Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill 2024-26

502YV

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Behaviour improvement: presumption against reinstatement for children who engage in extremely serious behaviour</b><br> (1) The School Discipline (Pupil Exclusions and Reviews) (England) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/1033) are amended as follows.<br> (2) In regulation 6, after paragraph (3) insert—<br> “(3A) For any pupil engaged in any of the circumstances set out in sub-paragraphs (a) to (c), the presumption should be that the governing body must not reinstate the pupil unless a risk assessment has been carried out which demonstrates that the students does not present a heightened risk factor to other students and staff—<br> (a) where a pupil’s possession of a knife or other offensive weapon was a factor in the decision to exclude the child;<br> (b) where the pupil’s behaviour which led to their being excluded included sexual assault;<br> (c) where the pupil’s behaviour which led to their being excluded included assault against a teacher.<br> (3B) Any risk assessment required under paragraph (3A) must demonstrate how this risk has been eliminated or negated.<br> (3C) Where a pupil has not been reinstated as a result of conditions under paragraph (3A), the pupil must be relocated to an environment that is more suitable to their challenging behaviour, such as a People Referral Unit or Alternative Provision or similar.””

<p>This amendment seeks to probe the Government’s willingness to introduce a presumption against the reinstatement of a child who has been excluded for possession of a knife or other offensive weapon, sexual assault, or assault against a teacher. It would instead mean that the pupil must be relocated to an environment that is more suitable to challenging behaviour.</p>

502YW

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Behaviour improvement: presumption against reinstatement in a mainstream school for children who have been permanently excluded on two occasions</b><br> (1) The School Discipline (Pupil Exclusions and Reviews) (England) Regulations 2012 (2012/1033) are amended as follows.<br> (2) In regulation 6, after paragraph (3) insert—<br> “(3A) Where a pupil has been permanently excluded on two occasions, the presumption should be the governing body, of any mainstream school, must not reinstate the pupil unless a risk assessment has been carried out which demonstrates that the students does not present a heightened risk factor to other students and staff, in which case the school must be able to demonstrate how this risk has been eliminated or negated.<br> (3B) Where a pupil has not been reinstated as a result of conditions under paragraph (3A), the pupil must be relocated to an environment that is more suitable to their challenging behaviour, such as a People Referral Unit or Alternative Provision or similar.””

<p>This amendment seeks to probe the Government’s willingness to introduce a presumption against the reinstatement of a child who has been permanently excluded on two occasions from any mainstream school from being moved to another mainstream school and relocated to an environment that is more suitable to their challenging behaviour, such as a Pupil Referral Unit or Alternative Provision or similar.</p>

502YX

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Report: impact of behaviour of school children on teacher recruitment and retention</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must, within 12 months of the day on which this Act is passed, publish a report on the impact of the behaviour of school children on teacher recruitment and retention.<br> (2) In producing the report under subsection (1), the Secretary of State must consult—<br> (a) local authorities,<br> (b) parents,<br> (c) school governing bodies,<br> (d) teachers,<br> (e) The Office for Standards in Education, and<br> (f) any other persons the Secretary of State deems appropriate.”

<p>This amendment seeks to require the Department for Education to undertake and publish a report on the impact of behaviour of school children on teacher recruitment and retention.</p>

502YY

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Report: impact of behaviour of school children on educational outcomes</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must, within 12 months of the day on which this Act is passed, publish a report on the impact of the behaviour of school children on educational outcomes for their fellow schoolchildren.<br> (2) In producing the report under subsection (1), the Secretary of State must consult—<br> (a) local authorities,<br> (b) parents,<br> (c) school governing bodies,<br> (d) teachers,<br> (e) academy trusts,<br> (f) The Office for Standards in Education, and<br> (g) any other persons the Secretary of State deems appropriate.”

<p>This amendment seeks to require the Department for Education to undertake and publish a report on the impact of behaviour of school children on educational outcomes.</p>

502YYA

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Right to exclude under section 51A of the Education Act 2002</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State has a duty to ensure that agreements or schemes to create local “no exclusion” areas do not infringe on headteachers’ right to exclude pupils in England under section 51A of the Education Act 2002 (Exclusion of pupils: England).<br> (2) The Secretary of State must publish a review to assess—<br> (a) whether headteachers’ right to exclude under section 51A of the Education Act 2002 is being upheld, and<br> (b) whether headteachers are subject to undue pressure to sign up to “no exclusion” agreements or schemes.<br> (3) In preparing the review under subsection (2), the Secretary of State must consult such persons they consider appropriate.”

502YS

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Right to opt out from device-based homework</b><br> (1) Before the beginning of the 2026/27 academic year, the Secretary of State must, by regulations made by statutory instrument, confer a right for parents to elect, by giving notice in writing to a school, for their child to receive, complete and submit homework tasks otherwise than by means of a computer or a personal electronic device.<br> (2) Any regulations made under subsection (1)—<br> (a) must apply to all schools in England;<br> (b) may provide for parents to withdraw any notice previously given to a school, provided they give reasonable warning;<br> (c) may provide for schools temporarily to disregard any such notice in relation to certain or all subjects—<br> (i) by agreement with the parents,<br> (ii) if the headteacher reasonably considers in relation to a particular pupil that it is necessary to do so to accommodate the medical or educational needs of that pupil and provided that the school has first consulted with the parents, or<br> (iii) in exceptional circumstances if the headteacher reasonably considers that it is necessary to do so to maintain continuity of educational provision for particular pupils or for all pupils attending the school.<br> (3) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.<br> (4) For the purposes of this section “parent”, “pupil” and “school” have the meanings given in the Education Act 1996 (see sections 3, 4 and 576 of that Act).”

<p>This amendment establishes a right for parents to ensure their child is able to complete homework without the use of a computer or personal device.</p>

502YT

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Device-based examinations: secondary education examinations</b><br> (1) Before the beginning of the 2026/27 academic year the Secretary of State must, by regulations made by statutory instrument, require examination boards to ensure that all secondary education examinations are completed by pupils by hand, and not by means of a computer or a personal electronic device.<br> (2) Any regulations made under subsection (1) may provide for exceptions—<br> (a) in relation to the examination of subjects for which computer or device use proficiency is a core element of the subject, such as computing and music technology, or<br> (b) where completing an exam by means of a computer or a personal electronic device—<br> (i) is more appropriate for a pupil with special educational needs or disabilities, or<br> (ii) is required by a pupil’s education, health and care plan.<br> (3) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament<br> (4) For the purposes of this section “pupil” has the meaning given by the section 3 of the Education Act 1996 (definition of pupil etc).”

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that secondary education examinations are completed by hand and without pupils needing to use a computer or a personal electronic device, subject to relevant subject or SEND exceptions.</p>

502YU

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Device-based examinations: reception baseline assessments</b><br> (1) Before the beginning of the 2026/27 academic year, the Secretary of State must, by regulations made by statutory instrument, require that reception baseline assessments are completed by pupils otherwise than by means of a computer or a personal electronic device.<br> (2) Any regulations made under subsection (1) may provide for exceptions for pupils with special educational needs or disabilities.<br> (3) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.<br> (4) For the purposes of this section “pupil” has the meaning given by the section 3 of the Education Act 1996 (definition of pupil etc).”

<p>This amendment would ensure that the reception baseline assessment is completed without pupils needing to be able to use a computer or a personal electronic device, unless relevant SEND exceptions apply.</p>

426E

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Harm to the child: prevention of legal action</b><br> (1) No parent can be subject to criminal prosecution, penalty, or sanction (“legal action”) under any provision in sections 30 to 35 if the condition in subsection (2) applies.<br> (2) The condition is that legal action in subsection (1) would result—<br> (a) in harm to a child’s welfare, or<br> (b) on balance, in greater harm to a child’s education than if the legal action was not pursued.<br> (3) For the purposes of subsection (2)—<br> (a) harm to a child’s welfare is determined with reference to section 1 of the Children Act 1989 (welfare of the child), and<br> (b) harm to a child’s education is determined with reference to—<br> (i) section 9 of the Education Act 1996 (pupils to be educated in accordance with parents’ wishes), and<br> (ii) Article 2 of Protocol 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights (right to education).<br> (4) Nothing in this section prevents proportionate civil measures, support, or intervention intended to secure the welfare of the child, provided such measures do not have the effect of undermining the child’s access to suitable education.”

<p>This amendment seeks to prevent prosecution of parents if this would lead to any harm to the child’s welfare and greater harm the child’s education than if legal action was not pursued.</p>

505C

Clause 66, page 124, line 18, at end insert—<br> “(2A) Sections 12 to 18 may not come into force until the Secretary of State has published a statement regarding the human rights obligations of publicly-funded private providers of children’s social care.”

502YN

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Annual review of burdens and sunset of ineffective measures</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must, within 12 months of the day on which this Act is passed and annually thereafter, conduct a review of the operation of all measures introduced by this Act to determine whether they—<br> (a) achieve their stated purpose, and<br> (b) impose unnecessary or disproportionate bureaucratic burdens on local authorities, parents, schools, or the Department.<br> (2) Where a review under subsection (1) finds that any measure does not achieve its stated purpose, or imposes unnecessary burdens disproportionate to its benefits, the Secretary of State must—<br> (a) by regulations made by statutory instrument repeal that measure, or<br> (b) provide exemptions, modifications, or other adjustments to reduce the burden, consistent with the principle of value for money.<br> (3) Any measure introduced by this Act which has failed the tests under subsection (1) and which has not been rectified by regulations under subsection (2) shall automatically cease to have effect two years after the date of the review in which it was identified.<br> (4) A report on each review under subsection (1) must be laid before both Houses of Parliament, setting out—<br> (a) the evidence relied upon,<br> (b) the costs and benefits assessed, and<br> (c) the steps taken under subsection (2).<br> (5) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.”

<p>This amendment establishes an annual review of all measures in the Act to ensure they achieve their purpose without imposing unnecessary bureaucratic burdens. Measures found ineffective or disproportionately burdensome must be repealed or amended, with a sunset clause ensuring that no such measure can persist beyond two years without correction.</p>

502YP

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Substantive fairness in ministerial action</b><br> (1) In exercising any function under this Act, whether by issuing guidance or by reviewing parental appeals, the Secretary of State must act in a manner that is substantively fair, proportionate, and consistent with the best educational interests of the child.<br> (2) To be compliant with subsection (1) it is not sufficient for the Secretary of State to frame guidance or decisions in terms which appear compatible with the Human Rights Act 1998 or the European Convention on Human Rights where the effect in practice is to impose unfair, excessive, or coercive obligations on parents.<br> (3) In any challenge brought before a court, the court must have regard to the actual operation and impact of the guidance or decision on parents and children, and not merely to its formal wording or stated purpose.<br> (4) Guidance issued under this Act must—<br> (a) not extend beyond what is necessary to secure lawful compliance by local authorities and schools, and<br> (b) avoid creating undue burdens on parents.<br> (5) Nothing in this section prevents the Secretary of State from issuing guidance designed to protect children from significant harm, provided such guidance is necessary, proportionate, and capable of practical implementation without undermining parental rights.”

<p>This amendment prevents the Secretary of State from relying on superficial or merely formal compliance with human rights standards to shield their actions from judicial review. It ensures that courts may assess the real-world impact of guidance and appeal decisions, thereby protecting parents and children from unfair or coercive state interference.</p>

502YQ

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Restriction on collection of data relating to children in education</b><br> (1) Public authorities, schools, or any state body may only collect, retain, or process personal data relating to a child in an educational setting where such collection is strictly necessary to protect the child from significant harm as defined by section 31 of the Children Act 1989 (care and supervision).<br> (2) Data collected under subsection (1) must not exceed what is proportionate and essential to the specific risk of harm identified.<br> (3) No personal data may be collected for the purposes of profiling, monitoring, or assessing a child beyond what is necessary for safeguarding under subsection (1).<br> (4) The Secretary of State must, within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, publish guidance setting out the limits of permissible data collection in accordance with this section.”

<p>This amendment seeks to prevent the excessive collection of children’s data in educational settings by limiting state powers of collection to circumstances strictly necessary for protecting a child from harm, as defined by the statutory threshold in the Children Act 1989.</p>

502YR

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Use of powers in the Act</b><br> (1) From the day six months after the day on which this Act is passed the Secretary of State must ensure that the measure in subsection (2) is ready to be enforced at any time.<br> (2) In the event of a national emergency or authoritarian governance, the courts have the final authority to safeguard the primacy of parental rights to determine their child's education in their best interests.<br> (3) Authoritarian governance means a situation where emergency regulations or executive actions suspend, limit, or derogate from rights protected under the Human Rights Act 1998 or the European Convention on Human Rights.”

<p>This amendment seeks to protect the legal rights of parents to determine their child's education in exceptional national circumstances by placing judicial oversight above executive restrictions.</p>

426D

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Sharing local authority best practice on home education</b><br> (1) All local authorities must provide an annual report to the Secretary of State setting out—<br> (a) the total number of home educators in their area (A),<br> (b) the number of complaints they have received from home educators in the preceding year (B), and<br> (c) the number of School Attendance Orders they have issued in the preceding year (C).<br> (2) The Secretary of State must make funding and resources available to any local authority which performs in the top ten percent of both—<br> (a) B as a percentage of A, and<br> (b) C as a percentage of A,<br> <span class="wrapped">to facilitate those local authorities sharing best practice regarding management of home education with local authorities performing in the bottom ten percent of the same metrics.”</span>

235A

Clause 31, page 54, leave out lines 40 to 44 and insert—<br> “(b) the names and home addresses of the parent or parents who are taking responsibility for the education of the child;”

<p>This amendment seeks to identify the minimum requirement for providing information for the register and ensures that information is only included on parents who have responsibility for educating the child.</p>

427BA

Clause 36, page 80, line 18 leave out line 18 and insert—<br> “(d) an Academy, University Technical College or studio school;”

<p>This amendment seeks to include academies, University Technical Colleges and studio schools as excepted institutions for the purposes of the new section 92 in the Education and Skills Act 2008.</p>

429A

Clause 37 page 81, line 41 at end insert—<br> “(3B) A standard may not be prescribed in relation to the proprietor of an academy school, an alternative provision academy, a non-maintained special school, a University Technical College, a city technology college, a city college for the technology of arts or a 16 to 19 Academy.”

<p>This amendment would exempt academy schools, non-maintained special schools, city technology colleges, city colleges for the technology of arts or 16 to 19 Academies from the standard setting powers in Clause 37.</p>

436ZZB

After Clause 44, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Multi-academy trusts: inspection</b><br> (1) Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must establish an inspection regime for multi-academy trusts (MATs), to be discharged by His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Schools.<br> (2) The inspection regime must assess the effectiveness and value for money of MATs.<br> (2) The inspections under the regime must prioritise MATs—<br> (a) which are seeking to enter into new partnerships with schools,<br> (b) whose schools are on average significantly under-performing, or<br> (c) which are not providing value for money.<br> (3) The inspection regime must take into account—<br> (a) varying MAT models, and<br> (b) the level of centralisation in the structure of the MAT.<br> (4) Inspections must be informed by—<br> (a) school-level inspections, and<br> (b) financial information held by the Department for Education regarding the MAT.”

<p>This amendment seeks to establish an inspection regime for multi-academy trusts.</p>

444A

Clause 49, page 113, leave out lines 21 to 33 and insert—<br> “(1) Where the proprietor of an Academy—<br> (a) has breached a relevant duty, or<br> (b) otherwise has acted unreasonably with respect to the performance of a relevant duty, the proprietor must take such steps as are necessary to remedy the breach or unreasonable action and secure the proper performance of the relevant duty.<br> (2) Where the proprietor of an Academy has acted unreasonably with respect to the exercise of a relevant power, the proprietor must take such steps as are necessary to ensure the reasonable exercise of the relevant power.<br> (2A) The proprietor must remedy any breach identified under subsection (1) or (2) within such reasonable period as the circumstances require, having regard to—<br> (a) the nature and seriousness of the breach;<br> (b) the impact or likely impact on pupils' education or welfare;<br> (c) the complexity of the remedial action required;<br> (d) any other relevant circumstances.<br> (2B) Where the Secretary of State is reasonably satisfied that the proprietor of an Academy has breached a relevant duty or otherwise has acted unreasonably with respect to the performance of a relevant duty the Secretary of State may serve notice on the proprietor of an Academy specifying—<br> (a) the breach that has been identified;<br> (b) the relevant duty or power in question;<br> (c) the period within which the proprietor must remedy the breach.”

<p>This amendment seeks to prevent Clause 49 from granting the Secretary of State the power to (1) issue a direction to an Academy that is “likely” to have breached a relevant duty, and (2) prescribe exactly how any breach should be remedied. Instead, it seeks to give Academies discretion in how they remedy an actual breach of a relevant duty.</p>

445ZC

Clause 49, page 114, line 1, leave out “a direction” and insert “notice”

<p>This amendment, connected with another in the name of Baroness Barran, seeks to prevent Clause 49 from granting the Secretary of State the power to (1) issue a direction to an Academy that is “likely” to have breached a relevant duty, and (2) prescribe how any breach should be remedied. Instead, it seeks to give Academies discretion in how they remedy an actual breach of a relevant duty.</p>

445ZD

Clause 49, page 114, line 10, leave out “direction” and insert “notice”

<p>This amendment, connected with another in the name of Baroness Barran, seeks to prevent Clause 49 from granting the Secretary of State the power to (1) issue a direction to an Academy that is “likely” to have breached a relevant duty, and (2) prescribe how any breach should be remedied. Instead, it seeks to give Academies discretion in how they remedy an actual breach of a relevant duty.</p>

502YL

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Education for voting</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State shall have a duty to promote school pupils’ knowledge of the electoral system at all levels of government and the process of voting within it, such that by the age of 16 all pupils have had contact with and practical experience of all the processes involved in an election, including schools facilitating mock elections giving all students opportunities to experience standing for election, campaigning and voting.<br> (2) The Secretary of State must, within 12 months of the day on which this Act is passed, and every 24 months thereafter, lay before Parliament a report on progress on achieving this duty.”

<p>In the light of the Government’s intention of lowering the age of voting to 16 in General Elections, this amendment seeks to probe what practical steps the Government is taking to ensure full preparation for the change within schools.</p>

502YM

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“School complaints procedure</b><br> (1) Within 12 months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must establish a central complaints handling system for use by—<br> (a) the Department for Education,<br> (b) His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Schools (“Ofsted”),<br> (c) the Teacher Regulation Agency, and<br> (d) schools in England.<br> (2) The system must review the complaint and direct it to the most appropriate person or body.<br> (3) The system must enable complaints to be submitted via the GOV.UK website.<br> (4) Complaints submitted under the system must be stored in a single database, to which the Department for Education and Ofsted must have access.”

<p>This amendment seeks to establish a central complaints system for the education system in England, to avoid the duplication of complaints to multiple organisations.</p>

254B

Clause 31, page 55, line 15, at end insert—<br> “(1A) The requirement to provide the information set out in subsection (1)(e) only applies to providers which are providing regular education sessions amounting to 10 hours or more a week, which are not primarily social or recreational in nature, and where the information has not already been provided to the authority in other formats such as an Annual Report.”

<p>This amendment seeks to prevent subsection (1)(e) applying to one-off or largely recreational activities, and to reduce the burden of duplicating information for both parents and local authorities.</p>

257A

Clause 31, page 56, line 4, at end insert—<br> “(fa) in the case of a child who is in the area of a local authority in England, whether the child is a young carer including whether a Young Carer’s Needs Assessment has been carried out;<br> (fb) in the case of a child who is in the area of a local authority in Wales, whether the child is a young carer including whether a Needs Assessment has been carried out;”

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that local authorities are aware of which children in their area being educated other than in a school have caring responsibilities.</p>

502YK

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Prevention of the transmission of respiratory and other diseases</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State shall have a duty to ensure that the levels of ventilation and where necessary filtration of air within classrooms and other school buildings are at the best possible levels for the reduction of the transmission of respiratory diseases, and that other appropriate measures are in place to reduce the transmission of all diseases.<br> (2) The Secretary of State must, within 12 months of the day on which this Act is passed, and every 12 months thereafter, lay before Parliament a report on progress on achieving this goal.”

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that schools provide the safest and most resilient environment possible against the spread of infectious diseases.</p>

502YH

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause— <br> <b>“Statutory standards of filtering and monitoring systems deployed in schools</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must by regulations made by statutory instrument specify minimum standards for filtering and monitoring technologies used to safeguard children in schools.<br> (2) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.<br> (3) These regulations apply to any filtering and monitoring systems procured by or deployed in schools.<br> (4) The standards in subsection (1) must—<br> (a) meet the standards of the Department for Education’s<i> Keeping children safe in education</i> statutory guidance;<br> (b) meet the standards of the Department for Education’s <i>Meeting digital and technology standards in schools </i>guidance, including its filtering and monitoring standards for schools and colleges;<br> (c) meet the standards of the Department for Education’s <i>Generative AI: product safety expectations</i>;<br> (d) prevent filtering and monitoring systems’ barriers to accessing illegal content from being switched off.<br> (5) Filtering and monitoring standards set out in subsection (4) must be certified by an accreditation scheme sanctioned by the Department for Education.<br> (6) Certification must be dependent on the completion of a real-time test each term, delivered remotely or in person, to ensure compliance with the requirements of subsection (4).<br> (7) When inspecting a school, the Secretary of State must require OFSTED to ensure that—<br> (a) schools have a certified filtering and monitoring system;<br> (b) real-time tests, set out in subsection (6), are conducted and recorded;<br> (c) incidents or breaches are recorded.<br> (8) In this section, “school” means an entity that provides education to children in the United Kingdom including early years providers, nursery schools, primary schools, secondary schools, sixth form colleges, city technology colleges, academies, free schools, faith schools, special schools, state boarding schools, and private schools.”

502YI

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Code of practice on Children’s Data and Education</b><br> (1) The Information Commissioner’s office must prepare a code of practice which contains such guidance as the Commissioner considers appropriate on the processing of data in connection with the provision of education to children.<br> (2) Guidance under subsection (1) must include consideration of—<br> (a) all aspects of the provision of education including learning, school management and safeguarding;<br> (b) all types of schools and learning settings;<br> (c) the need for transparency and evidence of efficacy on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) systems in the provision of education;<br> (d) the collection of data for the purpose of training AI systems used in schools, including the collection of data by the Department for Education during trials of AI systems,<br> (e) the impact of profiling and automated decision-making on children’s access to education opportunities;<br> (f) the principle that children have a right to know what data about them is being generated, collected, processed, stored and shared;<br> (g) the principle that those with parental responsibility have a right to know how their children's data is being generated, collected, processed, stored and shared;<br> (h) the safety and security of children’s data;<br> (i) the need to ensure children's access to and use of counselling services and the exchange of information for safeguarding purposes are not restricted.<br> (3) In preparing a code or amendments under this section, the Commissioner must have regard to—<br> (a) the fact that children are entitled to a higher standard of protection than adults with regard to their personal data as set out in the United Kingdom GDPR, and the ICO’s Age Appropriate Design code;<br> (b) the need to prioritise children's best interests and to uphold their rights under UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and General Comment 25;<br> (c) the fact that children may require different protections at different ages and stages of development;<br> (d) the need to support innovation to enhance United Kingdom children’s education and learning opportunities, including facilitating testing of novel products and supporting the certification and the development of standards;<br> (e) ensuring the benefits from product and service developed using United Kingdom children’s data accrue to the United Kingdom.<br> (4) In preparing a code or amendments under this section, the Commissioner must consult with—<br> (a) children,<br> (b) educators,<br> (c) parents,<br> (d) persons who appear to the Commissioner to represent the interests of children,<br> (e) the AI Safety Institute, and<br> (f) the relevant Education department for each nation of the United Kingdom.<br> (5) The Code applies to data processors and controllers that—<br> (a) are providing education in school or other learning settings;<br> (b) provide services or products in connection with the provision of education;<br> (c) collect children's data whilst they are learning;<br> (d) use education data, education data sets or pupil data to develop services and products;<br> (e) build, train or operate AI systems and models that impact children’s learning experience or outcomes;<br> (f) are public authorities that process education data, education data sets or pupil data.<br> (6) The Commissioner must prepare a report, in consultation with the EdTech industry and other stakeholders set out in subsection (4), on the steps required to develop a certification scheme under Article 42 of the United Kingdom GDPR, to enable the industry to demonstrate the compliance of EdTech services and products with the United Kingdom GDPR, and conformity with this Code.<br> (7) Where requested by an education service, evidence of compliance with this Code must be provided by relevant providers of commercial products and services in a manner that satisfies the education service’s obligations under the Code.<br> (8) In this section—<br> “AI” means technology enabling the programming or training of a device or software to perceive environments through the use of data, interpret data using automated processing designed to approximate cognitive abilities, and make recommendations, predictions or decisions; and includes generative AI, meaning deep or large language models able to generate text and other content based on the data on which they were trained,<br> “EdTech” means a service or product that digitise education functions including administration and management information systems, learning and assessment and safeguarding, including services or products used within school settings and at home on the recommendation, advice or instruction of a school,<br> “education data” means personal data that forms part of an educational record,<br> “education data sets” means anonymised or pseudonymised data sets that include Education Data or Pupil Data,<br> “efficacy” means that the promised learning outcomes can be evidenced,<br> “learning setting” means a place where children learn including schools, their home and extra-curricular learning services, for example online and in-person tutors,<br> “pupil data” means personal data about a child collected whilst they are learning which does not form part of an educational record, and<br> “safety and security” means that it has been adequately tested.”

