluated and is accessible at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childrens-wellbeing-and-schools-bill-impact-assessments.

Care Leavers: Equality
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Wednesday 5th November 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of making care experience a protected characteristic on care leavers within the (a) workplace and (b) criminal justice system.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The government is committed to tackling the stigma, discrimination, and poor outcomes experienced by care-experienced young people. We believe the most effective way to address this is by raising awareness of the challenges they face, which will be achieved through introducing corporate parenting responsibilities across government departments and relevant public bodies.

By placing a duty on government departments and relevant public bodies, the corporate parenting duty will create a culture shift to support improved outcomes for young people in the care system and those with care experience.

The legislation captures the bodies that we believe have the biggest impact on the lives of children in care and care leavers, including departments and bodies linked to educational attainment, employment support, and the criminal justice system. The government does not have plans to amend legislation to make care experience a protected characteristic.

The impact of the measures in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill on business, equalities and child rights has been evaluated and is accessible at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childrens-wellbeing-and-schools-bill-impact-assessments.

Care Leavers: Equality
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Wednesday 5th November 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of making care experience a protected characteristic on care leavers' quality of life.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The government is committed to tackling the stigma, discrimination, and poor outcomes experienced by care-experienced young people. We believe the most effective way to address this is by raising awareness of the challenges they face, which will be achieved through introducing corporate parenting responsibilities across government departments and relevant public bodies.

By placing a duty on government departments and relevant public bodies, the corporate parenting duty will create a culture shift to support improved outcomes for young people in the care system and those with care experience.

The legislation captures the bodies that we believe have the biggest impact on the lives of children in care and care leavers, including departments and bodies linked to educational attainment, employment support, and the criminal justice system. The government does not have plans to amend legislation to make care experience a protected characteristic.

The impact of the measures in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill on business, equalities and child rights has been evaluated and is accessible at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childrens-wellbeing-and-schools-bill-impact-assessments.

Children in Care: Education
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Wednesday 5th November 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of making care experience a protected characteristic on the educational attainment of children in care.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The government is committed to tackling the stigma, discrimination, and poor outcomes experienced by care-experienced young people. We believe the most effective way to address this is by raising awareness of the challenges they face, which will be achieved through introducing corporate parenting responsibilities across government departments and relevant public bodies.

By placing a duty on government departments and relevant public bodies, the corporate parenting duty will create a culture shift to support improved outcomes for young people in the care system and those with care experience.

The legislation captures the bodies that we believe have the biggest impact on the lives of children in care and care leavers, including departments and bodies linked to educational attainment, employment support, and the criminal justice system. The government does not have plans to amend legislation to make care experience a protected characteristic.

The impact of the measures in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill on business, equalities and child rights has been evaluated and is accessible at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childrens-wellbeing-and-schools-bill-impact-assessments.

Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)
Wednesday 5th November 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many staff were involved in conducting the Equality Impact Assessment of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, published in March 2025; and how many hours were spent by (a) Departmental staff and (b) external consultants in its preparation.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department published an equality impact assessment for the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill upon introduction of the Bill to Parliament. This was last updated 21 March 2025, to reflect changes to the Bill during its Commons passage.

This assessment was prepared by officials responsible for the measures in the Bill. Given the broad scope of this Bill, it is not possible to provide the number of hours spent preparing this document.

No external consultants were involved in the preparation of the equality impact assessment.

The department will continue to monitor the equalities impact of all policies as the Bill progresses through Parliament and update the published impact assessment.

Home Education
Asked by: Lord Wei (Conservative - Life peer)
Tuesday 4th November 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Department for Education has issued any guidance, formal or informal, to further education colleges or local authorities encouraging them to restrict direct applications from electively home educated students aged 14–16 to avoid any administrative burdens which might be placed on them by the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill; and if not, what steps they are taking to ensure that public statements by such institutions do not misrepresent government policy.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

​​The department has not issued any guidance, formal or informal, to further education colleges or local authorities encouraging them to restrict direct applications from electively home educated children.

​Home educating parents can supplement their child’s education through attendance at part-time further education courses, as part of securing an efficient, full-time and suitable education for their child. The department supports parents’ right to exercise this choice, and this position will not change with the implementation of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

​Decisions regarding the availability of such courses are at the discretion of each college, who may make decisions based on factors such as available capacity and resources, and may liaise with their local authority as part of this. Funding for part-time courses below level 3 is available to colleges so long as the 14-16 funding arrangements detailed in the funding rates and formula guidance are followed.

