Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have conducted a review of whether sections 28 (Co-operating generally: local authority functions), 29 (Co-operating generally: governing body functions) and 31 (Co-operating in specific cases: local authority functions) of the Children and Families Act 2014 are enabling effective co-operation between educational bodies; and if not, why not.

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

The government wants to build a more collaborative, inclusive and higher-quality education system, in which local authorities, schools and other education providers work together, share expertise and improve outcomes for children and young people.

Existing legislation provides a range of mechanisms and duties to support collaboration and co-operation between maintained schools, and between maintained schools and further education bodies, as well as co-operation in relation to 14 to 19 education and training and co-operation between local authorities, schools and other educational bodies in relation to special educational needs and disabilities. These arrangements remain available where institutions consider them appropriate.

Additionally, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 strengthens cooperation across the education and children’s services systems. This includes new duties for schools and local authorities to cooperate on school place planning and alternative provision, alongside provisions for multi-agency child protection teams, statutory information sharing and local authority registers of children not in school.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have conducted a review of whether the use of powers under section 26 (Collaboration between schools) of the Education Act 2002 and section 166 (Collaboration arrangements: maintained schools and further education bodies) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 is enabling educational bodies to collaborate effectively; and if not, why not.

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

The government wants to build a more collaborative, inclusive and higher-quality education system, in which local authorities, schools and other education providers work together, share expertise and improve outcomes for children and young people.

Existing legislation provides a range of mechanisms and duties to support collaboration and co-operation between maintained schools, and between maintained schools and further education bodies, as well as co-operation in relation to 14 to 19 education and training and co-operation between local authorities, schools and other educational bodies in relation to special educational needs and disabilities. These arrangements remain available where institutions consider them appropriate.

Additionally, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 strengthens cooperation across the education and children’s services systems. This includes new duties for schools and local authorities to cooperate on school place planning and alternative provision, alongside provisions for multi-agency child protection teams, statutory information sharing and local authority registers of children not in school.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have conducted a review of whether section 85 (Co-operation as regards provision of 14–19 education and training) of the Education and Skills Act 2008 is enabling effective co-operation between educational bodies; and if not, why not.

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

The government wants to build a more collaborative, inclusive and higher-quality education system, in which local authorities, schools and other education providers work together, share expertise and improve outcomes for children and young people.

Existing legislation provides a range of mechanisms and duties to support collaboration and co-operation between maintained schools, and between maintained schools and further education bodies, as well as co-operation in relation to 14 to 19 education and training and co-operation between local authorities, schools and other educational bodies in relation to special educational needs and disabilities. These arrangements remain available where institutions consider them appropriate.

Additionally, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 strengthens cooperation across the education and children’s services systems. This includes new duties for schools and local authorities to cooperate on school place planning and alternative provision, alongside provisions for multi-agency child protection teams, statutory information sharing and local authority registers of children not in school.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have conducted a review of the statutory framework in sections 10 (Co-operation to improve well-being), 12A (Establishment of Children’s Trust Boards), 12B and 12C (Functions and procedures of CTBs), 17 (Children and young people's plans) and 17A (Children and young people's plans: implementation) of the Children Act 2004, which place a duty to co-operate on local authorities, schools and other relevant partners to achieve the objectives set out in the agreed local plan; and whether that framework is consistent with the proposals set out in Chapter 6 (Collaboration between schools and with other partners) of Every Child Achieving and Thriving (CP 1508-I), published in February 2026.

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

The government keeps the legislative framework for children's services under review but has not carried out a specific review of the provisions cited.

‘Every Child Achieving and Thriving’ sets out the government's ambition for a school system rooted in partnership, collaboration and collective responsibility for improving outcomes for children and young people.

The principles underpinning Chapter 6 are consistent with the longstanding objective of effective partnership working between local authorities, schools, trusts and other local partners to improve outcomes for children and young people.

Section 2 of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 amended section 16 of the Children Act 2004 to require statutory safeguarding partners to automatically secure the participation of childcare and education settings in their arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

Found: experience in social policy, child mental health systems, and mental health campaigning; • Lord Watson of Invergowrie