436ZZA

After Clause 44, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Intervention powers for underperforming multi-academy trusts</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must monitor the educational performance of multi-academy trusts (“MATs”) to identify those that are significantly underperforming relative to their local peer group.<br> (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a MAT is significantly underperforming if—<br> (a) over a period of three consecutive academic years, the weighted average educational outcomes across all academies within the trust that qualify to be included in the national league tables, fall below the tenth percentile when compared to schools serving similar levels of deprivation within the same local authority area or statistical neighbour group, and<br> (b) the trust demonstrates insufficient progress in addressing identified weaknesses despite support and intervention measures.<br> (3) The educational outcomes referred to in subsection (2)(a) include—<br> (a) in respect of the primary phase, Key Stage 2 attainment measures in reading, writing and mathematics;<br> (b) in respect of the secondary phase, Key Stage 4 attainment and progress measures;<br> (c) such other measures as the Secretary of State may specify by regulations.<br> (4) When assessing performance under subsection (2), the Secretary of State must adjust comparisons to account for levels of deprivation.<br> (5) Where the Secretary of State is satisfied that a MAT meets the criteria in subsection (2), the Secretary of State may—<br> (a) commission Ofsted to inspect the MAT at group level and report to the Department for Education and publicly on areas of weakness,<br> (b) issue a notice to improve specifying areas where improvement is required and timescales,<br> (b) require the trust to engage with a specified school improvement partner,<br> (c) terminate the master funding agreement and all supplemental funding agreements, or<br> (d) take such other steps as appear necessary to secure improvement, including rebrokering all or some of the schools to another local MAT or MATs.<br> (6) Before exercising powers under subsection (5), the Secretary of State must—<br> (a) give the trust written notice of the intention to intervene, specifying the grounds and proposed actions,<br> (b) provide the trust with an opportunity to make representations within 28 days,<br> (c) consider any representations made, and<br> (d) notify the trust in writing of the final decision and reasons.<br> (7) A MAT may appeal a decision under subsection (5) to the First-tier Tribunal within 28 days of receiving notice of the decision.<br> (8) The Secretary of State must publish an annual report on—<br> (a) the number of MATs identified as underperforming,<br> (b) interventions undertaken, and<br> (c) any outcomes achieved through intervention measures.<br> (9) The Secretary of State may make regulations by statutory instrument which—<br> (a) specify additional educational outcome measures under subsection (3)(c);<br> (b) prescribe deprivation indicators under subsection (4);<br> (c) set out detailed procedures for performance assessment and intervention;<br> (d) define “local peer group” and “statistical neighbour group” for the purposes of this section.<br> (10) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.”

502YG

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Allergy safety provisions in schools</b><br> (1) Within 12 months of the day on which this Act is passed, all schools in England must—<br> (a) adopt a school allergy and anaphylaxis policy,<br> (b) obtain individual healthcare and anaphylaxis action plans for all pupils with allergies,<br> (c) purchase and store in-date adrenaline auto-injectors on school property,<br> (d) provide training for school staff on allergy awareness and administrating adrenaline auto-injectors, and<br> (e) record any allergic reactions in the pupil’s individual healthcare and anaphylaxis action plan.<br> (2) The Secretary of State must provide guidance to schools on the implementation of subsection (1) within six months of the day on which this Bill is passed.”

<p>This amendment seeks to introduce mandatory allergy safety policies for all schools in England.</p>

504B

Clause 66, page 124, line 4, at end insert—<br> “(aa) section (<i>Guidance for schools on gender questioning children</i>);”

<p>This amendment ensures another amendment in the name of Baroness Barran would take effect on the day the Act is passed.</p>

502YE

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Guidance for schools on gender questioning children</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must publish statutory guidance for schools on gender questioning children on the day on which this Act is passed.<br> (2) A relevant school must have regard to the guidance on gender questioning children published by the Secretary of State under this section.”

<p>This amendment seeks to require the Department for Education to publish the guidance for schools on gender questioning children and schools must have regard for the guidance.</p>

502YF

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Permanent exclusion: assessment</b><br> After being informed that a pupil has been permanently excluded from a school or academy, the local authority must carry out an assessment under paragraph 3 (assessment of children’s needs) of Schedule 2 of the Children Act 1989.”

<p>This amendment seeks to require the local authority to undertake an assessment of the needs of the child if they are permanently excluded from school.</p>

431A

After Clause 37, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Review of independent educational institution standards</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must publish a report on the predicted impact of section 37(2) of this Act (independent educational institution standards).<br> (2) The review must include the predicted impact of that subsection on—<br> (a) academy schools;<br> (b) alternative provision academies;<br> (c) non-maintained special schools;<br> (d) university technical colleges;<br> (e) city technology colleges;<br> (f) city colleges for the technology of arts;<br> (g) 16 to 19 academies.”

<p>This amendment, and another in the name of Baroness Barran, seeks to prevent section 37(2) of the Act from coming into force until the Secretary of State has published a report on the predicted impact of that subsection on the academic institutions set out in this amendment.</p>

506D

Clause 66, page 124, line 21, at end insert—<br> “(3A) Section 37(2) may not be brought into force until the review required by section (<i>Review of independent educational institution standards</i>) has been published and laid before Parliament.”

<p>This amendment, and another in the name of Baroness Barran, seeks to prevent section 37(2) of the Act from coming into force until the Secretary of State has published a report on the predicted impact of that subsection on the academic institutions set out in the new clause amendment.</p>

445ZB

Clause 49, page 113, line 33, at end insert—<br> “(2A) The Secretary of State must make an annual statement to both Houses of Parliament, which must include—<br> (a) the number of times the Secretary of State exercised the powers under this section,<br> (b) the actions taken, and<br> (c) the reasons for taking such actions.”

<p>This amendment seeks to require the Secretary of State to make a statement to Parliament annually that sets out how often the Secretary of State has directed the powers of the proprietor of an Academy.</p>

445B

Clause 50, page 114, leave out lines 18 to 39, and insert—<br> “(a) in subsection (A1), at the end insert “unless the Secretary of State determines that no suitable sponsor is available”;<br> (b) after subsection (A1) insert—<br> “(A2) Where the Secretary of State determines that no suitable sponsor is available, the Secretary of State must, within 14 days, publish a plan to secure appropriate governance and leadership of the school and to secure its rapid improvement.<br> (A3) A plan published under subsection (A2) must include—<br> (a) the parties with responsibility for the school and its improvement,<br> (b) the parties who will take action to improve provision in the school,<br> (c) the resources that will be provided to the relevant parties, including who will provide the resources and when the resources will be provided, and<br> (d) the intended outcomes of the plan, with the relevant timetables for the outcomes.<br> (A4) The Secretary of State must report annually to Parliament on—<br> (a) the number of times the Secretary of State has published a plan under subsection (A2),<br> (b) the resources which have been provided as part of any plans, and<br> (c) the outcomes of any plans.””

<p>This amendment seeks to retain the existing requirement to make an academy order unless the Secretary of State determines there is no suitable sponsor available.</p>

446A

Clause 50, page 114, line 20, at end insert—<br> “(c) after subsection (7), insert—<br> “(7A) No application or petition for judicial review may be made or brought in relation to a decision taken by the Secretary of State to make an Academy order.””

<p>This amendment seeks to prevent a judicial review being brought if the Secretary of State makes an academy order.</p>

446B

Clause 50, page 114, line 20, at end insert—<br> “(c) after subsection (1), insert—<br> “(1ZA) The Secretary of State must make an Academy order in respect of a maintained school in England if—<br> (a) Ofsted has judged the school to require significant improvement, or<br> (b) a Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence team has judged the school to be significantly underperforming when compared with neighbouring schools with similar demographics.””

<p>This amendment seeks to require an Academy order to be made to a maintained school if Ofsted has judged the school to require significant improvement or a RISE team have judged the school to be significantly underperforming.</p>

502YC

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Education Act 2002: exemptions related to school performance</b><br> In section 216 (commencement) of the Education Act 2002, after subsection (3), insert—<br> “(3A) The following provisions come into force on the day on which the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2025 is passed—<br> (a) section 6,<br> (b) section 7,<br> (c) section 8,<br> (d) section 9, and<br> (e) section 10.””

<p>This amendment seeks to commence Chapter 2 of Part 1 of the Education Act 2002 (Exemptions related to school performance), which would allow well-performing schools to be exempt from curriculum provision and pay and conditions provision.</p>

502YD

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Exemption from duty to follow National Curriculum</b><br> (1) The Education Act 2002 is amended as follows.<br> (2) In section 78 (general requirements in relation to curriculum), after subsection (1), insert—<br> “(1A) Any school which has an Ofsted rating of outstanding or any equivalent Ofsted rating is exempt from the requirements under this section.”<br> (3) In section 80 (basic curriculum for every maintained school in England), after subsection (2A), insert—<br> “(2B) Any school which has an Ofsted rating of outstanding or any equivalent Ofsted rating is exempt from the requirements under this section.””

[<i>Withdrawn</i>]<br>After Clause 47, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Exemption from requirement to follow National Curriculum in the interests of improving standards</b><br> In the Education Act 2002, after section 95 (Appeals against directions under section 93 etc) insert—<br> <b>“95A</b> <b>Exception in the interests of improving standards</b><br> Where the proprietor of an Academy school or a local authority maintained school believes that the raising of standards in the school would be better served by the school’s curriculum not including the National Curriculum, any provisions of this Act or any other Act do not apply so far as they require the school’s curriculum to include or follow the National Curriculum.””

<p>This amendment seeks to allow schools to narrow their curriculum if it would result in improving standards.</p>

452ZA

After Clause 54, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Power to direct admission not to have regard to maintained or Academy status</b><br> In section 96 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (direction to admit child to specified school), after subsection (2) insert—<br> “(2A) A direction under this section may not take into account whether a school is a maintained school or an Academy.””

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that the decisions regarding pupil admissions numbers do not take into account whether the school is an Academy or a local authority maintained school.</p>

453A

Clause 56, page 118, line 29, at end insert—<br> “(4A) Where making a decision the adjudicator must take into account—<br> (a) the performance of the school, and<br> (b) whether the school is oversubscribed.”

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that the adjudicator must consider the performance and the subscription of the school.</p>

453B

Clause 56, page 118, leave out lines 33 to line 38

<p>This amendment seeks to remove the regulation-making power which would specify the matters the adjudicator must consider if changing the pupil admissions number.</p>

457A

After Clause 56, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Limits on objections to changes to PAN</b><br> In section 88H of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (reference of objections to adjudicator), after subsection (2) insert—<br> “(2A) No objection may be referred to the adjudicator which—<br> (a) objects to an increase in a school’s published admissions number, or<br> (b) objects to a school’s published admissions number remaining at the same level.””

<p>This amendment seeks to limit objections pupil admissions numbers if they increase or remain stable.</p>

457B

After Clause 56, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“High performing schools to be allowed to expand PAN</b><br> In section 88D of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (determination of admission numbers), after subsection (1) insert—<br> “(1A) Where a school—<br> (a) being a primary school, has over 60% of its pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined in the Key Stage 2 national curriculum assessments,<br> (b) being a secondary school, is performing above +0.5 on Progress 8,<br> <span class="wrapped">wishes to increase its published admissions number, the admission authority must reflect that wish in its determination.””</span>

<p>This amendment seeks to allow high performing schools to be able to increase their pupil admission numbers.</p>

432B

Clause 39, page 96, leave out lines 17 and 18

<p>This amendment seeks to remove the inclusion of a change in the buildings occupied and made available for student use within the definition of a material change.</p>

433A

Clause 39, page 96, line 43, at end insert—<br> “(2D) The Secretary of State must issue guidance for relevant institutions on how subsection (2)(g) is to be understood.”

<p>This would require the Secretary of State to issue guidance to independent schools on how to apply subsection (2)(g).</p>

436B

Clause 46, page 110, line 17, at end insert—<br> “(1A) In section 133 (requirement to be qualified) after subsection (1) insert—<br> “(1A) The requirement in subsection (1)(a) only applies after a person has been carrying out such work in a school for five years.””

<p>This amendment would allow schools a 5 year period for teaching staff to gain QTS.</p>

436C

Clause 46, page 110, line 17, at end insert—<br> “(1A) In section 133 (requirement to be qualified) after subsection (1) insert—<br> “(1A) Where a person is carrying out such work for the purposes of teaching a shortage subject, the requirement in subsection (1)(a) does not apply.<br> (1B) For the purposes of this section, “shortage subject” means any subject in relation to which the recruitment targets set by the department for initial teacher training have not been met in the most recent years for which such statistics exist.””

<p>This amendment seeks to allow schools to employ teachers who do not hold QTS for shortage subjects.</p>

444B

Clause 49, page 113, leave out lines 24 and 25

<p>This amendment removes the Secretary of State’s power to direct in cases where proprietor has acted, or proposes to act, unreasonably.</p>

444C

Clause 49, page 113, line 26, leave out from “may” to the end of line 33 and insert “exercise their powers under the funding agreement to terminate or require performance of the funding agreement in accordance with its terms.”

<p>This amendment would limit the Secretary of State’s power of direction should an Academy breach, or act unreasonably in respect of, the performance of a relevant duty.</p>

445ZA

Clause 49, page 113, line 32, leave out from “as” to the end of line 33 and insert “are necessary to secure compliance with statutory duties, the requirements of a funding agreement, or charity law.”

<p>This amendment seeks to limit the Secretary of State’s power of direction should an Academy act unreasonably in respect of the performance of a relevant duty.</p>

502YB

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Review of climate adaptation of schools</b><br> (1) Within 12 months of the day on which this Act is passed, and then biannually thereafter, the Secretary of State must publish a review of the level of preparedness of grant maintained schools, and other schools, for increasing extremes of climate, particularly high temperatures, taking into consideration—<br> (a) the preparedness of buildings and grounds;<br> (b) the suitability of uniform provision;<br> (c) the suitability of transport provision;<br> (d) the level of emergency planning to protect pupil health and wellbeing, including regulations or rules about maximum temperatures in classrooms;<br> (e) such other issues as may be considered relevant.<br> (2) In preparing such a report, the Secretary of State shall take advice from the Committee on Climate Change, the chief medical officer, and such other individuals as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.<br> (3) Within six months of the completion of the review, the Secretary of State must publish and lay before Parliament a report on the findings of the review and any recommendations for improvements.”

483A

Leave out “3” and insert “7”

<p>This amendment seeks to broaden the discussion to include higher levels of apprenticeship.</p>

195A

Clause 29, page 49, line 10, leave out “have” and insert “buy”

<p>This amendment would enable schools to require pupils to wear more than three branded items of school uniform as long as parents have not had to pay for them.</p>

195B

Clause 29, page 49, line 13, leave out “have” and insert “buy”

<p>This amendment would enable schools to require pupils to wear more than three branded items of school uniform as long as parents have not had to pay for them.</p>

502Y

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Benefits of nature-based learning to children’s wellbeing</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must, within six months of the passing of this Act, conduct a review on the benefits of nature-based learning to children's health and wellbeing, including but not limited to—<br> (a) the desirability of bringing nature into schools through greening physical spaces and encouraging horticulture,<br> (b) the desirability of outdoor learning for developing skills, including those relevant to a nature-positive economy, and<br> (c) the barriers to nature-based learning, and potential policy solutions to overcome those barriers.<br> (2) A report on the review must be published within six months of the conclusion of the review.”

<p>This amendment would require government to review and report on the benefits of nature based learning to children’s health and wellbeing</p>

502YA

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Civil preparedness</b><br> Every school must demonstrate appropriate age-specific training for all children across the school for local individual or mass casualty emergencies.”

502X

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Education about food growing and preparation</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State shall have a duty to promote school pupils’ knowledge of food growing and food preparation, with the aim of ensuring that each pupil spends an average of one hour per week as a minimum during term time in education on such topics.<br> (2) The Secretary of State must, within 12 months of the day on which this Act is passed, and every 12 months thereafter, lay before Parliament a report on progress on achieving this goal.”

<p>This amendment aims to improve pupils’ exposure to and knowledge of food growing and preparation, with a view towards both improving public health and food security, particularly in times of crisis.</p>

447ZB

After Clause 50, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Academy order for an academy school to be converted into a school maintained by the local authority</b><br> The Academies Act 2010 is amended as follows—<br> (a) in section 4, after subsection (10) insert—<br> “(10A) The Secretary of State may make an Academy reversal order to convert an academy school into a school maintained by the local authority if the Secretary of State receives representations from an academy school governing body, staff, parents or the local authority in support of converting the academy school into a maintained school.”;<br> (b) in section 5, after subsection (1) insert—<br> “(1A) Before an academy is converted into a maintained school, the Secretary of State must consult such persons as they think appropriate about whether the conversion should take place.””

<p>This new clause allows the Secretary of State to make an Academy reversal order in the event that the Secretary of State receives representations from an academy school governing body, staff, parents or the local authority supporting an academy school returning to be maintained by the local authority.</p>

203A

Clause 30, page 51, leave out lines 2 to 23 and insert—<br> “(c) a local authority is—<br> (i) conducting enquiries under section 47 of the Children Act 1989 (duty to investigate) in respect of the child, or<br> (ii) taking action under section 47(8) of that Act to safeguard or promote the child's welfare, in a case where the enquiries mentioned in sub-paragraph (i) have led the local authority to conclude that the child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm (within the meaning of section 31(9) and (10) of that Act).”

<p>This amendment limits consent requirements to safeguarding cases under section 47 of the Children Act 1989. It removes subsection (3) of 434A, recognising special school placement as supportive, not suspicious, and ensures local authorities must evidence actual harm risk, rather than requiring parents to justify withdrawal.</p>

502U

After Clause 62, insert the following new clause—<br> <b>“Inclusive education standards for teachers</b><br> (1) All teachers employed in state-funded special schools in England and Wales must possess Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in addition to the Special Educational Needs Coordinators National Professional Qualification, unless—<br> (a) they are undergoing a recognised programme of initial teacher training leading to QTS, or<br> (b) they are under the direct supervision of a qualified teacher.<br> (2) The Secretary of State must ensure that all approved providers of initial teacher training include in their curriculum—<br> (a) mandatory training in inclusive education principles and practice,<br> (b) understanding of the barriers faced by Disabled pupils and those with special educational needs, and<br> (c) practical strategies for supporting diverse learners in mainstream and specialist settings.<br> (3) The Secretary of State must, within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, issue regulations made by statutory instrument requiring schools to ensure that all teaching staff participate in regular continuing professional development that includes—<br> (a) inclusive pedagogy,<br> (b) Universal Design for Learning, and<br> (c) working in multidisciplinary teams to support Disabled pupils.<br> (4) A statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (3) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.<br> (5) All schools must ensure that Disabled pupils’ access to the curriculum and opportunities is not reliant on a single member of staff, including by—<br> (a) developing inclusive practice as a whole-school approach, and<br> (b) ensuring consistency in teaching quality and support across subjects and key stages.<br> (6) The Secretary of State must publish statutory guidance on the implementation of inclusive education training and qualification requirements under this section within 12 months of the day on which this Act is passed.<br> (7) In preparing the guidance, the Secretary of State must consult—<br> (a) the Children’s Commissioner for England,<br> (b) teaching unions,<br> (c) organisations led by Disabled people, and<br> (d) experts in inclusive and special education.”

502V

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Transparency and reporting of special educational needs and disabilities funding in state funded schools</b><br> (1) All state-funded schools in England, including maintained schools and academies, must submit to the Secretary of State an annual report detailing the allocation and expenditure of funds designated for supporting pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).<br> (2) Each school’s report must include—<br> (a) the total amount of—<br> (i) the notional SEND budget allocated to the school;<br> (ii) any additional high-needs (top-up) funding received via the local authority;<br> (iii) any funding received through the Early Years SEN Inclusion Fund or similar grants;<br> (b) a detailed breakdown of how SEND funding was allocated, including but not limited to the following categories—<br> (i) staffing costs specifically for SEND provision, including Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinators, teaching assistants, therapists and any other relevant roles;<br> (ii) costs of external specialist services, including speech and language therapy, educational psychology and any other relevant services;<br> (iii) training and professional development related to SEND, inclusion, or disability equality;<br> (iv) assistive technology, specialist equipment, and adaptive learning materials;<br> (v) SEND-specific interventions or curriculum adaptations, including small-group and individual support;<br> (vi) expenses related to preparing and delivering provision under education, health and care plans (EHCPs);<br> (c) identification of funding spent on system-level or whole-school inclusive practice, such as—<br> (i) universal design for learning strategies;<br> (ii) inclusive classroom design or accessibility improvements;<br> (iii) engagement of families of children with SEND;<br> (d) a statement evaluating the outcomes of SEND funding, including—<br> (i) progress made by pupils with SEND, including those with EHCPs;<br> (ii) how funding contributed to meeting pupils’ individual needs and EHCP objectives;<br> (iii) any measurable improvements in attendance, engagement, or inclusion of pupils with SEND;<br> (e) any underspend or unallocated SEND funding and how the school plans to use it in the following academic year.<br> (3) The Secretary of State must issue statutory guidance outlining an annual deadline and the standardised format and content requirements for the SEND funding report to ensure consistency and comparability across schools.<br> (4) Schools must adhere to this guidance when preparing their annual SEND funding reports.<br> (5) School governing bodies are responsible for ensuring compliance with the requirements set out in this clause.<br> (6) Failure to comply with the publication requirements may result in appropriate remedial actions as determined by the Secretary of State.<br> (7) The Secretary of State must publish all schools’ reports received under this section within one month of receiving them.”

502W

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Cross-sector data collection and reporting</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must establish a cross-sector data management system to track children through education, health and social care systems using a unique reference number.<br> (2) The Secretary of State must publish annual reports using data collected from the cross-sector management system under subsection (1) to assess how many children who are—<br> (a) excluded from school, and<br> (b) in social care settings,<br> <span class="wrapped">have been diagnosed with special educational needs.</span><br> (3) Annual reports must include disaggregation by diagnosis and Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) status.”

505B

Clause 66, page 124, line 18, at end insert—<br> “(2A) Section 27 may only come into force after the Secretary of State has laid before Parliament a report containing the following information—<br> (a) what form breakfast club provision by schools currently takes;<br> (b) how much breakfast club provision costs schools, and how much is charged by schools for such provision;<br> (c) how much funding is estimated to be required to enable schools to meet the requirements of section 27;<br> (d) what additional staff will be required to deliver the breakfast clubs;<br> (e) the grounds on which the Secretary of State would use the power under section 551C of the Education Act 1996.”

<p>This amendment would delay the commencement of clause 27 until the Secretary of State has laid before Parliament a report containing information on breakfast club provision, costs and resources.</p>

183CD

After Clause 26, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Early intervention and screening at first contact with the justice system</b><br> (1) Within two years of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must publish a strategy to protect and promote the wellbeing of children in police custody.<br> (2) The strategy must set out—<br> (a) steps which should be taken to ensure that all children taken into police custody are screened for SEND and neurodivergence using a nationally approved methodology,<br> (b) the accredited training police officers and legal representatives of the children must complete to support the child’s wellbeing and to aid recognition of SEND and neurodivergence,<br> (c) mandatory access to sources of wellbeing support during any police interview, and<br> (d) minimum standards for the treatment and conditions of children detained in police custody.”

186B

Clause 27, page 47, line 10, leave out from “may” to “by” in line 11

<p>This probing amendment would allow the Secretary of State to lift the duty to provide free breakfast clubs on schools by notice without prior application from the appropriate authority of a relevant school.</p>

186C

Clause 27, page 47, line 17, at end insert—<br> “(c) teachers at the relevant schools.”

187B

After Clause 27, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Impact assessment on the provision of longer breakfast clubs</b><br> Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must publish an impact assessment on the impact of the changes made by section 27 on the provision of paid breakfast clubs of more than 30 minutes in length.”

<p>This amendment seeks to require an impact assessment to see how the introduction of a 30 minute free breakfast club will impact the existing longer paid breakfast clubs used by working parents.</p>

211A

Clause 30, page 51, leave out lines 39 and 40 and insert—<br> “(i) that the enquiries mentioned in subsection (4)(a) have led the authority to conclude that the child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm (within the meaning of sections 9 and 10 of the Children Act 1989), or”

367A

Clause 32, page 76, line 24, leave out “may” and insert “must”

502Q

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Preventing school exclusion and strengthening support for vulnerable children</b><br> (1) Where a child is subject to police involvement or is known to youth justice services, a youth justice practitioner must be invited to attend any school exclusion hearing or appeal concerning that child, to assist the child and their family and the school in identifying appropriate support to maintain the child’s engagement in education.<br> (2) In cases where a child has suspected or recognised special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or neurodivergence, there shall be a presumption against permanent or fixed-term exclusion.<br> (3) An alternative educational plan must be developed, including a timely assessment of the child’s learning needs.<br> (4) Where police are called to a school in relation to a child known to youth justice or other statutory services, the school must notify the relevant agency to ensure coordinated decision-making and safeguarding.”

502R

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Mandatory training in SEND and neurodivergence</b><br> (1) Within one year of the passing of this Act, all school teaching staff must receive mandatory training in the identification and support of children with SEND and neurodivergence.<br> (2) The Secretary of State must issue guidance on the content, frequency and delivery of such training, and ensure it is embedded in initial teacher training and continuing professional development.”

502S

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Duty on schools to work with youth courts to provide assessment of special educational needs and neurodivergence</b><br> Schools must, when requested, provide courts with an assessment of a child’s special educational needs or neurodivergence, including but not limited to—<br> (a) whether the child has SEND or neurodivergence;<br> (b) whether appropriate adaptations and support were in place during their schooling;<br> (c) whether further expert assessment is required.”

502T

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Duty on schools to support reintegration and rehabilitation for children post-custody</b><br> (1) Schools must collaborate with social services, mental health providers and youth justice services to embed post-custody reintegration planning for children with special education needs.<br> (2) The Secretary of State must publish an annual assessment of how effectively schools in England support the reintegration and rehabilitation of children post-custody.”

504A

Clause 66, page 124, line 4, at end insert “, subject to subsection (2A)”

505A

Clause 66, page 124, line 18, at end insert—<br> “(2A) Section 15 may not come into force until the Secretary of State has published a report that contains—<br> (a) details of the number of available placements in relevant establishments or agencies, and<br> (b) an analysis of the expected impact of this section on the number of available placements in relevant establishments or agencies.”

<p>This amendment seeks to require a report that would clarify the supply and capacity of independent children’s homes and independent fostering agencies before the clause is commenced.</p>

134C

After Clause 11, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Affirmative procedure for deprivation of liberty orders</b><br> (1) Section 25 of the Children Act 1989 (use of accommodation for restricting liberty) is amended as follows.<br> (2) After subsection (2) insert—<br> “(2A) A statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (2) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.”<br> (3) After subsection (7) insert—<br> “(7A) A statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (7) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.”<br> (4) In section 104 of that Act (regulations and orders), in subsection (2), after “17(4),” insert “25(2), 25(7),”.”

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that any changes to the time a deprivation of liberty order lasts, the type of accommodation used or the descriptions of children to whom the section applies are subject to affirmative procedure.</p>

152A

Clause 24, page 41, line 29, at end insert—<br> “(2A) Guidance given by the Secretary of State under subsection (1) shall be laid before Parliament in draft form and is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.”