​To support implementation of Bill measures, the department will issue statutory guidance to aid local authorities and parents.​

Children: Corporal Punishment
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Tuesday 4th November 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to section 58 of the Children Act 2004, if she will take legislative steps to remove the defence of reasonable punishment for parents.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The landmark Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, a key part of the government’s Plan for Change, represents the most transformative piece of child protection legislation in a generation, including wholesale reform of the children’s social care system and the introduction of measures to improve information sharing between education, police, health, justice and social workers to stop vulnerable children falling through the cracks.

While the department is looking closely at the impact of the legal changes made in Wales and Scotland in relation to reasonable punishment, we have no plans to legislate at this stage.

Offences against Children: Information Sharing
Asked by: Robbie Moore (Conservative - Keighley and Ilkley)
Monday 3rd November 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the National Audit on Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, published in June 2025, what progress she has made on implementing recommendation 5.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill introduces a new duty for statutory safeguarding partners and other bodies to share information for the purposes of safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children, including from child sexual abuse and exploitation. This new duty is designed to complement the mandatory reporting duty set out in the Crime and Policing Bill. Together, these measures ensure that once a disclosure is made, the relevant information is not only received but is shared swiftly and appropriately with the bodies best placed to protect the child. In the ‘Tackling child sexual abuse: progress update’, published in April, the department set out that we would consult on a roadmap to a Child Protection Authority by the end of this year.

Children: Social Services
Asked by: Bob Blackman (Conservative - Harrow East)
Friday 31st October 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to help improve the quality of local authority children's social care services.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department has announced the biggest overhaul to children’s social care (CSC) in a generation, including increased investment and landmark legislation through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. From April 2025, we are making £500 million available to local authorities to roll out Family Help and Child Protection nationally to transform services and transition towards earlier intervention. This is a landmark moment and will nearly double direct investment in preventative services to over half a billion pounds in 2025/26.

The department’s CSC Improvement and Intervention Programme aims to improve services for children and families by offering support to areas with early signs of decline and intervening decisively when the required level of service is not being provided, for example for councils judged inadequate by Ofsted. This approach tackles the real issues, with a focus on sustainable and cost-effective improvement. Local authorities are supported and challenged through expert improvement advisors, leadership work from the Local Government Association, building regional networks, and our ‘Sector Led Improvement Partner’ programme.

Children: Mental Health Services and Social Services
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend)
Tuesday 28th October 2025

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on ensuring that adult (a) mental health services and (b) social care are involved in improving information-sharing through the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

No discussions have been had regarding either aspect. The focus in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill is to improve information sharing by introducing a consistent identifier for children up to the age of 18. We will consider the role both the adult and child identifiers can play in the transition to adulthood as this work moves forward.

Offences against Children
Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton West)
Monday 27th October 2025

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions her Department has had with police forces on improving the (a) identification and (b) protection of children at risk of sexual exploitation.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

This Government is committed to strengthening local and national responses to child sexual exploitation and abuse, through the new national police operation in response to Baroness Casey’s Audit recommendations, which will identify inconsistencies in approach to investigating group based child sexual exploitation (including grooming gangs) and ensure identified best practice and lessons learnt are shared through guidance, including on the identification and protection of children at risk.

Additionally we continue to support existing investments to support policing to tackle this type of offending.

Central to these efforts is the Home Office-funded Child Sexual Exploitation Police Taskforce which provides practical, expert, on the ground support for all 43 forces in England and Wales. This includes identifying best practice and promoting it nationally to ensure any lessons learnt are shared widely, and providing specialist interventions where needed to support forces’ capabilities to identify and tackle group-based offending more effectively. The Home Office engages regularly with the Taskforce and policing leaders on this work which has victims and survivors at its heart.

The Home Office is also investing over £9 million this year in the Tackling Organised Exploitation Programme (TOEX), including an expedited rollout of its Capabilities Environment to ensure all police investigators in England and Wales have access to an array of AI-enabled and time-saving tools. This will increase law enforcement’s capability to respond to organised exploitation, including child sexual exploitation by providing dedicated intelligence, analytical and technical expertise.