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that guidance issued under Clause 24 is subject to draft negative procedure, as recommended by the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee.</p>

202C

Clause 30, page 50, line 32, leave out “withdraw the child from school” and insert “remove the child’s name from the school roll”

<p>This is a probing amendment seeking to establish how these provisions would relate to flexischooling children, that is, children who are not full-time in school with the agreement of their school and therefore remain on the school roll.</p>

227A

Clause 31, page 54, line 8, after “school,” insert— <br> <span class="wrapped">“but does not include where an alternative arrangement has been agreed between the proprietor of the school and a parent of the child, where the child will receive a full-time education, partly in school, and partly under the supervision of the parent,”</span>

<p>This is a probing amendment seeking to establish what the arrangements would be for flexischooling children, that is, children who are not full-time in school with the agreement of their school, and whether they would be exempt from the children not in school register.</p>

427C

Clause 36, page 80, line 23, at end insert—<br> “(h) an institution—<br> (i) that is only providing religious instruction or guidance,<br> (ii) where parents or guardians of attendees have registered at their Local Authority that they provide suitable out-of-school education separate from or in addition to any attendance at the institution, and<br> (iii) where the institution demonstrates to the Local Authority that it provides the required safeguarding measures.”

436ZA

Clause 45, page 108, line 13, at end insert “qualified,”

<p>This amendment seeks to extend investigations to those qualified teachers currently teaching overseas. The effect being that should they return to the UK, or seek employment with employers who make a prohibition check with the Teaching Regulation Authority, incidents carried out overseas will be covered.</p>

436ZB

Clause 45, page 109, line 28, at end insert—<br> “(4A) In section 141C (list of persons prohibited from teaching etc) at the end of subsection (5) insert “, including making reasonable efforts to include any changes of name by such persons.”

<p>This amendment addresses concerns that person prohibited from teaching are using name changes to evade detection in prohibition order checks.</p>

502P

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Safe and Resilient Schools Plan</b><br> (1) All new school buildings must be net zero in operation, and designed for a 2°C rise in average global temperatures and future-proofed for a 4°C rise.<br> (2) All new school buildings must be built to adapt to the risks of climate change, including increased flooding and higher indoor temperatures.<br> (3) The Secretary of State must within two years of the day on which this Act is passed—<br> (a) publish a national Safe and Resilient Schools Plan which sets out how existing school buildings can reach net zero and be resilient to climate risks, and<br> (b) set a target date, using the affirmative resolution procedure, and delivery roadmap for implementation of the Safe and Resilient Schools Plan.”

<p>This amendment would make the Department for Education’s guidance around new school buildings statutory, and require government to publish and implement a plan which ensures that existing school buildings are resilient to climate risks, like overheating and flooding, and reach net zero.</p>

445A

Clause 49, page 114, line 11, at end insert—<br> “(6A) An Academy proprietor may appeal a mandatory order made in this section to a regional advisory body within 28 days of the issuing of the order.<br> (6B) A regional advisory body under subsection (6A) must be made up of headteachers of academies, at least half of whom must be elected, and other members must be appointed by the Secretary of State.”

<p>The amendment seeks to ensure the use of directions is made transparently and fairly following proper process.</p>

447ZA

[<i>Withdrawn</i>]<br>After Clause 50, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Extension of power to innovate to academy proprietors</b><br> (1) The Education Act 2002 is amended as follows.<br> (2) In section 1(3) (purpose and interpretation of Chapter 1), in the definition of “qualifying body”, after paragraph (h), insert—<br> “(i) an academy proprietor;””

<p>This amendment seeks to extend the power to innovate to Academy trusts.</p>

<i>Lord Agnew of Oulton gives notice of his intention to oppose the Question that Clause 55 stand part of the Bill.</i>

458A

After subsection (2)(d) insert—<br> “(e) may provide for exemptions for educational purposes.”

<p>The amendment seeks to ensure that schools may return smartphones to students during the school day for educational purposes such as media literacy lessons.</p>

448A

After Clause 52, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Teacher’s pay and conditions: right to be accompanied</b><br> (1) Section 123 of the Education Act 2002 (Order under section 122: scope) is amended as follows.<br> (2) In subsection (1), after paragraph (j) insert—<br> “(k) make provision for a teacher’s right to be accompanied at a disciplinary or grievance hearing by a person who has been certified in writing by a professional body as having relevant experience, or as having received relevant training.”<br> (3) After subsection (4) insert—<br> “(5) In this section—<br> “professional body” means any organisation, which is authorised by a regulation made by the Secretary of State under subsection (6);<br> “relevant experience” means experience of acting as a worker’s companion at disciplinary or grievance hearings;<br> “relevant training” means training to act as a worker’s companion at disciplinary or grievance hearings.<br> (6) The Secretary of State may make a regulation or regulations authorising any organisation as a professional body for the purposes of this section.””

502N

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Use of seclusion (including isolation rooms) in schools</b><br> (1) For the purposes of this section, "seclusion" means the involuntary confinement and isolation of a child or young person, in a room or space from which they are not free to leave, whether or not a member of staff is physically present.<br> (2) The Secretary of State may by regulations, following consultation with relevant stakeholders, make provision for the regulation and oversight of the use of seclusion in schools.<br> (3) If regulations are made under this section, they must include provision ensuring that—<br> (a) seclusion is not used as a form of discipline or behaviour management;<br> (b) any use of seclusion is recorded, and reported to the child’s parent or carer on the same day;<br> (c) any incident involving seclusion is reviewed by a person with lead responsibility for safeguarding within the setting;<br> (d) data on the use of seclusion is collected, monitored, and made available for external scrutiny.<br> (4) For the purposes of subsection (3)(c), “a person with lead responsibility for safeguarding within the setting” means the individual who holds primary designated responsibility for child protection or safeguarding matters in that educational setting.<br> (5) Before making regulations under this section, the Secretary of State must consult such persons as they consider appropriate, including representative organisations of education staff, providers, children and young people, and families, and organisations representing those with special educational needs or disabilities.<br> (6) When making regulations under this section, the Secretary of State must have regard to relevant duties under the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998.<br> (7) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this Act is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.”

<p>This clause is proposed as a probing amendment to support parliamentary debate on legal safeguards for the use of seclusion in schools. It does not impose direct duties on schools. Instead, it invites the Secretary of State to consider enabling regulation, following sector-wide consultation.</p>

134A

After Clause 11, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Children’s homes: transparency of cost</b><br> All local authorities must annually publish the prices they pay for private placements in children’s homes.”

<p>This intends to enhance transparency and enable local authorities to negotiate effectively with providers to secure the best placement for children at the lowest possible cost. It implements a commitment in the Government’s Keeping Children Safe, Helping Families Thrive policy paper.</p>

134B

After Clause 11, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Review: planning process for children’s homes</b><br> Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed the Secretary of State must publish a review of whether the distinction for the purposes of the planning regime between small children’s homes and domestic dwelling houses should be removed.”

<p>This is a probing amendment into the effect of the planning regime on the quantity and location of children’s homes.</p>

138D

Clause 13, page 22, line 11, after “person” insert “(except natural persons)”

<p>This amendment seeks to limit the financial penalties that can be imposed upon the operators of children’s homes to exclude natural persons.</p>

138E

Clause 13, page 22, line 20, after “person” insert “(except natural persons)”

<p>This amendment seeks to limit the financial penalties that can be imposed upon the operators of children’s homes to exclude natural persons.</p>

139A

Clause 13, page 23, line 2, at end insert—<br> “(5A) Nothing in Schedule 1A shall allow a monetary penalty to be imposed on a natural person.”

<p>This amendment seeks to limit the financial penalties that can be imposed upon the operators of children’s homes to exclude natural persons.</p>

142A

Clause 16, page 31, line 8, after “person”, insert “(except natural persons)”

<p>This amendment seeks to limit the financial penalties that can be imposed upon the operators of children’s homes to exclude natural persons.</p>

142B

Clause 17, page 33, line 38, at end insert “except that in no circumstances may the amount exceed 10% of that person’s last annual turnover.”

<p>This amendment seeks to limit the financial penalties that can be imposed upon the operators of children’s homes.</p>

142C

Clause 17, page 33, line 38, at end insert “except that in no circumstances may the amount exceed 10% of the relevant organisation’s last annual turnover, or if the fine is imposed on a natural person, £100,000.”

<p>This amendment seeks to limit the financial penalties that can be imposed upon the operators of children’s homes.</p>

502L

[<i>Withdrawn</i>]<br>After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Minimum standards of safety technology deployed in schools</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must set out the minimum standards for technologies used to safeguard children in schools (“SafetyTech”).<br> (2) The code of practice must set standards for the use of SafetyTech in schools, used in the management, monitoring, filtering and any other safeguarding that the Secretary of State requires, on any digital products, software or services used for safeguarding, teaching, learning, assessment, administration, or communication.<br> (3) The standards under subsection (2) must—<br> (a) ensure schools have a nominated SafetyTech lead, with access to information and training from the Department for Education,<br> (b) reflect the Department for Education’s filtering and monitoring standards, and<br> (c) have been audited, accredited or certified to ensure compliance.<br> (4) This code of practice must be subject to assessment by Ofsted and be responsive to emerging digital capabilities and review by the Department for Education each school year.”

<p>This amendment seeks to require guidance for the use of SafetyTech and put it on a statutory bases, introduce the requirement to audit or certify and ensure that SafetyTech being in place and working is part of Ofsted inspections.</p>

183CC

After Clause 26, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>Review: child maintenance enforcement</b><br> (1) Within 12 months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must publish a review considering whether the overall wellbeing of children is being harmed by the non-commencement of section 34 of the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008 (transfer of arrears) and the uncommenced sections of both the Child Support Collection (Domestic Abuse) Act 2023 and the Child Support (Enforcement) Act 2023.<br> (2) If the review considers that the overall wellbeing of children is being harmed by the non-commencement of those provisions, the Secretary of State must, within two months of the publication of the review, make a statement setting out the Government’s position on the commencement of those provisions.”

432A

After Clause 38, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Unregistered independent educational institutions: offences</b><br> After section 96 of the Education and Skills Act 2008 (Unregistered independent educational institutions: offence), insert—<br> <b>“96A</b> <b>Premises of unregistered independent educational institutions: offence</b><br> (1) The proprietor or owner of a property (or their agent) who provides premises for an unregistered independent educational institution under section 96 (Unregistered independent educational institutions: offence) is guilty of an offence.<br> (2) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (or to both).<br> <b>96B</b> <b>Assisting or encouraging the administration of an unregistered independent educational institution: offence</b><br> (1) A person who assists or encourages the administration of an unregistered independent educational institution under section 96 (Unregistered independent educational institutions: offence) is guilty of an offence.<br> (2) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (or to both).””

<p>This amendment seeks to create two offences: (1) providing premises for an illegal school (including primary or subleasing landlords, and letting agents) and (2) assisting or encouraging the administration of an illegal school.</p>

436A

Clause 46, page 110, line 17, at end insert—<br> “(1A) In section 133 (requirement to be qualified), in subsection (1), after “work” insert “in relation to National Curriculum subjects only””

502K

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Code of practice on the efficacy of education technology in schools</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must prepare a statutory code of practice on the efficacy of educational technology (“EdTech”) for supporting learning in schools.<br> (2) The code of practice must set standards for the use of EdTech in schools, including digital products, software or services used for teaching, learning, assessment, administration, or communication.<br> (3) The standards under subsection (2) must—<br> (a) consider all types of schools;<br> (b) require transparency and efficacy of EdTech products and services in line with pedagogical standards currently used for measurement of attainment and the wellbeing of children in the provision of education.<br> (4) In preparing a code or amendments under this section, the Secretary of State must–<br> (a) have regard to the fact that children may have different requirements at different ages and stages of development,<br> (b) have regard to the costs of EdTech products and services to school budgets,<br> (c) have regard to the need to support innovation to enhance children’s education and learning opportunities, including testing of novel products and supporting the certification and development of standards, and<br> (d) ensure that the benefits from EdTech products and services developed using children’s data accrue to the United Kingdom.<br> (5) In preparing a code or amendments under this section, the Secretary of State must consult with—<br> (a) educators,<br> (b) children,<br> (c) parents,<br> (d) persons who appear to the Secretary of State to represent the interests of teachers,<br> (e) persons who appear to the Secretary of State to represent the interests of children,<br> (f) persons who appear to the Secretary of State to represent the interests of schools,<br> (g) child development experts,<br> (h) curriculum and subject experts,<br> (i) trade associations,<br> (j) the AI Security Institute, and<br> (k) the relevant education department for each nation of the United Kingdom.<br> (6) The Secretary of State must prepare a report, in consultation with persons listed in subsection (5), on the steps required to develop a certification scheme for EdTech products and services to enable the industry to demonstrate the efficacy of its products in line with the standards under subsection (2).<br> (7) The certification scheme under subsection (6) must be a minimum requirement for the procurement of EdTech products and services in schools (of any status) in England.<br> (8) Where requested, evidence of compliance with the code under subsection (1) or a certification standard prepared under subsection (6) must be provided by relevant providers of EdTech products and services in a manner that satisfies the obligations of education providers under the Code.”

<p>This is a probing amendment that considers the rapid introduction of Ed Tech in school and seeks to understand what pedagogical standards Ed Tech in schools is or will be subject to after the passage of the Bill.</p>

502M

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Duty to keep schools open for in person attendance</b><br> (1) So far as reasonably possible, public authorities must ensure that, during the period of any civil emergency, schools are kept open for in person attendance by children and young people.<br> (2) The Secretary of State must, by regulations, make provision about how public authorities should discharge the duty under subsection (1), including provision specifying—<br> (a) steps that a public authority may or must take to comply with the duty, and<br> (b) actions that a public authority is prohibited from taking.<br> (3) Regulations made under subsection (2) must be made by statutory instrument.<br> (4) A statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (2) may not be made unless a draft has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.<br> (5) A power to make regulations under this section includes the power to make—<br> (a) consequential, incidental, supplementary, transitional or saving provision;<br> (b) different provision for different purposes.<br> (6) A public authority must not, in response to a civil emergency, take or facilitate any action (including making regulations, issuing directions, issuing orders, giving guidance, or making recommendations) that—<br> (a) results in, or encourages, the closure of schools, or<br> (b) otherwise prevents or restricts lawful attendance at such institutions or premises by children and young people,<br> <span class="wrapped">unless the requirements of subsection (7) are met.</span><br> (7) Before taking any action of the kind described in subsection (6), the public authority must first, unless the urgency of the civil emergency precludes this—<br> (a) request the advice of the Children’s Commissioner on the likely impact of such action on the children and young people who will be affected by the action,<br> (b) provide the Children’s Commissioner with full and complete information about the nature of and reasons for the proposed action, and<br> (c) have due regard to the Children’s Commissioner’s advice in determining whether to proceed with the action.<br> (8) If any action of the kind described in subsection (6) is taken prior to seeking the advice of the Children’s Commissioner due to urgency—<br> (a) as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event within 7 days of taking the action, the public authority must provide the Children’s Commissioner with full and complete information about the nature of and reasons for that action;<br> (b) the Children’s Commissioner must then promptly, and in any event within 14 days of the action having been taken, provide the public authority with its advice in relation to the impact of that action on children and young people;<br> (c) the public authority, having due regard to the Commissioner’s advice, shall determine whether the action continues to be justified or whether it should be revoked.<br> (9) If action of the kind described in subsection (6) continues beyond 14 days, and in relation to each such period of 14 days thereafter, the Secretary of State must—<br> (a) lay before Parliament a copy of the Children’s Commissioner’s advice, and<br> (b) seek approval from the House of Commons for the continuation of the action.<br> (10) If the House of Commons does not approve continuation under subsection (9)(b) within 14 days of the advice of the Children’s Commissioner being laid before Parliament under subsection 9(a), the relevant action automatically lapses, and any measures (including regulations, directions, orders, guidance, or recommendations made in support of or continuance of the relevant action) become legally void.<br> (11) Where under any of the above provisions the advice of the Children’s Commissioner is sought, the Children’s Commissioner shall set out in writing his or her advice on the following matters—<br> (a) the foreseeable impacts of any closures of schools on the affected children and young people,<br> (b) any reasonable actions that could be taken to mitigate those impacts,<br> (c) whether the anticipated benefits for those children of the closures identified by the public authority appear to him or her to outweigh the foreseeable impacts of closures for those children, and<br> (d) any other matters which appear to him or her to be relevant.<br> (12) The Children’s Commissioner is entitled to require the public authority or the Secretary of State to provide such further information, assistance, and resources as he or she considers necessary in order to set out his or her advice on a particular action and the public authority or the Secretary of State, as the case may be, shall provide such information, assistance or resources as soon as reasonably practicable.<br> (13) For the purposes of this section—<br> “children” means persons under the age of 18;<br> “civil emergency” shall include any emergency situation which could constitute an emergency for the purposes of section 1 of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 or which has otherwise been identified as a risk in the UK’s National Security Risk Assessment. For the avoidance of doubt an emergency need not be the subject of measures taken under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 to be a civil emergency for the purposes of this Act.<br> “closure” in relation to schools, means any action to discourage, restrict or prevent in person attendance at those institutions or premises by children and young people who would ordinarily be entitled to attend, or any sub-group or class of such children or young people;<br> “open for in person attendance” in relation to schools, means being open for the attendance by all of the children who would ordinarily, and but for the occurrence of a civil emergency, be entitled to attend those institutions or premises, during their normal hours of operation;<br> “open for in person attendance” does not include the provision of online learning or other remote learning services nor the keeping of such institutions or premises open for physical attendance only for a sub-group or class of those children or young people who would ordinarily be entitled to attend;<br> “public authority” has the same meaning as in section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998” save that a court or tribunal is not included for these purposes.”

<p>The purpose of the amendment is to enact a statutory duty to keep schools open for in person attendance in future public health and other civil emergencies, unless Parliament expressly approves, and continues every two weeks to approve, any closures.</p>

506C

Clause 66, page 124, line 21, at end insert—<br> “(3A) Section 10 may not come into force until the Secretary of State has published an evaluation of the impact, cost and effectiveness of the Regional Care Cooperatives pathfinder areas.”

<p>This amendment would delay the implementation of regional cooperation arrangements until the pilots can be fully evaluated.</p>

107D

Clause 10, page 14, line 32, at end insert—<br> “(2A) Regional co-operation arrangements must include the local integrated care board in their development, delivery and governance.”

<p>The amendment aims to highlight the need to include health agencies in the regional cooperation arrangements.</p>

119ZA

After Clause 10, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Principles for local authority commissioned accommodation</b><br> When accommodation is commissioned for looked after children under Section 22J of the Children Act 1989, the relevant local authorities must seek to—<br> (a) only commission whole homes, not individual places;<br> (b) ensure homes commissioned solely work with the relevant local authorities;<br> (c) place children within, or a close as possible to, the local authority area in which they currently reside;<br> (d) ensure the responsibility for decision making in respect of a child’s placement remains with the local authority rather than the regional care cooperative;<br> (e) commission homes in areas as agreed by an annual sufficiency strategy to meet need;<br> (f) ensure accommodation providers remain relationally connected to children even when they move on;<br> (g) ensure emergency accommodation is commissioned within the local area;<br> (h) accurately record and report the number of placements;<br> (i) ensure all homes have embedded speech and language therapy and clinical psychology provision;<br> (j) ensure homes aim to provide permanence and have links to connected foster care provision;<br> (k) ensure homes provide an edge of care service in partnership with local authorities who are using the places when the relevant home is not full;<br> (l) ensure residential care is used to stabilise and act as a bridge to permanence.”

<p>This amendment seeks to establish a series of core principles for local authorities to follow when accommodation is commissioned for looked after children under Section 22J of the Children Act 1989 (inserted by Clause 10).</p>

426B

LORD MOYNIHAN

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Review: factory shutdowns and school attendance</b><br> (1) On the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must order a review of the effect of factory shutdowns on local school attendance.<br> (2) The review must consider the merits of varying local school holiday dates to minimise the impact of factory shutdowns on school attendance.<br> (3) The review must be published within six months of the day on which this Act is passed and must be laid before both Houses of Parliament.”

426C

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Access to extracurricular sport and recreation opportunities</b><br> A child educated at home is entitled to reasonable access to extracurricular sport and recreation opportunities offered and co-ordinated by local maintained schools.”

<p>This amendment provides home-educated children with access to sport and recreational activities offered by maintained schools.</p>

502H

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“National strategy for physical education and sport in schools</b><br> (1) Within 12 months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must publish a national strategy for physical education and sport in schools.<br> (2) The strategy must include recommendations related to—<br> (a) the delivery of a minimum of 60 minutes of school sport and physical activity per day;<br> (b) physical and mental wellbeing;<br> (c) incentivising pupils to continue sport and physical activity throughout their school careers;<br> (d) full and integrated sports provision for disabled students;<br> (e) integrating physical education and sport into the teaching of other school subjects;<br> (f) integrating outdoor recreation, non-traditional sport, physical activity and natural facilities into sports provision in schools;<br> (g) meeting swimming attainment standards through school sport provision;<br> (h) the levels of investment in and effectiveness of primary physical education and sport premium funding;<br> (i) the role of volunteering in the teaching of sport and physical education in schools, including qualifications, standards, and engagement of external coaches and parents with qualifications recognised by the governing bodies of sport in Great Britain;<br> (j) a duty of care for all schoolchildren participating in sport;<br> (k) the development of a list of key performance indicators to measure outcomes of the national strategy.<br> (3) The national strategy must be reviewed, updated and laid before both Houses of Parliament annually.”

502J

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Curriculum review: physical education programmes of study</b><br> Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must undertake a curriculum review which investigates how sport provision in schools can help ensure that pupils—<br> (a) develop competence in a broad range of competitive and physically demanding activities;<br> (b) are physically active for a sustained period of time equal to or in excess of the minimum time recommended by the Chief Medical Officer;<br> (c) can engage in competitive sports and activities in a way which supports their health and fitness;<br> (d) can lead healthy, active lives and help embed values such as fairness and respect.”

69AB

After Clause 4, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Parent-equivalent care by local authorities</b><br> In section 22 of the Children Act 1989 (general duty of local authority in relation to children looked after by them), after subsection (3)(a) insert—<br> “(aa) to provide care as would be reasonable to expect a parent to give to them; and””

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that the nature and level of parental care expected for children within their own families also applies to corporate parents and to the children’s care system. It replaces amendment 146A.</p>

506B

Clause 66, page 124, line 21, at end insert—<br> “(3A) Section 11 may not come into force until regulations under section 11 (qualifying for civil legal aid) of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 providing legal aid on a non-means tested basis in relation to proceedings that may result in the deprivation of a child’s liberty have come into force.”

<p>This amendment would provide that the provisions in the Bill on accommodation for the deprivation of liberty for children cannot come into force until legal aid has been provided on a non-means tested basis for children at risk of this and their families.</p>

138A

Clause 12, page 19, line 22, at end insert—<br> “(3) The CIECSS must inform the relevant commissioning local authorities when an improvement plan notice is served.”

<p>This amendment would require the Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to inform commissioning local authorities when an improvement plan notice is served.</p>

138B

Clause 12, page 20, line 27, at end insert—<br> “(6) The CIECSS must inform the relevant commissioning local authorities when an improvement plan is cancelled.”

<p>This amendment would require the Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to inform commissioning local authorities when an improvement plan is cancelled.</p>

138C

Clause 12, page 21, line 27, at end insert—<br> “(8) The CIECSS must inform the relevant commissioning local authorities when an improvement plan is appealed.”

<p>This amendment would require the Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to inform commissioning local authorities when an improvement plan is appealed.</p>

140A

Clause 14, page 27, line 38, at end insert—<br> “(e) the proposed actions set out in any recovery and resolution plan by the reviewed person.”

<p>This amendment seeks to require a review and resolution plan as part of the independent business review.</p>

185A

Clause 27, page 45, line 35, at end insert “and,<br> (c) the provision of activities consisting of physical activity which contributes to the UK Chief Medical Officers' Physical Activity Guidelines before the start of the first school session on each school day.”

199ZA

LORD MOYNIHAN

Clause 29, page 49, line 27, at end insert “except items of kit required for sporting activities”

<p>This amendment seeks to exclude items of PE kit from the limit on branded items of school uniform.</p>

359A

Clause 32, page 67, leave out from line 37 to line 19 on page 68

<p>This amendment is connected to another in the name of Lord Storey which seeks to prevent school attendance orders being applied to children with an education, health and care plan.</p>

107C

After Clause 9, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Restoration of funding to the adoption and special guardianship support fund</b><br> Within one month of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must increase the funding available per child per year under the adoption and special guardianship support fund to a level equal to or greater than the funding available per child under the fund in March 2025.”

<p>This amendment would reverse the cut to the adoption and special guardianship support fund.</p>

68A

In subsection (6), at end insert “, including the establishment of an Earned Autonomy funding scheme.”

68B

In subsection (7), after the definition “children and parents”, insert—<br> ““Earned Autonomy” means that local authorities can obtain exemption from any centrally determined funding specifications for family support services;”

502G

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Application of Part 2</b><br> Nothing in Part 2 of this Act shall apply if it would have the effect of impeding the right of parents to ensure access to such education and teaching for their children as is in conformity with their own religious and philosophical convictions.”

<p>This amendment disapplies any provision of Part 2 if its effect would be to impede the right of parents to educate their children consistently with their own religious and philosophical beliefs.</p>

502F

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Duty on public authorities</b><br> (1) A public authority must, in the exercise of a relevant function, have due regard to the desirability of exercising that function in a way that is consistent with the UNCRC requirements.<br> (2) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision about how a public authority is to comply with the duty under subsection (1) (including provision about things that the authority may, must or must not do to comply with the duty).<br> (3) A court or tribunal is exempt from subsection (1).<br> (4) The Secretary of State may, by regulations, exempt from the duty in subsection (1)—<br> (a) a public authority, or<br> (b) a relevant function.<br> (5) The power under subsection (4) may only be exercised if the Secretary of State is satisfied that the duty under subsection (1) should not apply to a public authority or a relevant function because it will not result in any adverse impacts on the wellbeing and safety of children.<br> (6) Regulations made under subsections (2) and (4) are to be made by statutory instrument and may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.<br> (7) A power to make regulations under this section includes the power to make—<br> (a) consequential, incidental, supplementary, transitional or saving provision;<br> (b) different provision for different purposes.<br> (8) The Secretary of State must—<br> (a) on or before 31 January 2026, and<br> (b) at or before the end of each successive period of five years,<br> <span class="wrapped">publish a report on how the Government has complied with the duty under this section.</span><br> (9) The Government must lay before Parliament a copy of each report published under subsection (8).<br> (10) For the purposes of this section—<br> “public authority” has, subject to the specific provision made above about courts and tribunals, the same meaning as in section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998;<br> “relevant function” means a function exercised under this Act.<br> (11) In this section—<br> “the Convention” means the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 44/25 of 20 November 1989;<br> “the UNCRC requirements” means the rights and obligations from the Convention, and the articles of the first optional protocol and the second optional protocol as referred to above.<br> (12) The UNCRC requirements have effect for the purposes of this Act subject to any reservations, objections or interpretative declarations by the United Kingdom as may be in force from time to time.”

502E

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Anti-Bullying Lead</b><br> (1) In pursuance of their duty under section 89 (1)(b) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006, the head teacher of a relevant school in England must appoint a member of staff who is the school’s Anti-Bullying Lead.<br> (2) The role of the Anti-Bullying Lead will include developing the school’s written anti-bullying strategy.<br> (3) The anti-bullying strategy must include details of—<br> (a) the steps taken by the school to prevent all forms of bullying among pupils, including those with protected characteristics.<br> (b) how the school records incidences of bullying.<br> (c) the training that the school makes available for staff related to bullying.”

<p>This amendment seeks to protect children from bullying by requiring head teachers to appoint an Anti-Bullying Lead to develop an Anti-Bullying Strategy in applicable schools.</p>

309A

Clause 31, page 61, line 5, at end insert "in a language which the parent understands."

<p>This amendment seek to ensure that families parents who speak English as a second or other language are informed about the requirements in a language they understand.</p>

452A

Clause 55, page 117, line 20, at end insert—<br> “(c) a child is otherwise vulnerable, including children with refugee or humanitarian protection, or on resettlement schemes, but who do not qualify as an Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Child.”

<p>This amendment and another in the name of Baroness Garden of Frognal broaden the scope of the LA’s new power to include all refugee and asylum-seeking children, not just unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.</p>

452B

Clause 55, page 118, line 2, at end insert "and this may include a child in the asylum process or who has refugee status"

<p>This amendment and another in the name Baroness Garden of Frognal broaden the scope of the LA’s new power to include all refugee and asylum-seeking children, not just unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.</p>

502D

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Financial education in primary schools</b><br> (1) All primary schools must teach financial education from Year 1.<br> (2) For the purposes of this section, “financial education” is the teaching of knowledge, skills and behaviours that allow an individual to understand and manage money.”

506A

Clause 66, page 124, line 21, at end insert—<br> “(3A) Section 47 comes into force when all the following conditions are met—<br> (a) the period of six months, beginning on the day that the Secretary of State publishes the final report of the Curriculum and Assessment Review, has elapsed;<br> (b) the Secretary of State has published a draft Bill making legislative provision for the changes recommended by the Curriculum and Assessment Review;<br> (c) the Secretary of State has undertaken a consultation on the findings of the Curriculum and Assessment Review.”

117ZA

[<i>Withdrawn</i>]<br>Clause 10, page 15, line 15, at end insert—<br> “(4A) No regulations may be made under subsection (3)(f) until regulations under section 11 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 on providing legal aid on a non-means tested basis in relation to proceedings that may result in the deprivation of a child’s liberty have come into force.”

<p>This amendment would provide that the provisions in the Bill on accommodation for the deprivation of liberty for children cannot come into force until legal aid has been provided on a non-means tested basis for children at risk of this.</p>

202A

After Clause 29, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“School uniforms: transparency and materials</b><br> After section 551ZA of the Education Act 1996, insert—<br> <i class="text-centre">“Regulations for levels of PFAS chemicals and transparency</i><br> <b>551ZB</b> <b>School uniforms: transparency and materials</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must, within three months of the day on which the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2025 comes into force, issue regulations to—<br> (a) ban the use of PFAS in school uniforms;<br> (b) require producers of school uniforms to provide a digital product passport listing the chemicals in the product to enable safe end of life disposal or recycling.<br> (2) The ban in section (1)(a) must set the limit for residual PFAS in textiles to no more than 50 mg F/kg (50 ppm).<br> (3) in this section—<br> “PFAS” means per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances as defined and listed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD);<br> “School uniforms” has the same meaning as in section 29(3) and (4).””

<p>This amendment would ensure that branded school uniform items do not contain PFAS chemicals, and would require producers of non-branded school uniform items to state whether any PFAS chemicals have been used, and to provide a digital product passport to improve the recyclability of school uniform products.</p>

202B

After Clause 29, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Uniform safety: regulations and requirements</b><br> After section 551ZA of the Education Act 1996, insert—<br> <b>“551ZB</b> <b>Uniform safety: regulations and requirements</b><br> Within one year of the day on which the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2025 is passed, the Secretary of State must, by regulation, make provision to reduce risks of school uniform items if, when used as intended or under conditions which can reasonably be foreseen, they could—<br> (a) endanger the health or safety of persons, or<br> (b) cause unreasonable public health or environmental health risk.””

<p>This amendment seeks to allow the Secretary of State to regulate school uniforms, given the human and environmental health risks they represent from artificial fibres and chemical constituents.</p>

426A

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“CIECSS: attendance enforcement</b><br> After section 448 of the Education Act 1996 (Exemption where child becomes five during term) insert—<br> <b>“448A</b> <b>CIECSS: attendance enforcement</b><br> (1) His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills (the CIECSS) may impose fines against parents where one or more of their children are attending school for less than 80% of the designated time required.<br> (2) The CIECSS must, when determining the amount of fine to be levied, take account the reason for non-attendance.<br> (3) The Secretary of State must, by regulations, make provision for the establishment of the enforcement function in this section within six months of the day on which the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2025 comes into force.<br> (4) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.””

<p>This amendment seeks to allow the Chief Inspector of Schools to levy fines for poor attendance in parallel to school attendance orders.</p>

[<i>Withdrawn</i>]<br>Clause 66, page 124, line 22, leave out “(3)” and insert “(3A)”

502C

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Review of the Act</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must—<br> (a) carry out a review of the operation and effect of this Act,<br> (b) set out the conclusions of the review in a report,<br> (c) publish the report, and<br> (d) lay a copy of the report before Parliament.<br> (2) The report must be published before the end of the period of five years beginning with the day on which this Act is passed.<br> (3) The report must, in particular—<br> (a) assess the extent to which the objectives intended to be achieved by this Act have been achieved, and<br> (b) assess whether those objectives remain appropriate and, if so, the extent to which they could be achieved more effectively in any other way.<br> (4) In carrying out the review, the Secretary of State must publish an invitation for interested parties to make submissions on the operation of the Act.”

308

Clause 31, page 60, line 43, at end insert—<br> <b>“436FA</b> <b>Use of information in the register at national level</b><br> (1) A local authority must, if the Secretary of State so directs in relation to a local authority in England, or the Welsh Ministers so direct in relation to a local authority in Wales, provide the Secretary of State or the Welsh Ministers (as the case may be) with information of a prescribed description from their register under section 436B (whether that is information relating to an individual child or aggregated information as specified in subsection (2)).<br> (2) The Secretary of State may collect and process—<br> (a) information relating to an individual child only on a case-by-case basis for the purposes of giving a direction on a school attendance order following a parental request under section 442 and in accordance with UK data protection law;<br> (b) statistics regarding children in receipt of Elective Home Education (EHE), or Children Missing Education (CME) for the purposes of monitoring educational trends and informing policy.<br> (3) The data collected under subsection (2)(b) must be limited to prior aggregated statistical information and may not include any personal data that would enable the identification of individual children or linkage with other data that would do so.<br> (4) The statistical information may include, but is not limited to—<br> (a) the collective number of children on any requested date;<br> (b) the collective number of children throughout a year;<br> (c) the percentage of children in each category relative to the overall child population.”

<p>This amendment separates the Ministerial powers for use of individual level data and aggregated data that are conflated in 436F as drafted. This new clause explicitly enables the Secretary of State and Welsh Ministers to collect case-specific individual data for adjudication of school attendance orders which is the case today but for no other purpose. It prevents bulk national-level collection of identifiable home education data about individual children and their family members, as listed in clauses 436C, 436D, and 436E.</p>

107B-

After Clause 9, insert the following new Clause- "Remedial orders for children in care After section 42 of the Children Act 1989 (right of officer of the Service to have access to local authority records) insert- "42A Remedial orders for children in care (1) Where a court is satisfied that there is reasonable cause to believe that a child who is in the care of a local authority is experiencing, or is at risk of experiencing, significant harm, on an application by or for that child, the court may - (a) prohibit a local authority from taking any act (or proposed act) which it otherwise would be entitled to take in exercising its parental responsibility for the child, or (b) require a local authority with parental responsibility for the child to take such action as is necessary to safeguard or promote the child's welfare. (2) A child making an application to the court for an order under this section shall be presumed to have sufficient understanding unless evidence to the contrary is presented to the court. (3) The following persons are entitled to apply to the court for an order under this section with respect to a child in the care of a local authority - (a) any parent or person who has parental responsibility for the child; (b) the child's independent reviewing officer; (c) a local authority foster parent if the child has lived with him for a period of at least one year; (d) an independent advocate acting for the child. (4) Before making an application to the court for an order under this section with respect to a child, a person in subsection (3) must obtain the ascertainable views, wishes and feelings of the child about the proposed application, and these shall be provided in the application to the court. (5) In this section- “in the care of a local authority” means a child who is the subject of a care order or interim care order; "harm" has the same meaning as in section 31(9); "significant" in respect of the child's health or development has the same meaning as in section 31(10).”

502A

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Review: number of teachers unable to stand in local elections</b><br> With six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must publish a review of the anticipated impact of this Act on the number of teachers in maintained schools who will, because of their employment, be unable to stand for election to local education authorities.”

502B

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Right to access to nature</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State shall have a duty to promote school pupils' access to nature, with the aim of ensuring that each pupil spends an average of one hour per week as a minimum during term time in a natural setting during class time.<br> (2) The Secretary of State must, within 12 months of the day on which this Act is passed, and every 12 months thereafter, lay before Parliament a report on progress on achieving this goal.<br> (3) For the purposes of this section, “natural environment” has the same meaning as in section 44 of the Environment Act 2021.”

<p>This amendment aims to improve pupils' exposure to and knowledge of natural environments.</p>

69AA

[<i>Withdrawn</i>]<br>After Clause 4, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Consultation on registration and regulation of youth workers etc</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must, within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, consult on—<br> (a) the establishment as a registered profession of those that work with young people in relation to educational and recreational activities under section 507B of the Education Act 1996 and are conducting a regulated activity under section 6 of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 either in a professional or voluntary capacity;<br> (b) the appointment of a regulator for such persons.<br> (2) Within six months of the completion of a consultation held under subsection (1), the Secretary of State must publish a report outlining the findings and conclusions of the consultation.<br> (3) Where a consultation held under this section concludes, the Secretary of State may make provision for—<br> (a) the establishment as a registered profession under the Professional Qualifications Act 2022 of such professions that the consultation held under this section concludes;<br> (b) the appointment of a regulator for such persons.<br> (4) A regulator may have responsibility for—<br> (a) establishing and maintaining a register of, and<br> (b) establishing and overseeing accreditation of,<br> <span class="wrapped">such persons that the consultation held under this section concludes.</span><br> (5) Where a regulator has established accreditation to be used by registered persons, no person may—<br> (a) claim or purport to be, or<br> (b) use any titles, logos or other designations reserved for,<br> <span class="wrapped">registered or accredited persons if they are not so registered or accredited.”</span>

146B

Clause 21, page 39, line 21, at end insert—<br> (e) to have due regard to the need to remove or minimise the disadvantages suffered by looked-after children and relevant young persons.”

<p>The amendment seeks to expand and strengthen Clause 21 by replacing the light-touch duty to be “alert to” their needs with a stronger requirement for public bodies to have “due regard” to eliminating disadvantage and to take reasonable steps to mitigate any harmful effects of their policies. The amendment intends to create a legally enforceable, lifelong safeguard for anyone who has ever been in care.</p>

147A

Clause 21, page 39, line 27, at end insert—<br> “(2A) A relevant authority exercising the duty under subsection (1) shall take reasonable steps to avoid, reduce or otherwise mitigate any adverse impact of its policies and practices on looked-after children and relevant young persons.”

<p>The amendment seeks to expand and strengthen Clause 21 by replacing the light-touch duty to be “alert to” their needs with a stronger requirement for public bodies to have “due regard” to eliminating disadvantage and to take reasonable steps to mitigate any harmful effects of their policies. The amendment intends to create a legally enforceable, lifelong safeguard for anyone who has ever been in care.</p>

183CA

After Clause 26, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Guidance on the use of screens and technology in early years settings</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must, within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, update the early years foundation stage statutory framework for children aged 0-5 in early years settings to include guidance on the appropriate and safe use of screens and technology in early years settings.<br> (2) The guidance must include recommendations concerning—<br> (a) limits for screen time for children (specific to their age) in early years settings;<br> (b) safeguarding policies for the use of personal devices and other screens in early years settings;<br> (c) any benefits, harms or risk of harm associated with the exposure of children of differing ages to personal devices and other screens in early years settings;<br> (d) any benefits, harms or risk of harms associated specifically with the exposure of children with special educational needs or disabilities to personal devices and other screens in early years settings;<br> (e) any other positive or negative effects associated with the use or presence of personal devices for early years development and play;<br> (f) the balancing of screen-based and non-digital activities for children in early years settings.”

183CB

After Clause 26, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Public information campaign on the use of screens and technology for children aged 0-5</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must, within twelve months of the day on which this Act is passed, establish a public information campaign concerning the impact of screen time on the wellbeing of children aged 0-5.<br> (2) The campaign must include, but is not limited to—<br> (a) guidance on the impact of screens on whole child health, both immediate and long term, including—<br> (i) cognitive,<br> (ii) social,<br> (iii) eyesight,<br> (iv) neurodevelopmental,<br> (v) speech, and<br> (vi) language issues.<br> (b) clear recommended boundaries on appropriate screen time limits for children, including times and places that should be screen-free, such as mealtimes and bedtimes;<br> (c) the impact of carers' usage of personal devices and screens on child development;<br> (d) guidance on the importance of screen-free time, outside time and child and parent interaction with examples of alternatives, such as—<br> (i) bedtime stories,<br> (ii) helping with chores, and<br> (iii) interacting with the environment;<br> (e) guidance that digital "educational" apps are not necessary for healthy development, and the risks of screen usage for young children still apply when using these apps.”

437A

Clause 46, page 110, line 22, at end insert—<br> “(2A) In section 133, after subsection (6), insert—<br> “(7) “qualified teacher” shall include individuals who, though not possessing formal teacher training certification, hold a university-level qualification directly related to the subject they are teaching, and who demonstrate competency through practical teaching experience or relevant professional experience in their subject area.””

<p>This amendment seeks to include in the definition of “qualified teacher” individuals who have significant subject-specific qualifications and practical teaching or professional experience, recognising the expertise they bring to educational settings without a traditional teaching qualification.</p>

447A

Schedule 3, page 128, line 24, at end insert—<br> “1A In section 120(1)(a), after “teachers”, insert—<br> “(aa) academy schools Chief Executive Officers’ pay,””

107B

After Clause 9, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Remedial orders for children in care</b><br> After section 42 of the Children Act 1989 (right of officer of the Service to have access to local authority records) insert—<br> <b>“42A</b> <b>Remedial orders for children in care</b><br> (1) Where a court is satisfied that there is reasonable cause to believe that a child who is in the care of a local authority is experiencing, or is at risk of experiencing, significant harm, on an application by or for that child, the court may—<br> (a) prohibit a local authority from taking any act (or proposed act) which it otherwise would be entitled to take in exercising its parental responsibility for the child, or<br> (b) require a local authority with parental responsibility for the child to take such action as is necessary to safeguard or promote the child’s welfare.<br> (2) A child making an application to the court for an order under this section shall be presumed to have sufficient understanding unless evidence to the contrary is presented to the court.<br> (3) The following persons are entitled to apply to the court for an order under this section with respect to a child in the care of a local authority—<br> (a) any parent or person who has parental responsibility for the child;<br> (b) the child’s independent reviewing officer;<br> (c) a local authority foster parent if the child has lived with him for a period of at least one year;<br> (d) an independent advocate acting for the child.<br> (4) Before making an application to the court for an order under this section with respect to a child, a person in subsection (3) must obtain the ascertainable views, wishes and feelings of the child about the proposed application, and these shall be provided in the application to the court.<br> (5) In this section—<br> “in the care of a local authority” means a child who is the subject of a care order or interim care order;<br> “harm” has the same meaning as in section 31(9);<br> “significant” in respect of the child’s health or development has the same meaning as in section 31(10).””

<p>This amendment would provide new protections for looked after children as recommended by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.</p>

146A

[<i>Withdrawn</i>]<br>Clause 21, page 39, line 21, at end insert—<br> “(e) to provide care to any child as would be reasonable to expect a parent to give to them.”

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that the level of parental care expected for children within their own families also applies to corporate parents and to the children’s care system.</p>

<i>Lord Hacking gives notice of his intention to oppose the Question that Clause 30 stand part of the Bill.</i>

233A

Clause 31, page 54, line 36, leave out from beginning to end of line 9 on page 57

333A

Clause 32, page 64, line 28, leave out from beginning to end of line 3 on page 66

427A

Clause 36, page 79, line 16, at end insert—<br> <span class="wrapped">“but an institution which provides religious instruction as an addition to the education which its students receive elsewhere is not an independent educational institution.”</span>

427B

Clause 36, page 79, line 29, at end insert—<br> “(e) provide that several separate organisations should be considered as one organisation for the purposes of this section.”

<p>This amendment would allow the government to counter evasion based on dividing a child’s education between several institutions.</p>

429

Clause 37, page 81, line 41, at end insert—<br> “(3B) Before the Secretary of State may prescribe any standard under subsection (3A), they must lay before Parliament a statement certifying that the proposed standard will not limit independent educational institutions’ independence with respect to admissions, the curriculum, or examinations, except if necessary to secure the safeguarding, wellbeing, or the spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development of pupils.<br> (3C) Before the Secretary of State may issue any guidance or publish any document which a proprietor of any independent educational institution must have regard to by virtue of the independent educational institution standards (including any standard prescribed by virtue of subsection (3A)), the Secretary of State must lay before Parliament a statement certifying that the proposed guidance or document will not interfere with independent educational institutions’ independence with respect to admissions, the curriculum, or examinations, except if necessary to secure the safeguarding, wellbeing, or the spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development of pupils.”

<p>This amendment seeks to limit the Government’s power to require independent educational institutions to have regard to guidance on topics where these institutions are not already subject to Government control.</p>

430

Clause 37, page 82, line 16, at end insert—<br> “(3A) Omit sections 106 (Independent inspectorates) and 107 (Quality assurance of independent inspectorates).”

<p>This amendment would remove sections 106 and 107 of the Education and Skills Act 2008 which give the Secretary of State powers to approve bodies to inspect independent schools (such as the Independent Schools Inspectorate) and requires the Chief Inspector to report on those bodies. The amendment seeks to probe the Government’s readiness for the Independent Schools Inspectorate to become part of OFSTED.</p>

435

After Clause 44, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“School inspections: multi-academy trusts</b><br> In section 5(2)(d) of the Education Act 2005, after “schools”, insert “and trusts””

436

After Clause 44, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Transfer of the Independent Schools Inspectorate functions to Ofsted</b><br> (1) The Education and Inspections Act 2006 is amended as follows.<br> (2) After section 156, insert—<br> <b>“156A</b> <b>Transfer of the Independent Schools Inspectorate functions to the Office</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must by regulations transfer the functions of the Independent Schools Inspectorate to the Office.<br> (2) The Secretary of State must make regulations under this section within one year of the day on which the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2025 is passed.<br> (3) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.””

<p>This probing amendment seeks to clarify the Government’s readiness for the Independent Schools Inspectorate to become part of OFSTED.</p>

437

Clause 46, page 110, line 18, after “qualified),” insert—<br> “(za) after subsection (1), insert—<br> “(1A) The specified requirements in subsection (1)(b) may include that the person is a practitioner, in a particular profession, skill, business or other relevant pursuit who has the necessary expertise to assist a child’s learning experience in a formal learning environment.””

439

After Clause 46, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Anti-bullying training for school staff and inspectors</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must ensure that anti-bullying training is a core component of—<br> (a) all initial teacher training programmes;<br> (b) induction training for Ofsted inspectors.<br> (2) The Secretary of State must ensure all school staff in England and Ofsted inspectors are provided with continuing professional development (CPD) in anti-bullying strategies with refresher training to be provided at appropriate intervals.”

63A

Clause 4, page 8, line 34, at end insert—<br> “(14A) Consequential amendments may be made to other legislation to ensure that the consistent identifier is established and recorded at the earliest appropriate moment.”

<p>This amendment would allow other legislation to be amended so that the consistent identifier was established when a birth was registered, as part of immigration or visa processes, etc.</p>

69A

After Clause 4, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Curtailment of rights of contact</b><br> (1) The High Court may remove or curtail the rights of parental contact of a person convicted of a domestic abuse, child abuse or child sexual abuse.<br> (2) The High Court must publish annually the total number of times they have removed or curtailed rights of parental contact under subsection (1).”

69B

Clause 5, page 9, line 12, at end insert—<br> “(iii) kinship families.”

<p>This amendment would ensure the needs and experiences of all members of kinship families are considered and those family members are able to access the support they need, so children can thrive in safe, loving homes within their family network.</p>

76A

After Clause 5, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Temporary care</b><br> In Regulation 24 of the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 (temporary approval of relative, friend or other person connected with C), omit sub-section (2)(c) and the “and” before it.”

<p>This amendment seeks to remove the requirement for local authorities to undertake a full assessment of a temporary carer as if they were a foster carer, if they are to get temporary approval.</p>

116A

Clause 10, page 15, leave out lines 8 to 10

<p>This amendment seeks to remove the Secretary of State’s power to add to the list of strategic accommodation functions for local authorities.</p>

116B

Clause 10, page 15, line 10, at end insert—<br> “(3A) Each local authority participating in a regional care arrangement must assess, on an ongoing basis, whether there is sufficient provision of placements to meet the current and foreseeable needs of looked after children for whom it is responsible.<br> (3B) Where any insufficiency is identified under subsection (3A), the authority must publish and implement a plan to address gaps in provision, with particular regard to—<br> (a) fostering and residential placements,<br> (b) placements for children with complex or specialist needs, and<br> (c) the availability of not-for-profit, public sector and kinship-based care.<br> (3C) In carrying out the functions under subsections (3A) and (3B), the authority must consult with Integrated Care Boards, NHS England, and relevant education bodies.<br> (3D) Each local authority participating in a regional care arrangement must ensure that the commissioning of placements under the arrangement supports, where it is safe to do so, the maintenance of—<br> (a) sibling relationships,<br> (b) contact with birth family and connected persons, and<br> (c) children’s ties to their local community, school, and cultural environment.”

<p>This amendment places duties on local authorities participating in regional care arrangements to assess sufficiency, plan for complex needs, and protect the relational and community ties of children in care.</p>

117A

Clause 10, page 16, line 2, at end insert—<br> “(11) Regional co-operation arrangements must –<br> (a) be included in Ofsted local authority inspections, and<br> (b) include both registered and unregistered provision.”

<p>This amendment would require Ofsted to inspect regional cooperation arrangements.</p>

117B

Clause 10, page 16, line 2, at end insert—<br> “(11) Nothing in this section shall be taken to discharge or modify the duties of local authorities in relation to the placement of looked after children under this Act and associated regulations, including the duty to place children in accordance with section 22C(7) of this Act.”

<p>This amendment makes clear that the creation of regional care arrangements does not alter existing legal duties on local authorities to act in the best interests of children when making placements.</p>

117C

Clause 10, page 16, line 2, at end insert—<br> “(11) All local authorities, either individually or collectively within a regional care arrangement, must collect and report to the Secretary of State at regular intervals no less than quarterly, the following additional data relating to the provision of placements—<br> (a) the number of placement breakdowns by—<br> (i) category of provision type;<br> (ii) cause;<br> (iii) proximity to home;<br> (b) the number of children re-entering care by—<br> (i) category pf provision;<br> (ii) cause;<br> (iii) proximity to home;<br> (c) their projections of future demand for placements, disaggregated by type, location and level of need;<br> (d) where the supplier is not a foster carer or a public supplier, the average cost per placement disaggregated by—<br> (i) category of provision;<br> (ii) level of need;<br> (iii) location.”

<p>This amendment inserts a duty on local authorities within regional care arrangements to collect and report key data on placement sufficiency, cost and outcomes for improved transparency.</p>

117D

Clause 10, page 16, line 2, at end insert—<br> “(11) the Secretary of State must publish an annual summary of data collected under this section, and must share that summary with—<br> (a) Ofsted, to inform its annual report on placement sufficiency and stability, and<br> (b) the Competition and Markets Authority, to inform any market studies or investigations concerning the children’s care placements sector.”

<p>This amendment ensures that placement data collected by local authorities is used to inform national reports and market oversight by existing public bodies.</p>

119A

Clause 11, page 16, line 19, after “local authority”, insert “or who has an EHCP and is in receipt of residential care”

<p>This amendment seeks to include children with EHCPs in residential care and allow residential schools to use deprivation of liberty in specific settings for specific children rather than moving them to a residential home.</p>

119B

Clause 11, page 16, leave out lines 28 to 30

<p>This amendment seeks to probe what is meant by ‘likely to injure themselves or others’ and how this threshold is applied.</p>

120A

Clause 11, page 16, line 33, after “care” insert “, education”

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that children deprived of their liberty have access to education.</p>

183A

After Clause 26, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Equalising Universal Credit</b><br> (1) The Universal Credit Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/376) are amended as follows.<br> (2) In regulation 36 (table showing amounts of elements), under “Standard allowance”—<br> “(a) after “single claimant aged under 25” insert “, other than a care leaver”, and<br> (b) after “single claimant aged 25 or over” insert “or a care leaver aged under 25”.””