The Department has regular discussions with policing on the identification and protection of children at risk, particularly in relation to the risk of sexual exploitation due to policing’s duties as a statutory safeguarding partner. This is particularly the case as reforms are implemented through the introduction of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

We are also working with the College of Policing and the National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls and Public Protection to consider how forces’ most important resource can be bolstered – its officers. We continue to identify opportunities to strengthen officer training at all ranks to ensure the most effective and up-to-date methods to tackle child sexual exploitation and abuse are utilised.

Offences against Children: Criminal Investigation
Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton West)
Monday 27th October 2025

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure police forces have sufficient resources to investigate grooming gang offences.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

This Government is committed to strengthening local and national responses to child sexual exploitation and abuse, through the new national police operation in response to Baroness Casey’s Audit recommendations, which will identify inconsistencies in approach to investigating group based child sexual exploitation (including grooming gangs) and ensure identified best practice and lessons learnt are shared through guidance, including on the identification and protection of children at risk.

Additionally we continue to support existing investments to support policing to tackle this type of offending.

Central to these efforts is the Home Office-funded Child Sexual Exploitation Police Taskforce which provides practical, expert, on the ground support for all 43 forces in England and Wales. This includes identifying best practice and promoting it nationally to ensure any lessons learnt are shared widely, and providing specialist interventions where needed to support forces’ capabilities to identify and tackle group-based offending more effectively. The Home Office engages regularly with the Taskforce and policing leaders on this work which has victims and survivors at its heart.

The Home Office is also investing over £9 million this year in the Tackling Organised Exploitation Programme (TOEX), including an expedited rollout of its Capabilities Environment to ensure all police investigators in England and Wales have access to an array of AI-enabled and time-saving tools. This will increase law enforcement’s capability to respond to organised exploitation, including child sexual exploitation by providing dedicated intelligence, analytical and technical expertise.

The Department has regular discussions with policing on the identification and protection of children at risk, particularly in relation to the risk of sexual exploitation due to policing’s duties as a statutory safeguarding partner. This is particularly the case as reforms are implemented through the introduction of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

We are also working with the College of Policing and the National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls and Public Protection to consider how forces’ most important resource can be bolstered – its officers. We continue to identify opportunities to strengthen officer training at all ranks to ensure the most effective and up-to-date methods to tackle child sexual exploitation and abuse are utilised.

Offences against Children
Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton West)
Monday 27th October 2025

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that lessons learned from grooming gang cases are applied nationally.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

This Government is committed to strengthening local and national responses to child sexual exploitation and abuse, through the new national police operation in response to Baroness Casey’s Audit recommendations, which will identify inconsistencies in approach to investigating group based child sexual exploitation (including grooming gangs) and ensure identified best practice and lessons learnt are shared through guidance, including on the identification and protection of children at risk.

Additionally we continue to support existing investments to support policing to tackle this type of offending.

Central to these efforts is the Home Office-funded Child Sexual Exploitation Police Taskforce which provides practical, expert, on the ground support for all 43 forces in England and Wales. This includes identifying best practice and promoting it nationally to ensure any lessons learnt are shared widely, and providing specialist interventions where needed to support forces’ capabilities to identify and tackle group-based offending more effectively. The Home Office engages regularly with the Taskforce and policing leaders on this work which has victims and survivors at its heart.

The Home Office is also investing over £9 million this year in the Tackling Organised Exploitation Programme (TOEX), including an expedited rollout of its Capabilities Environment to ensure all police investigators in England and Wales have access to an array of AI-enabled and time-saving tools. This will increase law enforcement’s capability to respond to organised exploitation, including child sexual exploitation by providing dedicated intelligence, analytical and technical expertise.

The Department has regular discussions with policing on the identification and protection of children at risk, particularly in relation to the risk of sexual exploitation due to policing’s duties as a statutory safeguarding partner. This is particularly the case as reforms are implemented through the introduction of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

We are also working with the College of Policing and the National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls and Public Protection to consider how forces’ most important resource can be bolstered – its officers. We continue to identify opportunities to strengthen officer training at all ranks to ensure the most effective and up-to-date methods to tackle child sexual exploitation and abuse are utilised.