<p>This amendment would amend the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 to increase the standard allowance entitlement of universal credit for individuals leaving care once they turn 18 to match the amount available to claimants aged 25 or over.</p>

183B

After Clause 26, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Strategy for early childhood development and school readiness</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must prepare and publish a national strategy to promote the health, development, and school readiness of all children from birth to the age of five.<br> (2) The strategy under section (1) must include—<br> (a) delivery of the Healthy Child Programme (0–5 years) whether by placing on a statutory footing or otherwise to provide at least the following five developmental reviews—<br> (i) an antenatal health promoting visit;<br> (ii) a new baby review (10–14 days);<br> (iii) a 6–8 week review;<br> (iv) a 1-year review;<br> (v) a 2–2½ year review;<br> (b) the means to ensure children identified as at risk of developmental delay, neglect, or early adversity through the mandated reviews are referred to appropriate early intervention services without delay;<br> (c) the integration and sharing of data between health visiting, maternity, general practice, early years education, and safeguarding services;<br> (d) support for children’s development in the early years through access to high-quality early education and care, including in maintained, private, and voluntary sector settings;<br> (e) support for parents and carers through accessible information, advice, and locally commissioned services from the birth of their child to school entry;<br> (f) improved coordination between health, early years, social care and education professionals through multi-agency working at local level;<br> (g) the establishment of a national early years data and monitoring system to enable anonymised tracking of—<br> (i) coverage and completion rates of developmental reviews;<br> (ii) key indicators of child development and school readiness;<br> (iii) patterns of referral and access to early intervention services;<br> (h) reduction of inequalities in early childhood development and improved access to support for children from all socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds.<br> (3) The Secretary of State must lay before Parliament an annual report on the implementation of this strategy, including—<br> (a) progress made in delivering the Healthy Child Programme or equivalent programme nationally;<br> (b) developmental and school readiness outcomes at age 5, disaggregated by region and demographic group;<br> (c) an assessment of workforce capacity and local delivery arrangements for the reviews and support under this clause;<br> (d) any disparities or deficiencies in service access or outcomes.<br> (4) For the purposes of this section, “school readiness” includes a child’s ability, by the beginning of the academic year in which they turn five, to—<br> (a) manage basic personal needs including toileting, handwashing, and eating with minimal assistance;<br> (b) understand and follow simple instructions in a structured environment;<br> (c) express themselves using age-appropriate spoken language or alternative communication;<br> (d) regulate their emotions and behaviour in a way appropriate for learning with peers;<br> (e) sustain attention and participate in group activities for short periods;<br> (f) engage in cooperative play and early social interaction;<br> (g) demonstrate emerging fine and gross motor skills, including early mark-making, drawing, or movement.”

<p>This clause introduces a duty on the Secretary of State to review and improve the national infrastructure for early childhood development monitoring and support to ensure that every child receives regular checks in their first five years and that local systems are better integrated to support school readiness.</p>

183C

After Clause 26, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Court ordered reports</b><br> Any court ordered report produced for the purposes of either private or public law cases in family court proceedings under the Children Act 1989 must be done by a qualified social worker.”

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that all court ordered reports are produced by qualified social workers, for example those under Section 7 of the Children Act 1989.</p>

183D

Clause 27, page 45, line 29, at end insert “and for all pupils attending special schools”

<p>This amendment would require the delivery of school breakfast provision to all pupils in special schools, regardless of their age.</p>

186A

Clause 27, page 46, line 30, at end insert—<br> ““special schools” has the meaning set out in section 337 of the Education Act 1996.”

<p>This amendment defines special schools and is consequential on another amendment to clause 27 in the name of Lord Watson of Invergowrie.</p>

187A

Clause 27, page 48, line 10, at end insert—<br> <b>“551E</b> <b>Publication of data</b><br> The Secretary of State must acquire and regularly publish data on breakfast club provision in schools, including data on—<br> (a) characteristics of those receiving breakfast in schools (including eligibility for free school meals);<br> (b) uptake levels;<br> (c) satisfaction levels amongst pupils and parents;<br> (d) any assessment of the impact of provision on attendance, behaviour, health and wellbeing.”

<p>This amendment would require the Secretary of State to acquire and regularly publish data on breakfast club provision in schools.</p>

199A

[<i>Withdrawn</i>]<br>Clause 29, page 50, line 25, at end insert—<br> “(5) After section 551A, insert—<br> <i class="text-centre">“Regulations for levels of PFAS chemicals and transparency</i><br> <b>551B</b> <b>School uniforms: transparency and materials</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must, within three months of the day on which the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2025 comes into force, issue regulations to—<br> (a) ban the use of PFAS in school uniforms;<br> (b) require producers of school uniforms to provide a digital product passport listing the chemicals in the product to enable safe end of life disposal or recycling.<br> (2) The ban in section (1)(a) must set the limit for residual PFAS in textiles to no more than 50 mg F/kg (50 ppm).<br> (3) in this section—<br> “PFAS” means per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances as defined and listed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD);<br> “School uniforms” has the same meaning as in section 29(3) and (4).””

<p>This amendment would ensure that branded school uniform items do not contain PFAS chemicals, and would require producers of non-branded school uniform items to state whether any PFAS chemicals have been used, and to provide a digital product passport to improve the recyclability of school uniform products.</p>

236A

Clause 31, page 54, line 40 at end insert “, except in cases in which—<br> (i) one parent has been found guilty in a Criminal Court of an offence of which the child is a victim, including assault, sexual assault including rape, or domestic abuse;<br> (ii) there has been a finding of fact in a Family Court in which the child is a victim, including assault, sexual assault including rape, or domestic abuse by one parent;<br> (iii) there is an open police investigation against one parent for charges in which the child is a victim, including assault, sexual assault including rape, or domestic abuse;<br> (iv) there is a risk of harm to the child or other members of the family if the address of the non-residential parent is required;”

333ZA

After Clause 31, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Review of safeguarding protections in private tuition settings</b><br> (1) Within 12 months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must publish a review of—<br> (a) the adequacy of safeguards in place to protect children who receive private tuition, either online or in-person,<br> (b) the extent to which providers of private tuition carry out background checks on their tutors, and<br> (c) the impact, if any, of the activities defined as “Regulated activity relating to children” in Schedule 4 of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 on safeguarding in private tuition settings.<br> (2) Within six months of the completion of the review, the Secretary of State must publish and lay before Parliament a report on the findings of the review and any recommendations to improve safeguarding protections in private tuition.”

<p>This amendment seeks to require the Government to assess the adequacy of safeguarding protections for children with private tutors, who may not have to undergo an enhanced DBS check under current requirements.</p>

336

Clause 32, page 64, leave out lines 34 to 36

337

LORD WEI

Clause 32, page 65, line 1, leave out “, C or D”

342

Clause 32, page 65, leave out lines 22 to 35

357

Clause 32, page 67, line 15, at end insert—<br> “(c) must describe the reasons for the decision to serve the order.”

<p>This amendment seeks to give parents the information needed to be able to challenge a school attendance order, or if they wish to make changes and then request revocation.</p>

3

Clause 1, page 1, line 9, leave out from “parents” to the end of line 10 and insert “and any other person with parental responsibility for the child, or the child, if they have reached the age of 16.”

<p>This amendment seeks to extend the right to Family Group Conferencing to children aged 16 and 17 so they are able to agree their own care plan.</p>

481

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Financial governance of local authority schools</b><br> (1) Local authority maintained schools must—<br> (a) ensure that their accounts are externally audited between the end of the academic year and 31st December annually, and<br> (b) publish these accounts on their school website by no later than 31st January of the following year.<br> (2) The relevant local authority must monitor the resolution by the school of any material issues raised in these audit reports.”

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that the same standard of financial governance exists between academy schools and local authority schools.</p>

482

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Educational attainment of children with a parent in prison</b><br> (1) Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must commission a report on the educational attainment of school age children with a parent who is in prison.<br> (2) The report must make recommendations for how the educational attainment of those children can be improved.<br> (3) The Secretary of State must publish the report and lay it before Parliament.”

483

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Apprenticeship provision</b><br> The Secretary of State must promote sufficient provision of apprenticeship places up to level 3 to ensure that every qualified applicant aged 16 to 18 receives an offer of a place.”

484

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“School: hair requirements</b><br> Pupils must not be denied opportunities to take part in classes, or any other school activities, by reason of their hair style or cut, unless for reasons of health and safety.”

<p>This clause aims to ensure children are not denied education or other school-related opportunities for reasons of hair cut or style.</p>

485

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Parental complaints (maintained schools)</b><br> (1) After section 29 of the Education Act 2002 insert—<br> <b>“29ZA</b> <b>Parental complaints: appeals</b><br> (1) A complainant may appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber) where—<br> (a) the complaint was against a maintained school in England under section 29(1),<br> (b) the complainant was a parent of a registered pupil at the school at the time they first pursued the complaint,<br> (c) the complaint specified one or more legal duties listed in Schedule 1A of which the school was alleged to be in breach,<br> (d) the complaints process under section 29(1) was completed,<br> (e) the complaint was not fully upheld in respect of one or more of the matters specified as described in paragraph (c), and<br> (f) the complainant does not have and has not had any other prescribed right of appeal apart from that provided under section 29(1) and this section.<br> (2) The Secretary of State must make regulations about appeals to the First-tier Tribunal in respect of subsection (1), including—<br> (a) making and determining appeals;<br> (b) the powers of the tribunal on determining an appeal.<br> (3) Regulations under subsection (2) may include provision conferring power on the First-tier Tribunal, on determining an appeal against a matter, to make recommendations in respect of other matters (including matters against which no appeal may be brought).<br> (4) A person commits an offence if without reasonable excuse that person fails to comply with any requirement—<br> (a) in respect of the discovery or inspection of documents, or<br> (b) to attend to give evidence and produce documents,<br> <span class="wrapped">where that requirement is imposed by Tribunal Procedure Rules in relation to an appeal under this section or regulations under subsection (2).</span><br> (5) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (4) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.”<br> (2) After Schedule 1 to the Education Act 2002 insert—<br> “Schedule 1A<br> <span class="schedule-heading">LEGAL DUTIES FOR THE PURPOSES OF SECTION 29ZA</span><br> 1 <span class="sub-para subsection"><span class="sub-para-num">(1)</span><span class="sub-para-text">The legal duties to which section 29ZA applies are as follows.</span></span><br> <span class="sub-para subsection sub-para-indented"><span class="sub-para-num">(2)</span><span class="sub-para-text">The Education Act 1996—</span></span><br> <span class="sub-para subsection sub-para-indented"><span class="sub-para-num">(a)</span><span class="sub-para-text">section 9 (Education in accordance with parental wishes),</span></span><br> <span class="sub-para subsection sub-para-indented"><span class="sub-para-num">(b)</span><span class="sub-para-text">section 402 (Obligation to enter pupils for public examinations),</span></span><br> <span class="sub-para subsection sub-para-indented"><span class="sub-para-num">(c)</span><span class="sub-para-text">sections 403 to 405 (Sex education),</span></span><br> <span class="sub-para subsection sub-para-indented"><span class="sub-para-num">(d)</span><span class="sub-para-text">sections 406 to 407 (Politics) and</span></span><br> <span class="sub-para subsection sub-para-indented"><span class="sub-para-num">(e)</span><span class="sub-para-text">section 542(1) (Prescribed standards for school premises);</span></span><br> <span class="sub-para subsection sub-para-indented"><span class="sub-para-num">(3)</span><span class="sub-para-text">The Education Act 2002—</span></span><br> <span class="sub-para subsection sub-para-indented"><span class="sub-para-num">(a)</span><span class="sub-para-text">sections 78 to 80B (General duties in respect of the curriculum), and</span></span><br> <span class="sub-para subsection sub-para-indented"><span class="sub-para-num">(b)</span><span class="sub-para-text">section 175(2) and (3) (Duties ... in relation to welfare of children);</span></span><br> <span class="sub-para subsection sub-para-indented"><span class="sub-para-num">(4)</span><span class="sub-para-text">The School Standards and Framework Act 1998—</span></span><br> <span class="sub-para subsection sub-para-indented"><span class="sub-para-num">(a)</span><span class="sub-para-text">section 1(6) (Duty in relation to infant class size),</span></span><br> <span class="sub-para subsection sub-para-indented"><span class="sub-para-num">(b)</span><span class="sub-para-text">sections 69 to 71 (Religious education and worship), and</span></span><br> <span class="sub-para subsection sub-para-indented"><span class="sub-para-num">(c)</span><span class="sub-para-text">section 114A (Requirements for food and drink provided on school premises etc);</span></span><br> <span class="sub-para subsection sub-para-indented"><span class="sub-para-num">(5)</span><span class="sub-para-text">Childcare Act 2006, section 40 (Duty to implement Early Years Foundation Stage);</span></span><br> <span class="sub-para subsection sub-para-indented"><span class="sub-para-num">(6)</span><span class="sub-para-text">Children Act 1989, sections 87 and 87C (Welfare of children in boarding schools and colleges and national minimum standards) and</span></span><br> <span class="sub-para subsection sub-para-indented"><span class="sub-para-num">(7)</span><span class="sub-para-text">The Education and Inspections Act 2006, sections 88 to 94 (School Discipline).””</span></span>

18

Clause 1, page 2, line 26, at end insert—<br> “(10) In exercising functions under this section in relation to a child, a local authority must regularly reconsider the right of the child removed from their parents’ care to have relationships with their “family network” as defined in subsection (5).”

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that a child’s changing needs are considered throughout childhood and enable any necessary support to facilitate these relationships.</p>

487

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Parental complaints (independent educational institutions, including academies)</b><br> After section 137 of the Education and Skills Act 2008 (Service of notice etc) insert—<br> <b>“137A</b> <b>Parental Complaints: appeals</b><br> (1) A complainant may appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber) where—<br> (a) the complaint was against an independent educational institution in England under Part 7 of the Schedule of The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014,<br> (b) the complainant was a parent of a registered pupil at the institution at the time they first pursued the complaint, and<br> (c) the complaint specified one or more—<br> (i) Independent School Standard Regulations that apply to the institution, or<br> (ii) terms of any funding agreements between the proprietor of the institution and the Secretary of State, or<br> (iii) obligations under the memorandum and articles of the proprietor company, or<br> (iv) the proprietor’s charitable objects, or<br> (v) legal requirements that apply to the institution under the Academies Act 2010,<br> <span class="wrapped">in relation to the institution’s provision for pupils with which the proprietor is alleged to be in breach, and</span><br> (d) the complaints process under (a) has been completed,<br> (e) the complaint was not fully upheld in respect of one or more of the matters specified as described in (c), and<br> (f) the complainant does not have and has not had any other prescribed right of appeal beyond that provided in Part 7 of the Schedule of The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 and this section.<br> (2) The Secretary of State must make regulations about appeals to the First-tier Tribunal in respect of subsection (1), including—<br> (a) making and determining appeals,<br> (b) the powers of the tribunal on determining an appeal.<br> (3) Regulations under subsection (2) may include provision conferring power on the First-tier Tribunal, on determining an appeal against a matter, to make recommendations in respect of other matters (including matters against which no appeal may be brought).<br> (4) A person commits an offence if without reasonable excuse that person fails to comply with any requirement—<br> (a) in respect of the discovery or inspection of documents, or<br> (b) to attend to give evidence and produce documents,<br> <span class="wrapped">where that requirement is imposed by Tribunal Procedure Rules in relation to an appeal under this section or regulations under subsection (2).</span><br> (5) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (4) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.””

<p>This clause would afford to parents the ability to appeal complaints about an independent educational institution failing to comply with its legal duties in educational provision to the first-tier tribunal in circumstances where the institution’s internal complaints process has been completed and has not upheld their complaint. Independent Educational Institutions include academies.</p>

488

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Parental complaints (non-maintained special schools)</b><br> After section 342C of the Education Act 1996 insert—<br> <b>“342D</b> <b>Parental complaints: appeals</b><br> (1) A complainant may appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber) where—<br> (a) they have pursued a complaint against a non-maintained special school in England under paragraph 31 of the Schedule of the Non-Maintained Special Schools (England) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/728),<br> (b) the complainant was the parent of a registered pupil at the school at the time of first pursuing the complaint,<br> (c) the complaint specified one or more—<br> (i) non-maintained Special School Regulations<br> (ii) obligations under the memorandum and articles of any proprietor company, or<br> (iii) obligations imposed under any trust deed of the school<br> <span class="wrapped">in relation to the institution’s provision for pupils with which the proprietor is alleged to be in breach,</span><br> (d) the complaints process under (a) has been completed,<br> (e) the complaint was not fully upheld in respect of one or more of the matters specified as described in (c), and<br> (f) the complainant does not have and has not had any other prescribed right of appeal beyond that provided in paragraph 31 of the Schedule of the Non-Maintained Special Schools (England) Regulations 2015 and this section.<br> (2) The Secretary of State must make regulations about appeals to the First-tier Tribunal in respect of subsection (1), including—<br> (a) making and determining appeals;<br> (b) the powers of the tribunal on determining an appeal.<br> (3) Regulations under subsection (2) may include provision conferring power on the First-tier Tribunal, on determining an appeal against a matter, to make recommendations in respect of other matters (including matters against which no appeal may be brought).<br> (4) A person commits an offence if without reasonable excuse that person fails to comply with any requirement—<br> (a) in respect of the discovery or inspection of documents, or<br> (b) to attend to give evidence and produce documents,<br> <span class="wrapped">where that requirement is imposed by Tribunal Procedure Rules in relation to an appeal under this section or regulations under subsection (2).</span><br> (5) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (4) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.””

<p>This clause would afford to parents the ability to appeal complaints about a non-maintained special school failing to comply with its legal duties in educational provision to the first-tier tribunal in circumstances where the school’s internal complaints process has been completed and has not upheld their complaint.</p>

489

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Amendment of the First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal (Chambers) Order 2010</b><br> The Secretary of State may by regulations make such amendments to the First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal (Chambers) Order 2010, the Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber) Rules 2008, and any other relevant subordinate legislation as are necessary or expedient in consequence of, or in connection with, sections <i>(Parental Complaints (Maintained Schools)</i>), (<i>Parental Complaints (Independent educational institutions, including academies))</i>, and (<i>Parental Complaints (Non-maintained Special Schools)</i>) of this Act.”

<p>This clause allows the Secretary of State to make amendments to secondary legislation for tribunals as a consequence of the amendments proposed on parental complaints.</p>

490

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Royal Commission on the education attainment gap</b><br> (1) On the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must make arrangements to establish a Royal Commission to investigate the education attainment gap for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).<br> (2) The Commission must investigate and make recommendations relating to—<br> (a) the education attainment gap for individual special educational needs and disabilities;<br> (b) the education attainment gap at each level of examination, including Key Stage 2, GCSE, A-Level and other relevant qualifications;<br> (c) the level of understanding of the social model of disability in teacher training and schools.<br> (3) The Commission must publish recommendations and recommend a deadline by which the SEND education attainment gap must be closed.”

20

Clause 2, page 2, line 31, leave out subsections (2) to (4) and insert—<br> “(2) In subsection (3)—<br> (a) omit paragraph (a) in the definition of “relevant agency”;<br> (b) at the end of the definition of “safeguarding partner”, insert—<br> “(d) those relevant agencies which are designated childcare or education agencies.”.<br> (3) For the purposes of this section, a relevant agency is a “designated childcare or education agency” if it—<br> (a) has functions relating to the provision of childcare or education (or both), and<br> (b) is designated as such by regulations made by the Secretary of State.”

<p>This amendment seeks to expand the definition of safeguarding partner to include all “designated childcare and education agencies” by default. It also seeks to remove the requirement that “relevant agencies” are designated by the Secretary of State.</p>

21

Clause 2, page 2, line 35, after “agencies” insert “or family hubs”

<p>This and other amendments to Clause 2 in the name of Lord Farmer add family hubs, which support families as the primary means by which children are safeguarded, to the list of new agencies which have to be included in safeguarding arrangements.</p>

491

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“School mentorship scheme for children with SEND</b><br> (1) Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must establish a school mentorship scheme for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).<br> (2) The mentorship scheme must—<br> (a) involve members of local communities, business and wider society who are disabled people or have other relevant lived experience to offer to support children with SEND,<br> (b) offer appropriate, relevant and contextualised advice from mentors, and<br> (c) include the delivery of mentors’ advice gained from lived experience, work experience opportunities and other experience as appropriate.”

492

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Curriculum review: recommended physical activity</b><br> Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must undertake a curriculum review on how the levels of physical activity recommended by the Chief Medical Officer can form part of physical education provision within schools.”

22

Clause 2, page 3, line 5, after “agency” insert “or family hub”

<p>This and other amendments to Clause 2 in the name of Lord Farmer add family hubs, which support families as the primary means by which children are safeguarded, to the list of new agencies which have to be included in safeguarding arrangements.</p>

493

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Education technology: guiding principles</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must by regulations made by statutory instrument make provision for the regulation of education technology deployed in schools in England.<br> (2) The regulations made under subsection (1) must ensure that education technology used in schools in England—<br> (a) is inclusive by design,<br> (b) is accessible to all,<br> (c) is transparent with regard to its training data and, where applicable, its algorithmic make-up,<br> (d) is labelled clearly if it uses artificial intelligence,<br> (e) does not sell or provide data to third parties, and<br> (f) does not store personal data at a location other than that of the school in which it is being used.<br> (3) A statutory instrument that contains regulations under this section is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.”

23

Clause 2, page 3, line 6, leave out “or education (or both)” and insert “, education or family support (or all three)”

<p>This and other amendments to Clause 2 in the name of Lord Farmer add family hubs, which support families as the primary means by which children are safeguarded, to the list of new agencies which have to be included in safeguarding arrangements.</p>

494

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Procurement standard for education technology</b><br> Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must publish guidance for schools on procurement standards for education technology.”

25

Clause 2, page 3, line 11, leave out “16E(2A)(b) or (3)” and insert “16E(4)(b)”

<p>This amendment and another in the name of Lord Bichard seek to expand the definition of safeguarding partner to include all “designated childcare and education agencies” by default.</p>

495

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Teacher training review</b><br> (1) Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must establish a review of teacher training in England.<br> (2) The review must assess the extent to which teacher training includes physical and mental literacy and the challenges of new technologies.<br> (3) The review must—<br> (a) report within 12 months of the day on which it is established, and<br> (b) recommend a new teacher training offer which includes—<br> (i) artificial intelligence,<br> (ii) sport and physical literacy,<br> (iii) data literacy,<br> (iv) media literacy, and<br> (v) financial literacy.”

496

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Character education</b><br> Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must establish a review of the research, evidence and practice in relation to character education in schools in England.”

497

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Curriculum review: AI</b><br> (1) Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must undertake a curriculum review to explore how children can receive teaching, learning and a curriculum which recognises any opportunities and challenges of technologies including, but not limited to, artificial intelligence.<br> (2) The curriculum review must investigate how children can be equipped with the learning and skills to flourish through their use of technology in all subjects in the National Curriculum.”

27

Clause 2, page 3, line 11, at end insert—<br> “(6) The Secretary of State must, by regulations, place a duty on the local authority to identify a single point of contact to support education providers in their responsibilities under this Act.”

<p>This amendment seeks to probe whether all education and children organisations can contact the LADO.</p>

28

Clause 2, page 3, line 11, at end insert—<br> “(6) The Secretary of State must, by regulations, place a duty on education providers to identify a single point of contact to take part in the strategic safeguarding arrangements.”

<p>This amendment seeks to probe how education providers will be involved in strategic safeguarding arrangements.</p>

498

LORD WEI

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“SEND provision review</b><br> (1) Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must undertake a review of provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND provision) in schools in England.<br> (2) The review must report within 12 months of the day on which it is established.<br> (3) The review must produce recommendations, including on how the Secretary of State should fund SEND provision required by law.”

499

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Attendance code of practice</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must issue an attendance code of practice giving guidance to the following bodies on their functions in relation to school attendance—<br> (a) local authorities in England,<br> (b) admission authorities in England,<br> (c) the governing bodies of schools,<br> (d) the proprietors of Academies, and<br> (e) the management committees of pupil referral units.<br> (2) The Secretary of State may revise the code from time to time.<br> (3) The bodies listed in subsection (1) must have regard to the code in exercising their functions in relation to school attendance.<br> (4) Those who exercise functions on behalf of the bodies in subsection (1) in relation to school attendance must also have regard to the code.”

500

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Review: physical and mental wellbeing standards</b><br> (1) Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must publish standards for schools in England on the physical and mental wellbeing—<br> (a) teaching,<br> (b) training, and<br> (c) care and support,<br> <span class="wrapped">which they provide to children.</span><br> (2) The standards must include delivery targets to which schools must adhere.”

501

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“National survey on bullying</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must arrange for the collection and publication of national data on bullying experienced by children and young people in schools in England on an annual basis.<br> (2) The survey must include—<br> (a) the groups of children most at risk of experiencing bullying;<br> (b) the nature and type of bullying experienced, including, but not limited, to sexual, sexist, racial, and online bullying;<br> (c) the interventions and responses perceived as most effective in reducing bullying;<br> (d) how schools in England are responding to bullying, including in both in-person and online contexts.<br> (3) The report must be published annually and the Secretary of State must lay the report before Parliament which outlines the findings and a proposed policy response.”

502

[<i>Withdrawn</i>]<br>After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Review: educational attainment</b><br> (1) Within 12 months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must publish a review into the impact of this Act on the educational attainment of children.<br> (2) The review must consider the merits of commencing section 34 of the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008 (Transfer of arrears) and uncommenced sections of the Child Support Collection (Domestic Abuse) Act 2023 for the purposes of improving the educational attainment of children.”

32

Clause 3, page 4, line 3, at end insert—<br> “(e) a member of the Children With Disabilities Team.”

<p>This amendment seeks to include a member of Children’s Disabilities Team into the multi-agency child protection team.</p>

35

Clause 3, page 4, line 15, at end insert—<br> ““Children’s Disabilities Team” means any team provided by a local authority that is providing services under section 17 of the Children Act 1989;”

38

Clause 3, page 5, line 19, leave out subsection (4)

<p>This amendment seeks to probe the adequacy of resources available for this part of the Bill to be delivered effectively.</p>

47

Clause 4, page 7, line 7, at end insert—<br> “(7A) Where the relevant person discloses any information under subsection (2) they must keep a record that they have disclosed the information.”

<p>This amendment would require all information sharing decisions to be recorded.</p>

446

Clause 50, page 114, line 20, at end insert—<br> “(c) after subsection (1) insert—<br> “(1ZA) When making an order under subsection (1)(b) of this section and within the meaning of section 62 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 (school requiring special measures), the Secretary of State must make an order to—<br> (a) transfer the school to a high performing multi-academy trust, or<br> (b) merge the school with a high performing maintained school serving a similar cohort of children (by demographic background and prior attainment), provided that school is within the same local authority or geographical area,<br> <span class="wrapped">unless the Secretary of State believes that there is good reason to undertake another course of action.””</span>

48

Clause 4, page 7, line 7, at end insert—<br> “(7A) Where the relevant person does not disclose information because the information falls within subsection (3) they must keep a record that they have not disclosed the information.”

<p>This amendment would require all information sharing decisions to be recorded.</p>

49

Clause 4, page 7, line 14, at end insert—<br> “(9A) The relevant person must maintain a record of processing of the disclosures made under this section.”

<p>This amendment requires that the record of processing should be explicit in order to increase public trust in the expanded use of a national identifier.</p>

54

Clause 4, page 7, leave out lines 26 and 27

<p>This amendment seeks to clarify what is meant by ‘a similar set of identifiers that is of general application’.</p>

61

Clause 4, page 8, leave out lines 31 to 34

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that SUIs can be used for research and commissioning purposes in order to improve outcomes for babies, children and young people.</p>

62

Clause 4, page 8, line 34, at end insert—<br> “(14A) Before making regulations under this section the Secretary of State must establish a strategy to ensure accurate and secure collection, recording and storage of any data obtained under this section and publish that strategy.”

<p>This is a probing amendment which seeks to understand how the Government will manage erroneous recording.</p>

63

Clause 4, page 8, line 34, at end insert—<br> “(14A) Draft regulations under subsection (1) must be published within the period of one month after the day on which the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2025 is passed and must include—<br> (a) the description of the consistent identifier,<br> (b) the description of the designated person,<br> (c) the description of all persons or services to which this section applies, and<br> (d) the process by which the Secretary of State will ensure accurate collection of data.”

<p>This amendment seeks to get clarity on which services this section applies to.</p>

69

After Clause 4, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Common open data standard: children’s wellbeing</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State may by regulations establish a common open data standard for relevant bodies to use in respect of their statutory duties relating to the safeguarding and welfare of children.<br> (2) Any standard established under subsection (1) must be—<br> (a) non-proprietary, that is not dependent on vendor-specific software;<br> (b) documented such that the structure is publicly available;<br> (c) platform-independent, that is usable across systems;<br> (d) royalty-free or under open licence.<br> (3) “Common open data standard” means a common data rule that allows any user to create compatible and consistent products, processes and services that is publicly available.<br> (4) For the purposes of this section, a “relevant body” means—<br> (a) a local authority;<br> (b) a state-funded school;<br> (c) a children's home;<br> (d) any regulated body with statutory duties relating to children which the Secretary of State may designate by regulations.<br> (5) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.”

<p>This amendment would give the Secretary of State the power to establish by regulations a common data standard for information relating to the safeguarding and wellbeing of children so it can be more easily shared between relevant public bodies.</p>

73

After Clause 5, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Removal of unregistered status for approved kinship carers</b><br> Notwithstanding the provisions of the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/959) and the Children Act 1989, no placement of a child with a kinship carer that is approved by the Director of Children’s Services, shall be considered an unregistered placement.”

<p>This amendment would allow local authorities to place a child with a kinship carer without needing to meet the fostering placement standards, where it is judged by the local authority to be in the best interests of the child, as a registered placement, including for the purposes of Ofsted inspection.</p>

74

After Clause 5, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Kinship carers: early permanence</b><br> In section 10(5B) of the Children Act 1989 (power of court to make section 8 orders), for “of at least one year immediately preceding the application” substitute “determined by the court”.”

<p>This amendment seeks to remove the requirement for kinship carers to have lived with the child for whom they are making a Section 8 order under the Children Act 1989 for at least one year.</p>

75

After Clause 5, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Requirements for kinship care approval</b><br> Regulation 26 of the Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/581) (assessment of prospective foster parents) does not apply to kinship carers.”

<p>This amendment seeks to remove the requirement for kinship carers who have been approved by the Director of Children’s Services, including after a family group decision-making process, to be reassessed by the fostering panel.</p>

76

After Clause 5, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Kinship care report</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must, within 12 months of day on which this Act is passed, carry out a full review assessing the effectiveness of the current pathways for approval of kinship carers.<br> (2) The Secretary of State must lay a report setting out the findings of the review before each House of Parliament.<br> (3) Following the publication of the report in subsection (1), the Secretary of State must introduce regulations for the approval of kinship carers.<br> (4) These regulations must seek to—<br> (a) improve the safety and wellbeing of children in kinship care,<br> (b) reduce barriers to becoming a kinship carer,<br> (c) establish the requirement for a kinship child protection plan which is monitored by the local authority for a minimum period and until the arrangements for the child are judged to be safe and the welfare of the child is being promoted, and<br> (d) reduce the burden for local authorities and the family courts.<br> (5) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this Act may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.”

<p>This amendment seeks to require the Secretary of State to review and update the approval requirements for kinship carers.</p>

79

Clause 6, page 11, line 15, at end insert—<br> “(c) all children who were previously looked-after and who are adopted.”

<p>This amendment seeks to extend the steps local authorities take to promote educational achievement to all previously looked-after children who are adopted.</p>

80

Clause 6, page 11, line 26, at end insert—<br> “(e) to improve career and employment opportunities for children within subsection (2).”

<p>This amendment seeks to include career and employment opportunities as a part of educational achievement.</p>

83

Clause 6, page 12, line 5, at end insert—<br> “(5) Before commencement of subsections (1) to (3) of this section, the Secretary of State must undertake and publish a review of the role, remit and effectiveness of virtual school heads, including the allocation of resources for virtual schools to be able to carry out their duties under this section.<br> (6) Within six months of the completion of the review, the Secretary of State must publish and lay before Parliament a report on the findings and conclusions of the review.”

<p>This amendment would require the Secretary of State to carry out a review of the role and remit of the virtual school in regard to all cohorts under the virtual school umbrella, including the allocation of resources for virtual schools to be able to carry out their duties for each of these cohorts, and to report back to Parliament.</p>

85

Clause 7, page 12, leave out lines 16 to 18 and insert—<br> “(2) The authority must assess what staying close support is required in the interests of the person’s welfare, having due regard to the person’s—<br> (a) wishes and preferences,<br> (b) accommodation requirements,<br> (c) emotional and practical support needs, and<br> (d) existing support network.”

<p>This amendment seeks to clarify the scope of the staying close scheme.</p>

508

Clause 66, page 124, line 23, at end insert—<br> “(4A) Section 3 may not come into force until the Secretary of State has made a statement confirming that safeguarding partners which are party to an agreement under section 16J(1) of the Children Act 2004 (combining safeguarding partner areas and delegating functions) have equal responsibility for the effective delivery of the multi-agency child protection team.”

<p>This amendment would require the Secretary of State to clarify that safeguarding partners which are party to an agreement under section 16J of the Children Act 2004 have equal responsibility for the effective delivery of the MACPT.</p>

509

Clause 66, page 124, line 23, at end insert—<br> “(4A) Section 3 may not come into force until the Secretary of State has published guidance to clarify how the duties in section 3 will be delivered and funded, including for non-statutory agencies.”

<p>This amendment seeks to clarify what resources and funding will be provided to ensure effective delivery of the additional duties set out in clause 3.</p>

92

Clause 7, page 12, line 38, at end insert—<br> “(c) any other support the local authority deems appropriate.”

<p>This amendment would allow the local authority to use its discretion to offer additional support to a care leaver under the age of 25.</p>

93

Clause 7, page 12, line 38, at end insert—<br> “(5A) A person specified in subsection (1) can refuse the offer of staying close support.”

<p>This amendment would allow care leavers to opt out of Staying Close support.</p>

96

Clause 8, page 13, line 25, at end insert—<br> “(e) setting out the transition arrangements for health and primary care for care leavers.”

<p>This amendment seeks to include robust transition arrangements for health and into primary care for care leavers.</p>

97

Clause 8, page 13, line 25, at end insert—<br> “(e) enabling care leavers to maintain, strengthen and build family and social relationships.”

107

After Clause 9, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Adoption and special guardianship support fund review</b><br> (1) Within one month of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must conduct a review of the level of funding available per child from the adoption and special guardianship support fund.<br> (2) The review must produce recommendations regarding any steps necessary to increase the funds available per child.<br> (3) The review must be laid before both Houses of Parliament.”

108

Clause 10, page 14, line 35, after “accommodation” insert “to meet the needs”

109

Clause 10, page 14, line 36, at end insert “as close to home as reasonably practicable”

110

Clause 10, page 14, line 37, leave out “for meeting those requirements” and insert “to ensure a range of accommodation that is within, or near to, the local authority’s area, and that is capable of meeting the differing needs of children being looked after by the local authority”

112

Clause 10, page 15, line 1, leave out “for” and insert “to meet the needs of”

111

Clause 10, page 15, line 1, after “of” insert “sufficient local”

113

Clause 10, page 15, line 2, at end insert “as close to home as reasonably practicable”

114

Clause 10, page 15, line 5, after “of,” insert “sufficient”

115

Clause 10, page 15, line 5, after “new” insert “local”

116

Clause 10, page 15, line 7, after “authority” insert “as close to home as reasonably practicable”

133

After Clause 11, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Local Authority support for children subject to deprivation of liberty orders in their relationships</b><br> Information required to be published by a local authority includes information about the authority’s arrangements for enabling children subject to deprivation of liberty orders to maintain, strengthen and build family and social relationships.”

134

After Clause 11, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Foster care: room sharing</b><br> In section 23 of the Care Standards Act 2000 after subsection (4) insert—<br> “(5) The national minimum standards under this section must include a clear statement that it is appropriate for children over the age of three years to share a room provided the fostering service provider takes into account any potential for bullying, any history of abuse or abusive behaviour, the wishes of the children concerned and all other pertinent facts.””

<p>This amendment would require the Secretary of State to update the Fostering Services: National Minimum Standards and include a clear statement that it is appropriate for children over the age of three years to share a room provided the fostering service provider has taken into account the same issues which are currently to be taken into account when a room-sharing decision is made under the existing standards.</p>

147

Clause 21, page 39, line 21, at end insert—<br> “(1A) When discharging its duty under subsection (1), the relevant authority must consider the right to British citizenship of looked-after and relevant young people and how that entitlement can be secured to avoid adverse effect on their wellbeing.”

156

Clause 26, page 44, line 5, leave out “, health or development” and insert “or health”

<p>This amendment seeks to probe the definition of development of children, given the role which technology plays in modern jobs.</p>

176

After Clause 26, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Impact assessment: weekend jobs</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must carry out an assessment of the likely impact of section 26 (Employment of children in England) on the ability of children to get employment during the weekend.<br> (2) The Secretary of State must lay a report setting out the findings of the assessment before each House of Parliament.”

178

After Clause 26, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Fosters carers’ delegated authority for children in their care</b><br> (1) Where a child (“C”) who is looked after by the local authority is placed with a foster parent (“F”) by a local authority, F may make decisions on C’s behalf in relation to the matters set out in subsection (2) where C’s placement plan does not specify an alternative decision maker.<br> (2) The matters referred to in subsection (1) are—<br> (a) medical and dental treatment,<br> (b) education,<br> (c) leisure and home life,<br> (d) faith and religious observance,<br> (e) use of social media,<br> (f) personal care, and<br> (g) any other matters which F considers appropriate.”

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that foster carers have a clear delegated authority to make the day to day decisions in a child’s life.</p>

179

After Clause 26, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“English local authorities: duties relating to Start for Life offer</b><br> (1) An English local authority must publish a Start for Life offer for its area on its website under the heading “Start for Life”.<br> (2) A “Start for Life offer” for an English local authority’s area is information about the following services that the authority is aware are available in its area for infants, parents, or carers of infants—<br> (a) health visiting services provided by or on behalf of a public authority;<br> (b) services promoting positive relationships between infants and their parents or carers provided by or on behalf of a public authority;<br> (c) breastfeeding and other infant feeding services provided by or on behalf of a public authority;<br> (d) mental health services provided by or on behalf of a public authority;<br> (e) such other kinds of services that are—<br> (i) likely to support infants, parents, or carers of infants, and<br> (ii) provided by or on behalf of a public authority, as the Secretary of State may specify by regulations made by statutory instrument;<br> (f) such services that are likely to support infants, parents, or carers of infants being—<br> (i) services of a kind mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (e) provided other than by or on behalf of a public authority, or<br> (ii) other services, whether or not provided by or on behalf of a public authority, as the local authority considers it appropriate to include information about in the Start for Life offer for its area.<br> (4) An English local authority must also—<br> (a) publish a Start for Life offer for its area by any other means it considers appropriate,<br> (b) take such steps as it considers appropriate to bring the Start for Life offer to the attention of parents and carers of infants in its area, and<br> (c) take such steps as are reasonably practicable to ensure that the Start for Life offer is kept up to date.<br> (5) An English local authority must have regard to guidance published by the Secretary of State under section <i>(Guidance)</i> when complying with its duties under this section.<br> (6) A statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (2)(e) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.”

<p>This and the following four clauses require local authorities to make information available about support for infants, parents and carers of infants and include reporting requirements relating to such support, to help ensure children's safety and well-being in the critical first two years of life.</p>

180

After Clause 26, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Guidance</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must publish guidance to English local authorities relating to their duties under section (<i>English local authorities: duties relating to Start for Life offer</i>).<br> (2) Before publishing guidance under subsection (1), and any revisions to the guidance that the Secretary of State considers substantive, the Secretary of State must consult—<br> (a) English local authorities, and<br> (b) such other persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.<br> (3) If—<br> (a) consultation was undertaken during a period before the day (“The commencement day”) on which this section comes into force (including during a period that occurred before the day on which this Act is passed), and<br> (b) the consultation would to any extent have satisfied subsection (2) had it occurred on or after the commencement day,<br> <span class="wrapped">then, on the commencement day, the consultation is taken to satisfy subsection (2) to that extent.”</span>

181

After Clause 26, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Secretary of State’s duty to report</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must publish a report each year relating to support available in England for infants, parents and carers of infants.<br> (2) The report must include—<br> (a) an overview of support that is available for such persons through services of the kind covered by section (<i>English local authorities: duties relating to Start for Life offer)</i>(2)(a) to (f), and<br> (b) such other information as the Secretary of State considers is appropriate to include in the report (for example, information about any impacts of support on outcomes for such persons, or steps that are being taken in relation to the collection of information relating to such impacts).<br> (3) A report under subsection (1) must be published on a government website as soon as reasonably practicable after 1 April in the relevant year.”

182

After Clause 26, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Data protection</b><br> (1) Sections <i>(English local authorities: duties relating to Start for Life offer) </i>and <i>(Secretary of State’s duty to report)</i> do not require a publication of information if the publication would contravene the data protection legislation (but in determining whether the publication would do so, take into account the duties imposed by those sections).<br> (2) In subsection (1), “the data protection legislation” has the same meaning as in the Data Protection Act 2018 (see section 3(9) of that Act).”

183

After Clause 26, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Interpretation</b><br> (1) In sections <i>(English local authorities: duties relating to Start for Life offer)</i> and <i>(Guidance)</i>—<br> “English local authority” means—<br> (a) a county council in England,<br> (b) a district council for an area in England for which there is no county council,<br> (c) a London borough council,<br> (d) the Common Council of the City of London in its capacity as a local authority, or<br> (e) the Council of the Isles of Scilly;<br> “infant” means a child under the age of two years.<br> (2) In section <i>(English local authorities: duties relating to Start for Life offer)</i>, a service is “provided by or on behalf of a public authority” if—<br> (a) the service is provided by or on behalf of a person who has a function of a public nature, and<br> (b) the service is provided in the performance of that function.”

186

Clause 27, page 46, line 10, at end insert—<br> “(5A) The appropriate authority must take all reasonable measures to ensure that provision under this section is accessible to all qualifying pupils with special educational needs or who are disabled.<br> (5B) In the case of a child who has special educational needs or is disabled, the local authority who is responsible for that child must co-operate with the appropriate authority in discharging its duties under this section in respect of that child.<br> (5C) Co-operation under subsection (5B) must include, but not be limited to—<br> (a) ensuring that any provision of home to school transport for that child is scheduled so that the child can attend the breakfast club, and<br> (b) reviewing any Education, Health and Care Plan to ensure that appropriate support is in place to enable the child to attend the breakfast club.<br> (5D) Where a child is receiving education otherwise than at school but would have been a qualifying pupil were they attending school, the local authority who is responsible for that child must endeavour to make arrangements for breakfast provision for that child, taking into account any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.”

194

After Clause 28, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“School food standards: breakfasts and lunch</b><br> The Secretary of State must—<br> (a) update the school food standards to ensure that—<br> (i) a variety of fruit is made available at both breakfast and lunchtime;<br> (ii) no food, condiment or spread is served at either breakfast or lunch that contains more than 5g of sugar per 100g;<br> (iii) two portions of vegetables are served with every lunch;<br> (iv) only water, dairy milk, or non-sweetened plant-based milk drinks are served at both breakfast and lunch;<br> (b) update the school food standards annually to ensure they—<br> (i) conform to the most recent nutritional advice according to the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition;<br> (ii) have regard to the country’s sustainability and food security needs.”

197A

Clause 29, page 49, line 16, at end insert—<br> <span class="wrapped">“unless the branded item of school uniform has been provided or lent to the primary pupil or the secondary pupil free of charge by the appropriate authority or by anyone else.”</span>

<p>The amendment would exclude from the restriction on branded clothing items of school uniform which have been provided or lent to a pupil free of charge.</p>

200

Leave out Clause 29, and insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“School uniforms</b><br> (1) Members of academy trusts must oversee the cost of school uniforms and all other apparel that is needed by pupils in their school in the course of an academic year.<br> (2) Members of academy trusts must require that the board of the academy trust that they oversee produces an annual report on—<br> (a) the cost of this uniform and apparel,<br> (b) what actions are being taken to minimise the cost of this uniform and apparel, and<br> (c) how effective the academy board has been in administering its duties in relation to uniform and apparel.<br> (3) The report in subsection (2) must be published on the Academy Trust website within 14 days of its submission to the members by the board.<br> (4) The Director of Children’s Services must oversee the cost of school uniforms and all other apparel that is needed by pupils in the local authority schools for which they have responsibility in the course of an academic year.<br> (5) Academy trusts or local authority schools must maintain and publish information on the cost of specific apparel needed by pupils in its schools.”

<p>This amendment seeks to increase scrutiny and transparency in relation to the cost of bespoke uniform and apparel required by schools.</p>

213

[<i>Withdrawn</i>]<br>Clause 30, page 51, line 39, after “interests” insert “, intellectually, emotionally and physically,”

<p>This amendment seeks to probe the meaning of “best interests”</p>

224

Clause 30, page 53, line 10, at end insert—<br> “(12A) Where a local authority is in the process of making a decision about the removal of a child from the roll, all absences must be recorded as authorised by the proprietor of the school.”

<p>Deregistration from school is often triggered by crises – mental health, safeguarding issues in school, flat refusal by the child to attend, etc. Unauthorised absence can lead to fines. This amendment would avoid a parent being fined or otherwise penalised in the scenario where the parent clearly no longer consents to the educational arrangement with the school (which is a voluntary arrangement at the point of enrollment) and the decision is still in the process of being taken.</p>

226

After Clause 30, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Local authority duties in respect of children missing school</b><br> After Section 436A of the Education Act 1996 (Duty to make arrangements to identify children not receiving education), insert—<br> <b>“436AB</b> <b>Local authority duties in respect of children missing school</b><br> Local authorities must—<br> (a) implement and, where necessary, enforce consistent arrangements with all schools for the local authority to be promptly informed of any child missing education by reason of persistent non-attendance or irregular attendance at school for which no satisfactory or verifiable explanation is provided by those with parental responsibility for that child;<br> (b) take urgent steps to trace any child known or believed by that local authority to be missing school without authorisation of the school or without satisfactory explanation;<br> (c) provide appropriate support for that child as soon as the child has been traced;<br> (d) inform any court dealing with proceedings relating to the welfare of the child of the measures taken under this section, either directly or through Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service.””

<p>This amendment seeks to require local authorities to trace and support children identified as missing school, and to inform the courts of this if proceedings relating to the welfare of the child are underway.</p>

237

LORD WEI

[<i>Withdrawn</i>]<br>Clause 31, page 54, leave out lines 40 to 44 and insert—<br> “(b) the names and home addresses of the parent or parents who are taking responsibility for the education of the child;”

<p>This amendment seeks to identify the minimum requirement for providing information for the register and ensures that information is only included on parents who have responsibility for educating the child.</p>

451

After Clause 53, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Placement of permanently excluded children of compulsory school age with unregistered providers</b><br> In the Education Act 1996, in section 19 (exceptional provision of education in pupil referral units or elsewhere), after subsection (4A) insert—<br> “(4B) Local authorities may not discharge their duty of providing suitable education under subsection (1) for children of compulsory school age, by reason of permanent exclusion, through full-time placement in an unregistered school or the equivalent of a full-time placement in multiple unregistered schools, unless the provider is, or the providers are, working towards registration.””

<p>This amendment aims to prevent the long-term placement of permanently excluded pupils with unregistered providers, which lack regular inspection and formal oversight. It includes an exception for providers actively working towards registration, acknowledging both the shortage of registered alternative provision in some local authority areas and the valuable support offered by many unregistered settings.</p>

453

After Clause 55, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Governance of managed moves by the local authority</b><br> After section 96 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, insert—<br> <b>“96A</b> <b>Governance of managed moves by the local authority</b><br> (1) Managed moves of a registered pupil from one maintained school or Academy to another must be arranged through the local authority’s fair access panel, as governed by the area’s Fair Access Protocol.<br> (2) The duty imposed by subsection (1) does not apply in circumstances where the child of compulsory school age is removed from the roll of one school and registered at another school solely as a consequence of the child’s change of ordinary residence, provided that the change of residence is documented and verified.<br> (3) The local authority must keep and maintain a record of all managed moves occurring to, from, or within its area and this record must include—<br> (a) the reasons for the move,<br> (b) the schools involved,<br> (c) whether the move was voluntary or directed, and<br> (d) the outcome for the pupil.<br> (4) Where a managed move results in the registration of a pupil at a school within the area of a different local authority, the responsibility for monitoring the educational outcomes and welfare of the pupil following the move transfer to the receiving local authority upon the pupil’s registration at the new school.<br> (5) Each local authority must submit an annual report to the Secretary of State containing a summary of managed moves conducted under this section.<br> (6) The Secretary of State may issue guidance to local authorities and schools on the implementation of this section, to which they must have regard.<br> (7) In this section—<br> “managed moves” means a permanent change of the pupil’s school registration, where a move is not a result of—<br> (a) a permanent exclusion under section 51A of the Education Act 2002,<br> (b) a transfer to a special school pursuant to section 42 of the Children and Families Act 2014,<br> (c) a change of registration due to school closure,<br> (d) movement between educational phases,<br> (e) a change in school type as a consequence of the Academy Act 2010;<br> “school” has the same meaning as in Part 4 of the Education Act 1996.””

<p>This amendment requires all schools to route all managed moves through the local area’s existing Fair Access Protocol (FAP) and local authorities to report on their use to the Department for Education. This would subject managed moves to a collaborative peer review and ensure appropriate local authority and the Department of Education knowledge and oversight.</p>

151

Schedule 1, page 126, line 6, at end insert—<br> “15 Jobcentre Plus.”

<p>This amendment seeks to add Jobcentre Plus to the list of relevant authorities.</p>

457

After Clause 56, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Reporting of faith-based selection in school admissions</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must, within 12 months of the day on which this Act is passed, collect and publish data on the individual admission arrangements used by all schools.<br> (2) The Secretary of State must, on an annual basis—<br> (a) require schools, via the school census, to report their current admission policy, specifying the proportion of places that may be allocated based on faith-related criteria such as proof of religious affiliation;<br> (b) include information on school admissions and faith-based selection in all relevant education data publications, including national education statistics, Department for Education published data files, and the ‘Get Information About Schools’ service.”

<p>This new Clause would introduce a requirement for regular and transparent reporting of individual school admission arrangements. It seeks to clarify the extent to which schools with a religious character use faith-based criteria—such as proof of faith—for selecting pupils.</p>

6

Clause 1, page 1, line 10, at end insert—<br> “(1A) Before a child is reunited with any family member after a period of being looked after, a local authority must offer a family group decision-making meeting to the child’s parents or any other person with parental responsibility.”

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that family group decision-making meetings are held before family reunification.</p>

486

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Draft legislative proposal: early years strategy</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must lay before Parliament a draft Bill containing legislative proposals for a comprehensive early years strategy.<br> (2) The draft Bill required by subsection (1) must include—<br> (a) provisions to support the rollout of the Start for Life and Family Hubs programme nationally,<br> (b) adequate funding for government departments to improve data collection on the wellbeing of children in social care,<br> (c) a workforce plan for the children’s social care workforce, to complement the NHS Workforce Plan and support multi-disciplinary working in teams for the most vulnerable children, and<br> (d) guidelines for the recording of children’s early health and development as key data points contributing to consistent identifiers required by section 16LB of the Children Act 2004.<br> (3) The Secretary of State must lay the draft Bill under subsection (1) before Parliament within six months of the day on which this Act is passed.”

433

Clause 39, page 96, line 43, at end insert—<br> “(2D) Subsection (2)(i) does not prevent any special institution from making special provision for any child after they have been admitted to the institution if, in the professional opinion of the institution, that child has a type or types of special needs for which the school does not ordinarily make special provision and which could only be identified after admission.<br> (2E) In the case of any school relying on the provisions of subsection (2D), they may make a material change application if they reasonably expect that the special provision will be required for more than two academic terms, or if the exemption will apply to three or more pupils on their roll.<br> (2F) In making this material change application, it is not to be considered retrospective, nor will a school relying on the provisions of subsection (2D) suffer any detriment or adverse judgement, even if the application is made after the special provision begins, provided that they make the application within two academic terms of the provision beginning.”

<p>This amendment reflects the concerns of some independent special institutions that the requirement to submit a material change application before offering new special needs provision would make it impossible to support pupils who are admitted presenting one need, but are later discovered to have further special needs.</p>

19

After Clause 1, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Cessation of child protection plans</b><br> When proceedings are initiated or a care or supervision order is issued under section 31 of the Children Act 1989 (care and supervision), if there is any cessation of a child protection plan for a child under five years old, the cessation must be signed off by the relevant Director of Children’s Services or Head of Social Work Practice.”