Bills
Road Safety (Schools) Bill 2024-26
Presented by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter (Labour - Suffolk Coastal)
Private Members' Bill - Ten Minute Bill

A Bill to make provision about road safety measures near schools; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%



National Audit Office
Oct. 21 2025
Department for Education overview 2024-25 (PDF)

Found: Look out for passing of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, expected in late 2025, and DfE’s



Department Publications - Statistics
Friday 12th December 2025
Department for Education
Source Page: Commissioner’s report on children’s services in Devon County Council
Document: (PDF)

Found: government Families First initiative and the requirements in the forthcoming Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Wednesday 5th November 2025
Department for Education
Source Page: Curriculum and Assessment Review Final Report
Document: (PDF)

Found: occupy a large proportion of teaching time. 19 UK Parliament (2024) - Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Tuesday 21st October 2025
Department for Business and Trade
Source Page: Regulator dashboard
Document: CMA annual report (opens as a PDF) (PDF)

Found: enable and bring effect to many of our recommendations through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill



Department Publications - News and Communications
Friday 12th December 2025
Department for Education
Source Page: Revised direction issued to Devon County Council: December 2025
Document: (PDF)

Found: Partnership reforms and help them to meet the requirements in the forthcoming Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Thursday 11th December 2025
Department for Education
Source Page: New national Child Protection Authority announced
Document: New national Child Protection Authority announced (webpage)

Found: comes alongside a broad package of measures being introduced through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Thursday 4th December 2025
Department for Education
Source Page: Over half a million children to be lifted out of poverty as government unveils historic child poverty strategy
Document: Over half a million children to be lifted out of poverty as government unveils historic child poverty strategy (webpage)

Found: legal duty for councils will be delivered through an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Wednesday 22nd October 2025
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Source Page: British brands back free breakfast clubs
Document: British brands back free breakfast clubs (webpage)

Found: limiting branded uniform items ahead of the cap coming into force in the Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill



Department Publications - Policy paper
Thursday 11th December 2025
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Source Page: ​​A National Plan to End Homelessness​
Document: (PDF)

Found: Central to this action plan will be new measures introduced through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Friday 5th December 2025
Cabinet Office
Source Page: Our Children, Our Future: Tackling Child Poverty
Document: (PDF)

Found: grandparents contributing to the cost of uniforms. 145 Through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Tuesday 11th November 2025
Department for Education
Source Page: Delivering the best for girls in custody: government response
Document: (PDF)

Found: MoJ, DfE and DHSC should use the opportunities presented by the new Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Wednesday 5th November 2025
HM Treasury
Source Page: Financial Inclusion Strategy
Document: (PDF)

Found: number of pupils in England, the government is legislating through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Wednesday 5th November 2025
Department for Education
Source Page: Curriculum and Assessment Review Final Report: government response
Document: (PDF)

Found: We are legislating through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill so that academies will be required

Thursday 30th October 2025
Department for Education
Source Page: Evidence to the STRB: 2026 pay award for teachers and leaders
Document: (PDF)

Found: has committed to reviewing the STPCD to fulfil the ambitions of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill



Department Publications - Transparency
Thursday 30th October 2025
Department for Education
Source Page: DfE: ministerial overseas travel and meetings, April to June 2025
Document: View online (webpage)

Found: topics including statutory transfers and school land transactions the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Thursday 30th October 2025
Department for Education
Source Page: DfE: ministerial overseas travel and meetings, April to June 2025
Document: (webpage)

Found: topics including statutory transfers and school land transactions, the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill



Non-Departmental Publications - News and Communications
Dec. 04 2025
Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street
Source Page: Over half a million children to be lifted out of poverty as government unveils historic child poverty strategy
Document: Over half a million children to be lifted out of poverty as government unveils historic child poverty strategy (webpage)
News and Communications

Found: legal duty for councils will be delivered through an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Nov. 27 2025
Ofsted
Source Page: Martyn Oliver's speech at the 2025 National Children and Adult Services Conference
Document: Martyn Oliver's speech at the 2025 National Children and Adult Services Conference (webpage)
News and Communications

Found: We welcome the powers in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to fine providers of these illegal

Nov. 11 2025
Youth Justice Board for England and Wales
Source Page: Youth Justice Board statement on the Government's response to the independent review of girls in custody
Document: Youth Justice Board statement on the Government's response to the independent review of girls in custody (webpage)
News and Communications

Found: In addition, we see the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill as a key opportunity to create better care



Non-Departmental Publications - Transparency
Dec. 02 2025
Ofsted
Source Page: Ofsted annual report 2024/25: education, children’s services and skills
Document: (PDF)
Transparency

Found: The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill currently before Parliament would, if enacted, give Ofsted



Non-Departmental Publications - Policy and Engagement
Nov. 11 2025
NHS England
Source Page: Delivering the best for girls in custody: government response
Document: (PDF)
Policy and Engagement

Found: MoJ, DfE and DHSC should use the opportunities presented by the new Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill



Deposited Papers
Tuesday 2nd December 2025
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Source Page: Local government finance: policy statement 2026-27 to 2028-29. 35p.
Document: Local_government_finance_policy_statement_2026-27_to_2028-29_-_GOV.UK.pdf (PDF)

Found: DfE are bringing forward a broad packageof measures in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, including

Friday 14th November 2025
Ministry of Justice
Source Page: Government response to the independent review: Delivering the Best for Girls in Custody. 19p.
Document: Government_Response_to_Susannah_Hancocks_Independent_Review.pdf (PDF)

Found: MoJ, DfE and DHSC should use the opportunities presented by the new Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Thursday 6th November 2025
Department for Education
Source Page: I. Curriculum and Assessment Review: Building a world-class curriculum for all. Final report. Incl. annexes. 197p. II. Government Response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review. Incl. annex. 61p. III. Letter dated 05/11/2025 from Bridget Phillipson MP to the Deposited Papers Clerk regarding 2 documents for deposit in the House libraries. 1p.
Document: Curriculum_and_Assessment_Review_final_report.pdf (PDF)

Found: occupy a large proportion of teaching time. 19 UK Parliament (2024) - Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Thursday 6th November 2025
Department for Education
Source Page: I. Curriculum and Assessment Review: Building a world-class curriculum for all. Final report. Incl. annexes. 197p. II. Government Response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review. Incl. annex. 61p. III. Letter dated 05/11/2025 from Bridget Phillipson MP to the Deposited Papers Clerk regarding 2 documents for deposit in the House libraries. 1p.
Document: Government_Response-Curriculum_and_Assessment_Review.pdf (PDF)

Found: We are legislating through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill so that academies will be required

Tuesday 21st October 2025
Department for Education
Source Page: Letter dated 14/10/2025 from Baroness Smith of Malvern to Lord Watson of Invergowrie, Baroness Thornton and Lord Lucas regarding the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill committee stage debate (eleventh day) on amendment 456 (seeking to limit the use of faith-based admissions criteria to 50% in all new state funded faith schools opened after the commencement of the establishment of the new school clauses). 3p.
Document: Letter_to_Peers_on_Clause_57_and_Amendment_456.pdf (PDF)

Found: Watson of Invergowrie, Baroness Thornton and Lord Lucas regarding the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill




Schools Bill 2017-19 mentioned in Scottish results


Scottish Government Publications
Wednesday 10th December 2025
Children and Families Directorate
Source Page: Financial transparency and profit limitation in children's residential care: Analysis of consultation responses
Document: Financial transparency and profit limitation in children’s residential care: Analysis of consultation responses (PDF)

Found: approach was in line with powers being introduced in England via the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Tuesday 23rd September 2025
Children and Families Directorate
Source Page: Correspondence regarding grooming gangs: FOI release
Document: FOI 202500468582 - Information Released - Annex (PDF)

Found: An amendment was attached to the UK Government’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill and the UK Government

Thursday 18th September 2025
Children and Families Directorate
Source Page: Correspondence regarding Child Grooming Public Inquiry: FOI release
Document: FOI 202500465771 - Information Released - Annex 1 (PDF)

Found: An amendment was attached to the UK Government’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill and the UK Government

Thursday 21st August 2025
Children and Families Directorate
Source Page: Financial Transparency and Profit Limitation in Children's Residential Care: business and regulatory impact assessment
Document: Financial Transparency and Profit Limitation in Children's Residential Care: Consultation (PDF)

Found: companies making excessive profit from children’s care homes through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Monday 11th August 2025
Children and Families Directorate
Source Page: Financial Transparency and Profit Limitation in Children's Residential Care: Consultation
Document: Financial Transparency and Profit Limitation in Children’s Residential Care: Consultation (PDF)

Found: approach is in line with the powers being introduced for England via the UK Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill