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that the relevant Director of Children’s Services or Head of Social Work Practice must sign off any cessation of child protection plans for children under five years old once proceedings have been initiated or once a care or supervision order has been issued.</p>

434

Clause 42, page 100, line 31, at end insert—<br> “(f) search the premises.”

<p>This amendment seeks to allow the HM lnspectors to search premises for evidence it is conducting an offence of operating an illegal school without need for a warrant.</p>

29

Clause 3, page 3, leave out lines 25 and 26

<p>This amendment seeks to clarify what support the Secretary of State will require multi-agency partners to offer.</p>

30

Clause 3, page 3, line 27, leave out from beginning to end of line 11 on page 4

<p>This amendment seeks to confirm that Local Authorities can use their discretion in how the MACPTs are implemented operationally in their areas.</p>

31

Clause 3, page 4, line 3, at end insert—<br> “(e) representatives from any other relevant agencies.”

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that there is an effective multi-agency team.</p>

440

Clause 47, page 111, line 13, at end insert—<br> “(5A) Subsection (1)(b)(ii) does not apply in relation to an educational institution that has received an OFSTED rating of Good or equivalent in the last three years.”

<p>This amendment and another in the name of Lord Agnew seeks to ensure that academies which are rated as “Good” are not required to follow the National Curriculum.</p>

33

Clause 3, page 4, leave out lines 8 to 11

<p>This amendment aims to leave discretion about the qualifications of those who are part of MACPTs to the relevant agency responsible. It also aims for clarity about where the Secretary of State might lift the requirement for qualifications in this work.</p>

34

Clause 3, page 4, line 14, at end insert—<br> “(7A) The local authority must provide the resources to enable continuous professional development training to be provided to all teachers and teaching assistants with responsibilities for supporting vulnerable children that interact with multi agency child protection teams.”

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that schools have the resources to meet their statutory commitments.</p>

441

Clause 47, page 111, line 16, at end insert, “, except that an Academy school is not obliged to deliver the National Curriculum to a child with SEND, provided that, if appropriate, assisted technology is used to support the child's learning.”

<p>This amendment seeks to remove an obligation to deliver the National Curriculum to a child with SEND, provided the child is offered appropriate assistive technology to support their learning.</p>

442

Clause 47, page 111, line 28, at end insert “, unless the Academy school has received an OFSTED rating of Good or equivalent in the last three years.”

<p>This amendment and another in the name of Lord Agnew seeks to ensure that academies which are rated as “Good” are not required to follow the National Curriculum.</p>

36

Clause 3, page 4, line 41, at end insert—<br> “(5) Any arrangements made under this section must have due regard to the existing multi-agency child and adult protection arrangements in the area.”

<p>This amendment seeks to clarify how the new statutory MACPTs will work with existing local multi agency safeguarding arrangements, both statutory and non-statutory.</p>

39

Clause 3, page 5, line 43, leave out “only”

<p>This amendment, along with another in the name of Baroness O’Neill, seeks to clarify how cases that cross local authority borders will be managed.</p>

40

Clause 3, page 5, line 44, at end insert “or in other local authorities where appropriate to meet the safeguarding needs of the child.”

<p>This amendment, along with another in the name of Baroness O’Neill, seeks to clarify how cases that cross local authority borders will be managed.</p>

46

Clause 4, page 7, line 5, at end insert—<br> “(6A) Where information is disclosed under this section, the recipient must consider the safety and welfare of others to whom the information may relate or involve and take steps to promote their safety and welfare, particularly in cases of domestic abuse.”

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that other vulnerable members of a household are not inadvertently put at risk by the sharing of information, and that safety plans are put in place where needed.</p>

51

Clause 4, page 7, leave out lines 21 to 27 and insert—<br> “(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision relating to the consistent identifier.<br> (2) For the purposes of this section the NHS number is the consistent identifier.”

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that the single use identifier is described on the face of the Bill.</p>

447

After Clause 50, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Review: conversion to maintained schools</b><br> (1) Within 12 months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must publish a report setting out proposals for converting—<br> (a) academy chains,<br> (b) individual academies, and<br> (c) free schools,<br> <span class="wrapped">to maintained schools under local authority control.</span><br> (2) The review must consider—<br> (a) legislative changes required to enable the conversion process,<br> (b) how a conversion process for a school would be triggered,<br> (c) the potential role of different levels of local government in school oversight,<br> (d) how conversion would impact the ownership of school land and buildings, and<br> (e) the resources made available to local authorities when schools are converted.<br> (3) Within six months of the completion of the review, the Secretary of State must publish and lay before Parliament a report on the findings and conclusions of the review.”

64

Clause 4, page 8, line 35, at end insert—<br> ““NHS Number” means the number, consisting of 10 numeric digits, which serves as the national unique identifier used for the purpose of safely, accurately and efficiently sharing information relating to a registered patient across the whole of the health service in England;<br> “the health service” has the meaning given in section 275 (index of defined expressions) of the National Health Service Act 2006;”

<p>The amendments seeks to mandate that the single use identifier must be the child’s existing NHS number.</p>

70

Clause 5, page 9, line 26, at end insert—<br> “(e) legal support;<br> (f) family group decision making.”

<p>This amendment would require local authorities to include, in the kinship local offer, information on any legal support available including advice services and information on when family group decision making is offered.</p>

71

Clause 5, page 10, line 5, at end insert—<br> “(8) In fulfilling its duties under subsection (7) a local authority must annually consult and collect feedback from children in kinship care and their carers about its kinship local offer.<br> (9) Feedback received under subsection (8) must be published annually.”

<p>This amendment would require local authorities to consult children and carers when reviewing their kinship care offer.</p>

72

Clause 5, page 10, line 5, at end insert—<br> “(8) A local authority must from time to time publish—<br> (a) comments about its kinship local offer it has received from or on behalf of children, kinship carers and others with lived experience of aspects of kinship care;<br> (b) the authority's response to those comments (including details of any action the authority intends to take).<br> (9) Comments published under subsection (8)(a) must be published in a form that does not enable the person making them to be identified.<br> (10) Regulations made by statutory instrument may make further provision about—<br> (a) information to be included in an authority's kinship local offer;<br> (b) how an authority's kinship local offer is to be published;<br> (c) who is to be involved and consulted by an authority in developing, preparing and reviewing its kinship local offer;<br> (d) how an authority is to involve children, kinship carers and others with lived experience of aspects of kinship care in the development, preparation and review of its local kinship offer;<br> (e) the publication of comments on the kinship local offer, and the local authority's response, under subsection (8)(b) (including circumstances in which comments are not required to be published).”

<p>This amendment would give the Secretary of State explicit power to set out in regulations how the kinship local offer should be published, when it should be reviewed, and how children and families are to be involved in developing it.</p>

82

Clause 6, page 11, line 32, at end insert—<br> “(7) All children of secondary school age in kinship care must be offered a funded boarding school place in a state secondary school as near as practically possible to the address of the kinship carer.”

<p>This amendment seek to encourage higher levels of participation in kinship caring through the provision of boarding places for children in kinship care.</p>

89

Clause 7, page 12, line 23, at end insert—<br> “(3A) Where staying close support is provided, it must be provided with due regard to the wishes of the relevant person and a record must be kept of that person’s wishes.”

<p>This amendment seeks to require local authorities to take account of the wishes of the relevant young person when providing staying close support and keep a record of those wishes.</p>

106

After Clause 9, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Review of disparities affecting care leavers</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must, within 12 months of the day on which this Act is passed, undertake a review of the disparities that a relevant child, or former relevant child, may face compared to other children or young adults.<br> (2) The review must in particular consider the social issues which a relevant child, or former relevant child, may face, including—<br> (a) education and training,<br> (b) employment,<br> (c) forming and sustaining relationships with family, friends or other persons,<br> (d) financial security and poverty,<br> (e) health (which includes both mental and physical health),<br> (f) housing,<br> (g) interaction with the justice system.<br> (3) The review must also in particular consider any potential discrimination a relevant child, or former relevant child, may face because of their status as a relevant child, or former relevant child.<br> (4) The Secretary of State must within 24 months of the day on which this Act is passed—<br> (a) prepare and publish a report of the review, and<br> (b) lay a copy of the report before Parliament.<br> (5) In this section—<br> “relevant child” —<br> (a) in England and Wales, has the meaning given by section 23A(2) of the Children Act 1989,<br> (b) in Scotland, is to be construed in accordance with section 26A of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995;<br> “former relevant child” —<br> (a) in England and Wales, has the meaning given by section 23C(1) of the Children Act 1989 and is aged under 25,<br> (b) in Scotland, applies to anyone who is could qualify for the after-care provisions in section 29 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995;<br> “young adult” means a person aged 18 or over but under 25.”

<p>This new Clause requires the Secretary of State to undertake a review of the disparities which care leavers face, prepare a report of the review and lay the report before Parliament.</p>

119

After Clause 10, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Boarding school offer for looked after children</b><br> All looked after children of secondary school age must be offered a funded boarding school place in a state secondary school in their local authority area.”

120

Clause 11, page 16, line 30, at end insert—<br> “(1AA) A child who is being looked after by a local authority in England and is under the age of 13 may not, whilst being kept in relevant accommodation in England, be deprived of their liberty in that accommodation unless this has been authorised by the Secretary of State.”

<p>This amendment would ensure that deprivation of liberty orders could not be issued to children under the age of 13 unless expressly authorised by the Secretary of State, in line with provisions relating to children’s homes.</p>

121

Clause 11, page 16, line 37, at end insert “, and this is reflected in its statement of purpose, and”

<p>This amendment, along with another in the name of Baroness Barran, seek to ensure only registered children’s homes can be used as relevant accommodation, and that this purpose is reflected in the establishment’s statement of purpose.</p>

122

Clause 11, page 16, line 37, at end insert—<br> “(c) is a registered children’s home.”

<p>This amendment, along with another in the name of Baroness Barran, seek to ensure only registered children’s homes can be used as relevant accommodation, and that this purpose is reflected in the establishment’s statement of purpose.</p>

123

Clause 11, page 16, line 37, at end insert—<br> “(1C) The Director of Children’s Services must review a deprivation of liberty order under this section every 4 weeks to ensure that it is appropriate for the order to remain in place.”

<p>This amendment would require a review of deprivation of liberty orders to ensure that they remain appropriate for the relevant child.</p>

124

Clause 11, page 17, line 4, at end insert—<br> “(4A) After subsection (2) insert—<br> “(2A) Regulations made under subsection (2) must apply equally to children deprived of their liberty, whether in secure accommodation or relevant accommodation, and the Secretary of State must consult any persons they consider appropriate before making such regulations.<br> (2B) It is the duty of a court hearing an application under this section to have regard to the general principle that the deprivation of liberty of a child is a measure of last resort.<br> (2C) Unless it would not be consistent with the child’s welfare, a local authority making an application to the court under this section must propose accommodation for the child which—<br> (a) has been judged to be providing high quality care and treatment within the last 12 months by the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills or the Care Inspectorate Wales,<br> (b) has other children living there,<br> (c) is near the child’s home, and<br> (d) has been approved by the local authority’s Director of Children’s Services.<br> (2D) Where an application is made under this section with respect to a child, the appropriate local authority must, within such time as the court may direct, prepare a plan setting out the action to be taken to end the deprivation of liberty of that child (a “recovery plan”).””

<p>This amendment seeks to introduce additional protections for all looked-after children deprived of their liberty under section 25 of the Children Act 1989, in both secure accommodation and relevant accommodation.</p>

126

Clause 11, page 17, line 23, at end insert—<br> “(8ZB) For the purposes of this section, any children deprived of their liberty under the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court shall be deemed to be looked after children.”

131

After Clause 11, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Use of restraint on children in care and subject to deprivation of liberty orders</b><br> The Secretary of State must, within 12 months of the day on which this Act is passed, and every 12 months thereafter, lay before Parliament a report on the use of restraint on children—<br> (a) in care settings, and<br> (b) subject to deprivation of liberty orders.”

132

After Clause 11, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Independent reviewing officer functions in relation to deprivation of liberty</b><br> (1) Section 25B of the Children Act 1989 (functions of the independent reviewing officer) is amended as follows.<br> (2) After subsection (3) insert—<br> “(3A) It shall be the duty of the independent reviewing officer to refer a child’s case to an officer of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service if the child’s recovery plan made under section 25 is not effectively implemented by the local authority or any other body or person.””

<p>This amendment seeks to expand the legal duties of the independent reviewing officer, building upon section 25B of the Children Act 1989 and Regulation 45(3) of the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010.</p>

139

[<i>Withdrawn</i>]<br>Clause 13, page 22, line 25, at end insert—<br> “(2A) The CIECSS must pursue the imposition of fines against parents where one or more of their children are attending school for less than 80% of the designated time required.<br> (2B) The CIECSS must, when deciding the amount of fine to be levied, take account of the reason for non attendance.”

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that parents who allow their children to be persistently absent must be fined by the CIECSS.</p>

142

Clause 15, page 29, line 34, at end insert—<br> “(c) a supported accommodation setting in England.”

171

After Clause 26, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Bereavement support services for children</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must by regulations establish a protocol for the collection and dissemination of information relating to bereavement support services for children.<br> (2) A protocol made under subsection (1) must—<br> (a) define the bereavement support services to which the protocol applies, which must include services provided by—<br> (i) local authorities,<br> (ii) NHS bodies, and<br> (iii) charities and other third sector organisations;<br> (b) place a duty on the Secretary of State to publish information, including online, about services to which the protocol applies;<br> (c) place a duty on specified public bodies and other persons to provide information to children about services to which the protocol applies, including—<br> (i) specialist services for children,<br> (ii) services provided online, and<br> (iii) accessible services for deaf and disabled children;<br> (d) where a duty under paragraph (c) applies, require the identification of children who may require a service to which the protocol applies.<br> (3) The Secretary of State must make regulations under this section by statutory instrument.<br> (4) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.<br> (5) The Secretary of State must lay before Parliament a draft statutory instrument containing regulations under this section within 12 months of the day on which this Act is passed.”

<p>This new clause would place a duty on the Secretary of State to establish a protocol for the collection and dissemination of information about bereavement support services to children and young people.</p>

172

After Clause 26, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Post-removal support for parents to prevent further removals (No. 2)</b><br> (1) Where a child—<br> (a) is removed from the care of a parent further to any order made pursuant to—<br> (i) section 31 of the Children Act 1989 (care and supervision orders),<br> (ii) section 22 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 (placement orders),<br> (iii) section 46 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 (adoption orders), or<br> (iv) section 14A of the Children Act 1989 (special guardianship orders), or<br> (b) becomes a looked after child further to an arrangement or order made pursuant to—<br> (i) section 20 of the Children Act 1989 (provision of accommodation for children: voluntary arrangements), or<br> (ii) section 25 of the Children Act 1989 (secure accommodation orders),<br> <span class="wrapped">the local authority shall provide support to the parent, where the parent is identified as being at risk of experiencing further child removals.</span><br> (2) In discharging their duty under subsection (1), the local authority shall provide a range of services, including specialist therapeutic support, appropriate to the particular needs of the parent to reduce the risk of further child removals.”

<p>This amendment introduces a new clause which seeks to ensure that local authorities offer evidence based support to reduce the risk of a child being removed from a mother who has already had a child or children removed from her care.</p>

173

After Clause 26, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“National neglect strategy</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must prepare and publish a national neglect strategy that explores and addresses the causes and impacts of child neglect, for the purposes of ensuring that children do not experience neglect.<br> (2) In preparing a national neglect strategy the Secretary of State must consider what measures ought to be taken in each of the following areas—<br> (a) the sharing of local and national best practice in dealing with neglect as soon as it is identified;<br> (b) promoting awareness of child neglect to relevant public agencies;<br> (c) the provision of information, advice and training to professionals working with families on the presentation of neglect;<br> (d) the provision of local authorities in identifying and responding to neglect;<br> (e) the provision of information, advice and assistance to parents and the promotion of neglect awareness training to parents;<br> (f) reviewing the definition of neglect within statutory guidance, to ensure it is fit for purpose.<br> (3) When preparing the strategy, the Secretary of State must, in addition—<br> (a) consider which groups of children may be disproportionately affected by neglect;<br> (b) consider the likely impact on neglect of each measure within each of those groups;<br> (c) consider the role that socio-economic disadvantage has on levels of neglect;<br> (d) consult with local authorities and other relevant individuals and agencies, including children and families, to inform the strategy.”

<p>This amendment requires the Secretary of State to prepare a national neglect strategy to better understand and address the causes and impacts of child neglect, providing greater protection and support for children and families.</p>

174

After Clause 26, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Prohibition of delivery of children’s social care services by for-profit companies</b><br> (1) Any new organisations created to deliver the provisions related to children’s social care in this Part must not be operated by for-profit companies.<br> (2) Within five years of the day on which this Act is passed the Secretary of State must ensure that any such organisations in the control of for-profit companies are transferred to not-for-profit or state entities.”

<p>This amendment seeks to remove the profit motive from children’s social care services covered by this Part.</p>

175

After Clause 26, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Holiday meals and activity programmes for pupils in receipt of free school meals</b><br> (1) A local authority must—<br> (a) provide, or<br> (b) coordinate the provision of programmes which provide<br> <span class="wrapped">free meals and activities to relevant children during school holidays.</span><br> (2) For the purposes of this section, “relevant children” means children in receipt of free school meals.<br> (3) The Secretary of State may, by regulations made by statutory instrument—<br> (a) specify minimum standards for meals and activities during school holidays;<br> (b) specify criteria that organisations involved in the delivery of meals and activities during school holidays must meet.<br> (4) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.”

<p>This new clause would place a duty on local authorities to provide or coordinate free meals and activities for children eligible for free school meals during school holidays.</p>

184

Clause 27, page 45, line 29, at end insert—<br> “(1A) The Secretary of State must make arrangements to underwrite the full cost impact of the provision in subsection (1), including—<br> (a) recompense for teachers’ directed time diverted from teaching,<br> (b) additional non-teaching staff required for catering and supervision, and<br> (c) the cost of good quality ingredients to ensure that the meals are nutritious.”

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that the Secretary of State underwrites the cost of providing free breakfast club provision.</p>

185

Clause 27, page 45, line 35, at end insert “and,<br> (c) the provision before the start of the first school session on each school day of voluntary activities known to improve wellbeing, including—<br> (i) community sports programmes,<br> (ii) art, music and cultural activities, and<br> (iii) youth clubs and mentoring.<br> (2A) When providing voluntary activities in subsection (2)(c), schools must—<br> (a) identify and engage with local voluntary and community organisations,<br> (b) ensure pupils and families are informed about available opportunities, and<br> (c) consider access and inclusion for disadvantaged or vulnerable pupils.”

279

Clause 31, page 57, line 16, at end insert—<br> “(c) allow the local authority to inspect the materials being used in the child’s education and to see the child’s work.”

79

Clause 46, page 53, line 40, leave out “listed” and insert “qualifying”

<p>See the explanatory statement to amendment 72.</p>

<i>The above-named Lords give notice of their intention to oppose the Question that Clause 31 stand part of the Bill.</i>

<p>This is intended to probe how Clause 31 relates to Clause 4, whether all children will now be included in registers or whether some are still left out, and how children will come to the local authority’s attention as needing to be registered.</p>

452

Leave out Clause 54, and insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Local authority and academy admission intervention threshold</b><br> For section 96 of School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (Direction to admit child to specified school) substitute—<br> <b>“96</b> <b>Local authority and academy admission intervention threshold</b><br> (1) A local authority may only directly intervene to admit pupils to a school where—<br> (a) the admission authority has demonstrably failed to meet admissions obligations, or<br> (b) there is clear evidence of disadvantage or unfair treatment of the pupil involved.<br> (2) Any local authority direction for admission under subsection (1) must—<br> (a) be justified with clear evidence, or<br> (b) be preceded by formal consultation with the relevant admission authority.<br> (3) An admission authority which is an academy trust may independently determine admission criteria for schools under its control, provided such criteria—<br> (a) comply with basic fairness and minimum national standards, and<br> (b) are published and transparent.<br> (4) Before making significant changes to admission criteria under subsection (3), the admissions authority must consult—<br> (a) local authorities,<br> (b) parents of pupils attending schools within the Trust, and<br> (c) other relevant stakeholders as determined appropriate by the Trust.””

<p>This amendment limits local authority powers to intervene in admissions to situations where the admission authority has failed to meet its admissions obligations or has treated pupils unfairly. It also outlines the procedure for academy admissions.</p>

454

Clause 56, page 119, line 7, at end insert—<br> <b>“88IB</b> <b>Admission authority appeals</b><br> (1) An admission authority may appeal decisions made by the schools' adjudicator regarding admissions numbers or arrangements.<br> (2) Appeals under subsection (1) must be made to an independent panel appointed by the Secretary of State, whose decision is to be final.”

<p>This amendment seeks to provide admission authorities with an explicit right to appeal adjudicator decisions in relation to admission numbers.</p>

2

Clause 1, page 1, leave out lines 7 to 10 and insert—<br> “(1) When a local authority starts formal child protection proceedings in relation to a child, the authority must offer a family group decision-making meeting to the child’s parents or any other person with parental responsibility for the child.”

<p>This amendment seeks to require the offer of a family group decision making meeting when formal child protection proceedings are initiated and / or when the child protection plan is failing to protect the child instead of before the local authority makes an application for a care and supervision order as the trigger for offering the meeting.</p>

4

Clause 1, page 1, line 10, at end insert—<br> “(1A) A family group decision-making meeting must be offered by the relevant local authority when a family is going through private law proceedings.”

<p>This amendment seeks to reduce the conflict in private law proceedings by offering a family group decision making meeting, allow other family members to support the child as well as to identify where there are significant safeguarding risks to the child/children. It seeks to strengthen the intention that mediation and reconciliation out of court are better for the child.</p>

5

Clause 1, page 1, line 10, at end insert—<br> “(1A) The family group decision-making meeting, or meetings, must follow an evidence based approach including the appointment of an independent and suitably trained coordinator, including in relation to domestic abuse.”

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that family group decision-making meetings follow an evidence based approach.</p>

7

Clause 1, page 2, line 3, after second “meeting” insert “process including preparation”

476

[<i>Withdrawn</i>]<br>After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Educational cessation</b><br> Where a child has demonstrably completed a course of education equivalent to five GCSEs at grades 4–9, they shall no longer be subject to compulsory education requirements under Part VI of the Education Act 1996.”

<p>This amendment seeks to allow children who have already completed the equivalent of GCSE-level work to be exempt from further compulsory education. This acknowledges that some children may exceed the educational requirements before the traditional age of 16.</p>

477

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Experimental home education zones</b><br> The Secretary of State may designate up to three local authority areas as experimental education zones, exempt from national education regulation for a period of ten years.”

<p>This amendment seeks to create experimental zones where communities may opt out of national education laws to trial alternative education systems including in relation to home education and gather long-term data.</p>

8

Clause 1, page 2, line 7, at end insert—<br> “(4A) The family group decision making meeting must—<br> (a) be facilitated by a trained coordinator, who has no decision-making responsibility for the child, and<br> (b) include private time for the family network members attending the meeting and the child, if in attendance, to draw up their proposal to address concerns about the child’s welfare.”

9

Clause 1, page 2, line 7, at end insert—<br> “(4A) The local authority must work with the child and their family network to implement the proposal made in (4)(b), where it addresses the local authority’s concerns about the child’s welfare.”

478

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Early graduate certificate for advanced learners</b><br> A child who has demonstrably completed education equivalent to A-levels before the age of 16 is entitled to an official certificate of graduation issued by the Secretary of State.”

<p>This amendment enables early academic achievers to receive formal recognition, ensuring they can progress to further education or employment without being held back by age-based constraints.</p>

<i>Lord Lucas gives notice of his intention to oppose the Question that Clause 36 stand part of the Bill.</i>

<p>This is intended to allow discussion of this clause in general, the intended regulations, and the effect on various classes of entity including after-school religious instruction.</p>

428

Clause 37, page 81, line 36, at end insert—<br> “(1B) Powers under subsection (1) may not be exercised in relation to an academy.”

<p>This amendment specifies that the Secretary of State should rely on the provisions in Funding Agreements as regards to academies.</p>

[<i>Withdrawn</i>]<br>Clause 1, page 2, line 7, at end insert—<br> “(4A) A family group decision-making meeting must be chaired by a systemic family therapist or other similarly qualified professional.”

<p>This amendment would require family group decision-making meetings to be chaired by a family therapist or other professional with equivalent qualifications.</p>

479

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Wellbeing support for schools</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must provide statutory guidance for all relevant schools on whole school approaches to mental health and wellbeing.<br> (2) Such guidance should include, but not be limited to—<br> (a) identifying and measuring children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing;<br> (b) the collation of appropriate wellbeing data to adapt both internal and external support within settings;<br> (c) appropriate training and development for teachers and other school staff;<br> (d) access to mental health support within schools;<br> (e) further specialist provision as required within community services.<br> (3) The Secretary of State must report to Parliament each year on progress made in implementing the guidance and how wellbeing data collected is informing appropriate support offered through community services.”

<p>This amendment would require the Secretary of State to provide statutory guidance on whole school approaches to mental health and wellbeing and to report to Parliament annually on progress.</p>

480

After Clause 62, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Approved free schools in pre-opening</b><br> The Secretary of State must make provision for the opening of all free schools whose applications were approved prior to October 2024.”

<p>This new clause would require the Secretary of State to proceed with the opening of free schools whose opening was paused in October 2024.</p>

10

Clause 1, page 2, line 9, leave out from “welfare” to “and” in line 11

11

Clause 1, page 2, line 14, at end insert—<br> “(5A) A family group decision-making meeting may only be attended by such members of the “family network” as are agreed by those persons listed in subsection (1) and subject to subsection (3).”

12

Clause 1, page 2, line 20, at end insert—<br> “(7A) Where a local authority is not intending to make an application under section 31 of the Children Act 1989, or issue a letter before proceedings in relation to a child, but where a Director of Children’s Services is satisfied that holding a family group decision-making meeting would assist in formulating a plan to help meet the needs of the child the Director must arrange for an offer of a family group decision making meeting to be made to—<br> (a) the child’s parents,<br> (b) any other person with parental responsibility for the child, and<br> (c) the child, if they have reached the age of sixteen.”