Scottish Parliamentary Research (SPICe)
Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill
Monday 25th August 2025
The Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill is a Government Bill introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 17 June 2025. It takes forward a number of changes intended to meet various recommendations of the 2020 Independent Care Review (also known as The Promise).
View source webpage

Found: other parts of the UK Following the CMA report, England introduced the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Intergovernmental activity update Q2 2025
Thursday 31st July 2025
This update gives an overview of intergovernmental activity of relevance to the Scottish Parliament between the Scottish Government and the UK Government, the Welsh Government, and the Northern Ireland Executive during quarter two (April to June) of 2025.
View source webpage

Found: Elections in Scotland and Wales) Bill 12 June 2025 Consent recommended Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill

The intergovernmental relations 'reset': one year on
Thursday 31st July 2025
One year on from the 2024 UK General Election, this briefing examines progress and developments relevant to the UK Government's commitment to 'reset' its relationship with the devolved Governments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The briefing focuses particularly on intergovernmental relations between the UK and Scottish Governments.
View source webpage

Found: and Metrology Bill Consent recommendedxxi 26 June 2025 Consent granted Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill




Schools Bill 2017-19 mentioned in Welsh results


Welsh Committee Publications
Wednesday 23rd July 2025
PDF - Letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and the Minister for Further and Higher Education from the Chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee - 23 July 2025

Inquiry: Welsh Government Draft Budget 2026-27


Found: financial impact of any relevant UK Parliament legislation, for example the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill


PDF - Llythyr at Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol, y Gweinidog Plant a Gofal Cymdeithasol a'r Gweinidog Iechyd Meddwl a Llesiant gan Gadeirydd y Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg - 23 Gorffennaf 2025

Inquiry: Welsh Government Draft Budget 2026-27


Found: Parliament legislation including the Welsh Government’s associated LCM on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill


PDF - Letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Minister for Children and Social Care and Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeingfrom the Chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee - 23 July 2025

Inquiry: Welsh Government Draft Budget 2026-27


Found: Parliament legislation including the Welsh Government’s associated LCM on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill


PDF - Letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and the Minister for Further and Higher Education from the Chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee - 23 July 2025

Inquiry: Welsh Government Draft Budget 2026-27


Found: financial impact of any relevant UK Parliament legislation, for example the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill


PDF - laid

Inquiry: The Welsh Government’s Legislative Consent Memoranda on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill


Found: Memorandum (“LCM”), and the two Supplementary LCMs (“SLCMs”) of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill


PDF - report

Inquiry: The Welsh Government’s Legislative Consent Memoranda on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill


Found: Committee The Welsh Government’s Legislative Consent Memoranda on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill


PDF - responded

Inquiry: The Welsh Government’s Legislative Consent Memoranda on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill


Found: The Welsh Government’s Legislative Consent Memoranda on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill


PDF - Welsh Government Committee papers [Health] – 19 November 2025

Inquiry: Welsh Government Draft Budget 2026-27


Found: legislation including the Welsh Government’s associated LCM on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill


PDF - report for 2024/25

Inquiry: Annual Report 2021/22


Found: However, as regards the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill a different approach was taken.


PDF - Welsh Government Committee Paper [Education] – 27 November 2025

Inquiry: Welsh Government Draft Budget 2026-27


Found: including the impact of the children not in school provisions of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill



Welsh Senedd Debates
6. Papers to note
None speech (None words)
Monday 3rd November 2025 - None


Welsh Senedd Speeches

No Department





Welsh Calendar
Thursday 6th November 2025 9:30 a.m.
Meeting of Hybrid, Children, Young People, and Education Committee, 06/11/2025 09.30 - 12.00 - Committee
Private pre-meeting Public meeting 09.30 1. Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest 09.30 - 11.30 2. School improvement and learner attainment - evidence session 11.30 3. Papers to note 3.1 Implementation of education reforms 3.2 Implementation of education reforms 3.3 Implementation of education reforms 3.4 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform 3.5 P-06-1518 Provide more timely and accessible mental health support for children under 10, including by referral to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) 3.6 Health and social care workforce 3.7 Routes into post-16 education and training 3.8 Welsh Government Draft Budget 2026-27 3.9 Information from Stakeholders 3.10 Inter-ministerial Group on UK-EU Relations 3.11 Legislative Consent: Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill 3.12 Legislative Consent: Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill 11.30 4. Motion under Standing Order 17.42(ix) to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of this meeting Private meeting 11.30 - 12.00 5. School improvement and learner attainment - consideration of the evidence
View calendar - Add to calendar
Monday 3rd November 2025 2:30 p.m.
Meeting of Hybrid, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, 03/11/2025 14.30 - 18.45
Public meeting (14.30) 1. Introduction, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest (14.30 - 14.35) 2. Instruments that raise no reporting issues under Standing Order 21.2 or 21.3 2.1 SL(6)658 - The Carbon Accounting (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (14.35 - 14.40) 3. Instruments that raise issues to be reported to the Senedd under Standing Order 21.7 3.1 SL(6)655 - The Individual Candidate Election Expenses (Senedd Elections) Code of Practice 2025 3.2 SL(6)656 - The Political Parties Campaign Expenditure (Senedd Elections) Code of Practice 2025 3.3 SL(6)657 - Non-Party Campaigner Campaign Expenditure (Senedd Elections) Code of Practice 2025 (14.40 - 14.45) 4. Instruments that raise issues to be reported to the Senedd under Standing Order 21.2 or 21.3 4.1 SL(6)659 - The Climate Change (Net Welsh Emissions Account Credit Limit) (Wales) Regulations 2025 4.2 SL(6)660 - The Climate Change (Carbon Budget) (Wales) Regulations 2025 (14.45 - 14.50) 5. Inter-Institutional Relations Agreement 5.1 Correspondence from the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 5.2 Correspondence from the Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language: The Procurement Act 2023 (Specified International Agreements) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 5.3 Written Statement by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: The Organic Production (Amendment) Regulations 2025 5.4 Correspondence from the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: The United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 (Exclusions from Market Access Principles: Glue Traps) Regulations 2025 5.5 Correspondence from the Welsh Government: Meetings of inter-ministerial groups (14.50 - 14.55) 6. Papers to note 6.1 Correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government to the Finance Committee: Building Safety (Wales) Bill 6.2 Correspondence from the Welsh Government: The Welsh Government's response to the Committee's report on the Welsh Government's Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill 6.3 Written Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government: Consultation on the draft Local Elections (Wales) (Amendment) Rules 2026, and the draft Representation of the People Act 1983 (Security Expenses Exclusion) (Amendment) (Wales) Order 2026 6.4 Written Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government: Review of community arrangements of the City and County of Swansea 6.5 Written Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education: The Education (Scotland) Act 2025 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2025 6.6 Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 5) on the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill 6.7 Correspondence from the Welsh Government: The Welsh Government's responses to Committees' reports on the Welsh Government's Legislative Consent Memoranda on the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill 6.8 Correspondence from the Welsh Government: The Welsh Government's response to the cross-Committee report on the UK-EU implementation review of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement 6.9 Written Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning: The Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2025 6.10 Correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government: Building Safety (Wales) Bill 6.11 Correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government: Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Bill (14.55) 7. Motion under Standing Order 17.42(vi) and (ix) to resolve to exclude the public from the following items: 8, 9, 10, 11 and 13 Private meeting (14.55 - 15.05) 8. Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 2) on the Crime and Policing Bill: Draft report (15.05 - 15.20) 9. Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Public Office (Accountability) Bill (15.20 - 15.30) 10. Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 5) on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill (15.30 - 15.40) 11. Review of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020: Draft correspondence Break Public meeting (16.00 - 18.30) 12. Planning (Wales) Bill and Planning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Bill: Evidence Session with the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery Private meeting (18.30 - 18.45) 13. Planning (Wales) Bill and Planning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Bill: Consideration of evidence
View calendar - Add to calendar
Monday 15th September 2025 1 p.m.
Meeting of Remote, Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, 15/09/2025 13.00 - 16.00