13

Clause 1, page 2, leave out lines 21 to 23 and insert—<br> “(8) The child should be invited to be involved in their family-group decision-making meeting, where consistent with their welfare.”

15

Clause 1, page 2, line 26, at end insert—<br> “(10) If the child is under the age of two, the family group decision-making conference must not delay the timetable for the making of permanent arrangements regarding the child’s care.”

<p>This amendment is designed to ensure that the offer of a family group decision-making meeting does not unduly delay making permanent arrangements regarding the child’s care.</p>

16

Clause 1, page 2, line 26, at end insert—<br> “(10) Nothing in this section permits an extension to the 26-week limit for care proceedings in section 14(2)(ii) of the Children and Families Act 2014.”

<p>This amendment seeks to clarify that where a family group decision making process is used, it does not delay care proceedings beyond the 26 week limit.</p>

17

Clause 1, page 2, line 26, at end insert—<br> “(10) If the child is to be looked after by other family members as a result of the family group decision-making meeting, the local authority must make arrangements for the safety and welfare of the child concerned and where necessary, draw up a child protection plan.”

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that if a child is going to be looked after by other family members, the local authority takes appropriate action to ensure their safety and welfare.</p>

26

Clause 2, page 3, line 11, at end insert—<br> “(6) The Secretary of State must produce a report on the impact of the inclusion of childcare and education agencies in safeguarding arrangements on the resources and costs of education and childcare organisations in England.<br> (7) A report under subsection (6) must be made within two years of the day on which this Act is passed and annually thereafter.<br> (8) The Secretary of State must lay a report made under subsection (6) before Parliament.”

<p>This amendment requires the Secretary of State to report on the impact on the inclusion of childcare and education agencies in safeguarding arrangements on the resources and costs of education and childcare organisations.</p>

438

After Clause 46, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Fast-track teacher qualification access for home educators</b><br> A parent who has home educated for at least three years may apply for fast-tracked access to a qualified teacher status pathway, without requiring additional in-school experience.”

<p>This amendment seeks to acknowledge the teaching experience of home educators by enabling direct access to teacher qualification pathways without repeating basic training.</p>

37

Clause 3, page 4, line 41, at end insert—<br> <b>“16EC</b> <b>Report on work and impact of multi-agency child protection teams</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must report annually on the work and impact of multi-agency child protection teams.<br> (2) A report under this section shall include analysis of—<br> (a) the membership of multi-agency child protection teams,<br> (b) the specific child protection activities undertaken by such teams,<br> (c) best practice in multi-agency work, and<br> (d) the impact of multi-agency child protection teams on—<br> (i) information sharing,<br> (ii) risk identification, and<br> (iii) joining up services between children’s social care, police, health services, education and other agencies, including the voluntary sector.”

<p>This amendment would require the Secretary of State to report on the effectiveness of multi-agency child protection teams.</p>

41

Clause 4, page 6, line 11, leave out from beginning to end of line 19 on page 7

<p>This is a probing amendment which seeks to question the effectiveness of the drafting of 16LA</p>

44

Clause 4, page 6, line 30, at end insert—<br> “(3A) Where the relevant person considers that the disclosure would be more detrimental to the child than not disclosing the information, this decision must be recorded.”

<p>This amendment seeks to require that decisions made not to disclose information must be recorded.</p>

45

Clause 4, page 7, line 5, at end insert—<br> “(6A) Where information is disclosed under this section, the recipient must consider the safety and welfare of others to whom the information may relate or involve and take steps to promote their safety and welfare, particularly in cases of domestic abuse or elder abuse.”

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that other vulnerable members of a household are not inadvertently put at risk by the sharing of information, and that safety plans are put in place where needed.</p>

448

After Clause 52, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Power to prescribe pay and conditions for teachers</b><br> The Secretary of State must, within three months of the passing of this Act—<br> (a) make provision for the power of the governing bodies of maintained schools to set the pay and working conditions of school teachers to be made equivalent with the relevant powers of academies;<br> (b) provide guidance to all applicable schools that—<br> (i) pay levels given in the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document are to be treated as the minimum pay of relevant teachers;<br> (ii) teachers may be paid above the pay levels given in the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document;<br> (iii) they must have regard to the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document but may vary from it.”

<p>This new clause would make the pay set out in the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document a “floor”, and extend freedoms over pay and conditions to local authority maintained schools.</p>

127

Clause 11, page 17, line 23, at end insert—<br> “(8A) After subsection (9) insert—<br> “(10) Where a child is kept in secure accommodation under this section, the relevant local authority has a duty to provide therapeutic treatment for the child.””

<p>This amendment would place a duty on local authorities to provide therapeutic treatment for children subject to a deprivation of liberty order.</p>

137

Clause 12, page 18, line 18, at end insert—<br> “(3A) The CIECSS may require an unannounced visit by a Regulation 44 visitor to a children’s home, if it reasonably suspects that there are administrative breaches or minor concerns about the quality of care being provided.<br> (3B) After a Regulation 44 visitor has inspected the relevant children’s home or homes, the local authority may issue an improvement plan notice based on their findings.”

<p>This amendment would rely on the use of Regulation 44 visitors to inform the content of an improvement plan notice where the CIECSS has concerns about minor or technical breaches.</p>

169

After Clause 26, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Post-removal support for parents to prevent further removals</b><br> (1) Where a baby is removed at birth from the care of a parent further to any order made pursuant to—<br> (a) section 31 of the Children Act 1989 (care and supervision orders),<br> (b) section 22 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 (placement orders),<br> (c) section 46 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 (adoption orders), or<br> (d) section 14A of the Children Act 1989 (special guardianship orders),<br> <span class="wrapped">the local authority must provide support to the parent, where the parent is identified as being at risk of experiencing further child removals.</span><br> (2) In discharging their duty under subsection (1), the local authority must provide a range of services, including specialist therapeutic support, appropriate to the particular needs of the parent to reduce the risk of further child removals.”

<p>This amendment introduces a new clause which seeks to ensure that local authorities offer evidence based support to reduce the risk of a baby being removed from a mother who has already had a child or children removed from her care.</p>

170

After Clause 26, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“National capacity plan for children’s homes</b><br> (1) As soon as reasonably practicable after the end of each financial year, the Secretary of State must publish a national capacity plan for children’s homes.<br> (2) A national capacity plan under subsection (1) must include the following—<br> (a) the number of children looked after who are living in homes that are not in line with their care plan, or are living in distance placements due to a lack of local placements that are able to meet their needs;<br> (b) how far from their primary location those children are living and which terms of their care plan are not being met, if any;<br> (c) information about the total number of each type of care settings that are required to ensure that local authorities are meeting the requirements of Section 22G of the Children Act 1989 and the number of each type of setting by area;<br> (d) an assessment of the efficacy of the support that Government provided to local authorities to meet the requirements of Section 22G of the Children Act 1989, and to prevent children looked after being moved to distance placements;<br> (e) what support the Government will be providing to local authorities to address any deficiencies identified under subsection (2)(d) above to meet the requirements of Section 22G of the Children Act 1989, and to prevent children looked after being moved to distance placements.<br> (3) The Secretary of State may delegate the compilation of the national capacity plan under subsection (1).<br> (4) In subsection (2) the term “distance placements” means a placement for a child looked after by the local authority more than 20 miles from their home.”

<p>This amendment seeks to introduce a national plan to ensure there are sufficient children’s homes in the right places for looked after children.</p>

202

After Clause 29, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“School uniforms: second-hand provision</b><br> (1) The appropriate authority of a relevant school must provide access to second hand items of school uniform.<br> (2) In this section, “the appropriate authority” means—<br> (a) in relation to an Academy school, an alternative provision Academy, a non-maintained special school, a city technology college or a city college for the technology of the arts, the proprietor;<br> (b) in relation to a maintained school, the governing body;<br> (c) in relation to a pupil referral unit, the local authority.”

203

[<i>Withdrawn</i>]<br>Clause 30, page 51, line 2, leave out “condition A or”

<p>This amendment, along with another in the name of Baroness Barran, seeks to remove the requirement for local authorities to consent to the withdrawal of a child with SEND from school.</p>

214

[<i>Withdrawn</i>]<br>Clause 30, page 51, line 43, at end insert—<br> “(c) must offer the parent a voluntary information session before they deregister a child from a maintained school for the purpose of elective home education, which must include—<br> (i) an explanation of the parent’s legal rights and responsibilities involved in home education,<br> (ii) available support services, and<br> (iii) the process and implications of withdrawal.”

<p>This amendment ensures parents receive clear, factual information about their legal rights and duties before deciding to deregister their child from school.</p>

219

Clause 30, page 52, line 11, at end insert—<br> “(8A) Where a local authority refuses consent in respect of a child who meets the criteria for Condition A, the local authority must provide the parents or carers of the relevant child with a statement of reasons for the decision.<br> (8B) A statement of reasons provided under subsection (8A) must include an assessment of the costs and benefits to the child.”

<p>This amendment would require a local authority to submit a statement of reasons when they do not agree for a child who meets Condition A to be home educated.</p>

223

Clause 30, page 53, line 10, at end insert—<br> “(12A) If a parent is not satisfied with the determination of the Secretary of State or Welsh Ministers under subsections (10) or (11), they can refer that determination to an independent ombudsman who must investigate whether there have been any instances of local authority overreach in carrying out their duties in relation to subsection (6).”

<p>This amendment establishes an independent ombudsman to review complaints about any local authority overreach in the parents’ requests to educate otherwise, strengthening accountability and ensuring parents have recourse when treated unfairly.</p>

333

[<i>Withdrawn</i>]<br>After Clause 31, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Multi-year registration certificates</b><br> A home-educating parent may apply for a certificate valid for five years that exempts them from annual oversight under section 436D of the Education Act 1996, provided no safeguarding concerns are present and educational provision has been deemed suitable.”

<p>This amendment seeks to reduce unnecessary oversight by allowing families with a strong record to receive a five-year exemption certificate, recognising consistent good practice and reducing administrative burden.</p>

306

Clause 31, page 60, line 43, at end insert—<br> “(9) The Secretary of State must publish annually the GCSE results of children listed on the register.<br> (10) The Secretary of State must ensure that the GCSE results of children on the register are included for each set of outcome data published by the Government.”

<p>This amendment would require the Secretary of State to record outcome data for children on the register as a subsection of each set of performance data published by the Department for Education.</p>

307

Clause 31, page 60, line 43, at end insert—<br> <b>“436FA</b> <b>Duty to maintain a transparency register of information processing</b><br> (1) The relevant person must maintain a record of processing of the use of information under section 463F, in a publicly available register.<br> (2) The record of processing under subsection (1) must contain the following information—<br> (a) the date on which the data was processed;<br> (b) the name of the organisation given access;<br> (c) the purpose for which the data was processed;<br> (d) a list of any of the types of data items accessed (as specified in sections 436C, 436D and 436E);<br> (e) whether the processing included automated-decision making;<br> (f) the date after which it is expected that the data must not be preserved in a form which permits identification of the data subjects.<br> (3) The relevant person must make the transparency register public.<br> (4) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision about—<br> (a) the form in which the record of processing under subsection (2) is to be kept and made public;<br> (b) the period for which information in the record is to be retained;<br> (c) the circumstances in which information in the record may be disclosed, including any restrictions or safeguards that apply to such disclosures;<br> (d) the circumstances in which information in the record must be disclosed to the data subject or their legal guardian.”

<p>This amendment should provide the same level of transparency to home educators and others in the new registers, as the Department for Education provides in an online transparency register of its national distribution of identifying state pupil data. This creates an oversight tool to mitigate risks of uncontrolled disclosure. This should promote public trust in use of the new data powers.</p>

313A

LORD WEI

Clause 31, page 61, line 23, at end insert—<br> <span class="wrapped">“if (taken together with the local authority’s other actions) to do so is in the best interests of the child concerned”</span>

315

Clause 31, page 61, line 23, at end insert—<br> “(4) Where a parent has made a request for support, no action under section 436H may be taken in relation to educational suitability in the area where support has been requested.”

<p>A request for support could be taken as an indication that the education is currently not suitable. This amendment would avoid penalising any parents coming forward to improve their provision in this way.</p>

323

Clause 31, page 61, line 23, at end insert—<br> <b>“436GA</b> <b>Diplomatic immunity for international educators</b><br> A parent temporarily residing in the United Kingdom whose child is actively engaged in a recognised international education program shall be exempt from registration requirements under section 436B to 436D.”

<p>This amendment exempts families temporarily based in the UK while participating in international education programs, allowing them to maintain their existing educational arrangements without regulatory interference.</p>

324

Clause 31, page 61, line 23, at end insert—<br> <b>“436GA</b> <b>Right of asylum-seeking families to home educate</b><br> (1) A family awaiting a decision on an asylum application shall have the right to educate their child at home without being subject to registration under section 436B.<br> (2) The parent must provide a written statement confirming they are providing suitable home education and, to the best of their knowledge, have done so prior to arrival in the United Kingdom.<br> (3) A local authority may not require further information unless it has reasonable grounds to believe the child is at risk of significant harm, as defined in section 31(9) of the Children Act 1989.”

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure families seeking asylum retain the right to home educate without added procedural burdens while awaiting immigration decisions, with the intention of minimising disruption to children’s education.</p>

325

Clause 31, page 61, line 23, at end insert—<br> <b>“436GA</b> <b>Age-based reduction of oversight</b><br> A child aged 14 or over may, with parental agreement, register as a self-directed learner and shall not be subject to oversight under section 436B unless safeguarding concerns arise.”

<p>This amendment seeks to allow children aged 14 and older to register as self-directed learners, free from routine oversight. It seeks to respect the autonomy of older students to take control of their education outside of formal systems.</p>

326

Clause 31, page 61, line 23, at end insert—<br> <b>“436GA</b> <b>Crisis exemption from educational requirements</b><br> A child shall not be required to be registered under section 436B or comply with formal education duties if their family is displaced or severely affected by war, natural disaster, or economic collapse.”

<p>This amendment seeks to provide compassionate exemptions from educational regulation during periods of personal or national crisis.</p>

328

Clause 31, page 61, line 23, at end insert—<br> <b>“436GA</b> <b>Prohibition on data sharing with immigration authorities</b><br> Data collected under section 436B must not be shared with immigration enforcement bodies under any circumstances.”

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that data collected under section 436B may not be shared with immigration enforcement bodies under any circumstances.</p>

329

Clause 31, page 61, line 23, at end insert—<br> <b>“436GA</b> <b>Independent review board</b><br> The Secretary of State must establish a board composed of home educators and education law experts to monitor and evaluate the impact of section 436B.”

<p>This amendment creates a board to independently assess the register’s operation and ensure home educators are represented in the evaluation process.</p>

330

Clause 31, page 61, line 23, at end insert—<br> <b>“436GA</b> <b>Pilot scheme before national implementation</b><br> Sections 436B to 436G must not come into full effect until a two-year pilot programme of the registration requirements has been completed in at least three local authorities.”

<p>This amendment introduces a pilot phase to test the registration scheme before full national rollout, in order to allow for evidence-led refinement of the provisions.</p>

327

[<i>Withdrawn</i>]<br>Clause 31, page 61, line 23, at end insert—<br> <b>“436GA</b> <b>Appeal rights for older children</b><br> A child aged 14 to 18 shall have the right to appeal to an independent tribunal against a local authority decision under sections 436B to 436G.”

<p>This amendment seeks to give older children the right to challenge decisions that affect their education, ensuring their voice is included in home education matters.</p>

369

Clause 32, page 76, leave out lines 30 to 37 and insert—<br> “(8) A person who commits an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the equivalent of one day’s wages at the National Minimum Wage.”

<p>This amendment sets a reasonable upper limit on fines for failure to comply with school attendance orders to ensure they remain proportionate and do not unfairly burden low-income families.</p>

370

LORD WEI

[<i>Withdrawn</i>]<br>Clause 32, page 76, line 32, leave out “4” and insert “5”

<p>This amendment seeks to make the fine for school attendance order offences unlimited where there are serious breaches of such offences.</p>

373

After Clause 32, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Exemption from penalty for mental health or bullying</b><br> A parent must not be subject to penalty or enforcement under section 436Q of the Education Act 1996 if the withdrawal of their child from school was supported by a medical professional due to bullying or mental health concerns.”

<p>This amendment protects families from penalties where withdrawal is supported by clinical advice due to bullying or mental health risks.</p>

374

After Clause 32, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“No fines for off-grid families</b><br> A family that produces its own energy and food and lives more than ten miles from the nearest maintained school shall be exempt from penalties for non-attendance under section 436Q of the Education Act 1996.”

<p>This amendment seeks to exempt off-grid families from education-related fines where conventional schooling is impractical or unnecessary.</p>

392

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Protection from truancy penalties in lawful home education</b><br> After section 447 of the Education Act 1996 insert—<br> <b>“447A</b> <b>Protection from truancy penalties in lawful home education</b><br> (1) No parent shall be subject to prosecution or penalty under sections 444 to 447 of this Act for non-attendance, where—<br> (a) the child has been lawfully withdrawn from school, and<br> (b) the parent is providing, or intends to provide, suitable education in accordance with section 7.<br> (2) This section does not prevent a local authority from issuing a School Attendance Order under section 437, but no such order may be issued solely on the basis of non-attendance, without first assessing the suitability of education being provided.””

<p>This amendment protects parents from truancy-related penalties when they have lawfully withdrawn their child for home education. It ensures that enforcement action is only taken where there is clear evidence that suitable education is not being provided, not merely on the basis of school non-attendance.</p>

393

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Right to delay formal education</b><br> A parent may elect to delay the start of their child’s formal education until the academic year following their seventh birthday without penalty.”

<p>This amendment allows parents to delay formal education to age seven, aligning with international practice and supporting readiness-based learning.</p>

394

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Study into privacy-preserving technologies</b><br> (1) The Secretary of State must, within six months of the passing of this Act, commission an independent study into the use of zero-knowledge proof technology as a method to verify educational provision in elective home educating families without compromising the privacy of those families.<br> (2) The findings of the study must be published and laid before Parliament.”

<p>This amendment requires the Secretary of State to commission an independent study into the use of zero-knowledge proof technologies as a means of verifying education provision without compromising family privacy in elective home-educating families. It supports innovation in safeguarding and accountability while upholding principles of data minimisation and proportionality.</p>

395

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Local authority transparency reports</b><br> Each local authority must publish an annual report detailing its engagement with home-educating families, including data on support, complaints, and outcomes.”

<p>This amendment seeks to increase transparency by requiring annual reporting of local authority practice, with the intention of supporting public accountability in the regulation of home education.</p>

396

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Independent research into home education</b><br> The Secretary of State must fund independent academic research into effective home education practices and publish findings every three years.”

<p>This amendment seeks to commit the government to funding research into home education methods, ensuring evidence-based policy and best practice guidance.</p>

397

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Parental referendum on regulatory expansion</b><br> No new national regulatory measure concerning home education may be introduced unless approved by a majority of registered home-educating families through a parental referendum.”

<p>This amendment intends to creates a democratic safeguard requiring parental approval before introducing new national home education regulations.</p>

398

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Protections for parents with disabilities</b><br> Parents with disabilities who home educate must not be subjected to more oversight than other parents solely on the basis of disability.”

<p>This amendment seeks to protect parents with disabilities from unequal treatment in home education oversight, with the intention of ensuring non-discrimination.</p>

399

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Children’s right to refuse school attendance</b><br> A child aged eight or over has the right to express a preference for home education or school attendance, and this preference must be taken into account in any local authority or court decision.”

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that children aged eight and older have a say in their educational setting, with the intention of recognising their developing autonomy and right to participate in decisions affecting them.</p>

400

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Petition system for policy review</b><br> If 10,000 or more home-educating parents sign a verified petition on any home education matter, the Secretary of State must publish a formal response and conduct a policy review within six months.”

<p>This amendment seeks to allow the home education community to initiate a government review on key issues, with the intention of promoting responsiveness and democratic engagement in education policy.</p>

401

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Home education rebate for school place shortages</b><br> Where no school place is available within a reasonable distance, a parent who home educates shall be entitled to claim a rebate equal to the per-pupil education funding allocation.”

<p>This amendment ensures parents who home educate due to lack of available school places are not financially penalised, by enabling them to reclaim equivalent funding.</p>

402

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Council tax exemption for home educators</b><br> A local authority must reduce the council tax bill of any household educating a child at home by an amount equivalent to the funding per pupil provided to schools by local authorities.”

<p>This amendment ensures that home-educating families are not required to contribute financially to local school services they do not use, through a council tax adjustment.</p>

403

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Emergency hearings: home education cases</b><br> Where a child is removed or proposed to be removed from the care of a parent due to concerns arising from home education, the parent shall have the right to an emergency court hearing within 48 hours.”

<p>This amendment seeks to provide a legal right to parents to a prompt court hearing if a local authority seeks to remove a child due to concerns about home education.</p>

404

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Ban on algorithmic school allocation</b><br> A child withdrawn from school for elective home education may not be automatically re-enrolled in another school through an algorithmic or automated placement process without parental consent.”

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that families who choose home education are not automatically re-enrolled into a different school by local authorities. It seeks to protect the family’s right to decide on home education without interference from algorithmic school allocation systems.</p>

405

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Local authorities: requirement for proof of educational superiority</b><br> A local authority may not interfere with a child’s home education under section 436B of the Education Act 1996 unless it can demonstrate that its own maintained schools consistently outperform the education provided by the parent.”

<p>This amendment requires councils to show that their state schools offer superior outcomes before intervening with a home-educating family, preventing arbitrary enforcement.</p>

406

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Qualifications for local authority officers making determinations about home education suitability</b><br> No local authority officer may make determinations about home education suitability unless they have passed an accredited assessment in alternative education methods.”

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that officials overseeing home education are qualified in alternative education, with the intention of improving the quality and fairness of their decisions.</p>

407

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Home education funding parity</b><br> The Secretary of State must ensure that home-educating families are eligible to receive per-pupil funding equivalent to that provided to maintained schools.”

<p>This amendment seeks to give home educators access to public education funding, with the intention of supporting fairer distribution of educational resources.</p>

408

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Equal access to SEN and mental health services</b><br> A child educated at home must be entitled to the same access to publicly funded special educational needs and mental health support as children attending maintained schools.”

<p>This amendment seeks to ensure that home-educated children are not excluded from essential services provided to school pupils.</p>

409

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Child-led school closure mechanism</b><br> Where at least 80% of pupils in a maintained school, aged 10 or over, express a preference for home education through a verified process, the Secretary of State must consult on transitioning that school into a home education support hub.”

<p>This amendment provides a mechanism for students to initiate the transformation of a school into a home education hub if the vast majority prefer home-based learning, with the intention of supporting child-led educational reform.</p>

410

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“National home education TV channel</b><br> The Secretary of State must fund and maintain a public broadcast service dedicated to delivering curriculum-aligned educational content for home-educated children.”

<p>This amendment establishes a government-funded educational TV channel to support home-educating families.</p>

411

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“National Insurance credits for full-time home educators</b><br> A parent who provides full-time home education must be treated as having limited capability for work for the purpose of receiving National Insurance credits.”

<p>This amendment seeks to enable parents who home educate full-time to receive pension protection through NI credits, similar to unpaid carers.</p>

412

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Access to school facilities</b><br> A child educated at home shall be entitled to reasonable access to facilities and extracurricular activities offered by local maintained schools, including sports facilities and libraries.”

<p>This amendment provides home-educated children with access to public school resources, supporting enrichment and inclusion.</p>

413

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Multi-generational home education tax break</b><br> A grandparent, aunt, uncle, or other extended family member who materially contributes to a child’s home education may claim a pro-rata tax rebate equivalent to 20% of the average per-pupil state funding allocation.”

<p>This amendment offers a tax rebate to extended family members who actively support home education, recognising multi-generational educational care and relieving household financial burdens.</p>

414

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Removal of school-based legal custody</b><br> A school may not exercise in loco parentis responsibilities for a child unless the parent has provided explicit written consent, renewed annually.”

<p>This amendment ensures that schools may only assume parental responsibility (in loco parentis) with explicit, annually renewed parental consent. It seeks to protect part-time home-educating families by preventing schools from automatically claiming authority over a child’s welfare or educational decisions without the parent’s ongoing approval.</p>

415

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Mandatory secondment for education officials</b><br> Any Department for Education employee involved in home education policy must undertake a twelve-month secondment in an alternative education setting before drafting or revising guidance.”

<p>This amendment ensures that DfE staff have real-world experience with alternative education before shaping policy, improving relevance and reducing bias.</p>

416

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Oath of non-coercion for teachers</b><br> A teacher employed by a maintained school must not attempt to coerce or pressure a child or parent to attend or remain in school if they express a desire to home educate, and must swear or affirm an annual oath in writing to that effect as part of their professional responsibilities.”

<p>This amendment prevents teachers from using undue influence to discourage or obstruct home education. It reinforces the right of families to choose education freely without coercion from school personnel.</p>

417

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Home education and the school year</b><br> When making a decision under a provision in this Act, a Local Authority cannot consider the educational calendar or timetable used by a family whose child has been withdrawn from school.”

<p>This amendment grants home-educating families freedom from the school term calendar, allowing them to provide flexible, continuous education suited to their child’s needs. It also protects explicitly against local authorities penalising them for following a non-traditional timetable.</p>

418

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Penalties for false allegations against home educators</b><br> Where a report concerning a home-educating family is found to be malicious or knowingly false, the local authority shall refer the reporting individual for review, and a civil penalty may be imposed by a magistrate.”

<p>This amendment seeks to deter false or malicious claims against home-educating families by introducing consequences for those who make unfounded reports, while maintaining proper safeguards and due process.</p>

419

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Funding eligibility for home education cooperatives</b><br> A home education cooperative comprising 50 or more families shall be eligible to apply for per-pupil public education funding equivalent to that received by maintained schools.”

<p>This amendment seeks to allow large home education cooperatives to access public funding on a similar basis to schools.</p>

420

After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause—<br> <b>“Disqualification of inspectors by parent report</b><br> If three or more home-educating families submit documented complaints of misconduct by a local authority inspector, that individual shall be suspended from duties relating to home education pending review.”

<p>This amendment seeks to protect home educators from any bias or inappropriate conduct by officials by requiring their temporary removal from oversight roles following multiple complaints.</p>

421