Public meeting (13.00) 1. Introduction, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest (13.00 – 13.05) 2. Instruments that raise issues to be reported to the Senedd under Standing Order 21.2 or 21.3 2.1 SL(6)634 - The Amendments to Subordinate Legislation (Minimum Landing Size and Miscellaneous Corrections) (Wales) Order 2025 2.2 SL(6)635 - The Amendments to Subordinate Legislation (Miscellaneous Corrections) (Wales) Regulations 2025 2.3 SL(6)638 - The Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 2.4 SL(6)643 - The Marketing of Fruit Plant and Propagating Material (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 2.5 SL(6)644 - The Education (Student Support) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (13.05 – 13.10) 3. Instruments that raise issues to be reported to the Senedd under Standing Order 21.2 or 21.3 - previously considered 3.1 SL(6)615 - The Senedd Cymru (Representation of the People) Order 2025 (13.10 – 13.15) 4. Inter-Institutional Relations Agreement 4.1 Correspondence from the Welsh Government: Meetings of inter-ministerial groups 4.2 Correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip: Budget Cover Transfer to support digital inclusion activity in Wales (13.15 – 13.35) 5. Papers to note 5.1 Correspondence from the Chairs' Forum to Committees: Reviewing Committee Effectiveness in the Sixth Senedd 5.2 Correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning to the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee: The Data (Use and Access) Bill 5.3 Correspondence in relation to the UK Government response to the Review of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 and Public Consultation 5.4 Correspondence from the Welsh Government: The Welsh Government's response to the Committee's report on the Welsh Government's Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 3) on the Employment Rights Bill 5.5 Correspondence from the Welsh Government: The Welsh Government's response to the Committee's report on the Welsh Government's Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Crime and Policing Bill 5.6 Correspondence from the Welsh Government: The Welsh Government's response to the Committee's report on the Welsh Government's Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 2) on the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill 5.7 Correspondence from the Welsh Government: The Welsh Government's response to the Committee's report on the Welsh Government's Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Victims and Courts Bill 5.8 Correspondence from the Welsh Government: The Welsh Government's response to the Committee's report on the Welsh Government's Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill 5.9 Correspondence from the Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing: The Welsh Government's response to the Committee's report on the Welsh Government's Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 3) on the Mental Health Bill 5.10 Correspondence from the Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing: The Welsh Government's response to the Committee's report on the Welsh Government's Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 4) on the Mental Health Bill 5.11 Correspondence from the Welsh Government: The Welsh Government's response to the Committee's report on the Welsh Government's Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Absent Voting (Elections in Scotland and Wales) Bill 5.12 Correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning: The Welsh Government's response to the Committee's report on the Welsh Government's Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 3) on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill 5.13 Correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning to the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee: The Welsh Government's Legislative Consent Memoranda on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill 5.14 Correspondence in relation to the Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Bill 5.15 Written Statement by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Welsh Government Response to the Independent Water Commission Report 5.16 Correspondence from the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: The UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) Authority Interim Responses on the expansion of the UK ETS 5.17 Correspondence with the Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales: Invitation to provide oral evidence 5.18 Correspondence from the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership: Regulations in relation to Part 3 of the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023 5.19 Correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care: HM Prison Parc 5.20 Written Statement by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: Preparing for the devolution of justice 5.21 Correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales: The Bus Services (Wales) Bill 5.22 Correspondence with the Welsh Government: Legislative Consent Memoranda in the final two terms of the sixth Senedd 5.23 President of the Welsh Tribunals: Annual Report 2024/2025 5.24 Written Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language: Public consultation on Making Changes to the Welsh Tax Acts 5.25 Correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning: The Trade Act 2021 5.26 House of Lords International Agreements Committee: Report on its review of treaty scrutiny (13.35) 6. Motion under Standing Order 17.42 (vi) and (ix) to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of today's meeting Private meeting (13.35 – 13.45) 7. Discussion on correspondence considered in public session (13.45 – 14.00) 8. Planning (Wales) Bill and Planning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Bill: Committee confirmation of approach to scrutiny (14.00 – 14.10) 9. Welsh Government Draft Budget 2026-27: Approach to scrutiny (14.10 – 14.35) 10. Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Bill: Draft report (14.35 – 14.45) 11. Legislative Consent Memoranda on the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: Draft report (14.45 – 14.55) 12. Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 2) on the Animal Welfare (Import Of Dogs, Cats And Ferrets) Bill (14.55 – 15.10) 13. Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Pension Schemes Bill (15.10 – 15.20) 14. Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 5) on the Mental Health Bill: Draft report (15.20 – 15.30) 15. Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill: Draft report (15.30 – 15.40) 16. Legislative Consent Memoranda on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Draft report (15.40 – 15.55) 17. Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 3) on the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill: Draft report (15.55 – 16.00) 18. Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 4) on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill
View calendar - Add to calendar