Select Committee · Education Committee

Children’s social care

Status: Closed Opened: 22 Nov 2024 Closed: 2 Feb 2026 14 recommendations 64 conclusions 1 report

In December 2023, the previous Education Committee began an important inquiry into the state of children's social care in England. Unfortunately, this work was interrupted by the General Election and the dissolution of Parliament on 30 May 2024, which meant all select committees were disbanded. Recognising the critical nature of this subject, the new Education … Show more

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
4th Report - Children’s social care HC 430 10 Jul 2025 78 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

6 items
6 Recommendation 4th Report - Children’s social care Accepted in Part

Commit to making Families First permanent and restore early intervention funding to 2010 levels.

The Department for Education must commit to making the Families First Partnership programme permanent if it demonstrates a positive impact. The Government must ensure that a significant majority of the new funding announced in the Spending Review is allocated to early intervention programmes and, in future, work towards bringing the … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government commits to increasing funding for the Families First Partnership Programme by £300 million over two years (2026-28), continuing £523 million investment annually until 2028-29, and allocating an additional £18 million for 2025-26, with grant conditions ensuring use for preventative services.
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Department for Education
40 Conclusion 4th Report - Children’s social care Accepted in Part

Make Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund permanent; consult on a support plan.

The Department must end the annual cliff-edge of uncertainty faced by adoptive families and make funding for the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund permanent. It should monitor the impact of the reduced funding limits after 12 months of the reduced personal limit and engage with organisations representing adoptive families … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government confirmed the ASGSF will continue until 2026-27, not permanently, and will monitor funding limit impacts but without committing to increasing limits. It noted a new Adoption Support Plan rollout, but not a consultation on a plan with appropriate duties as recommended.
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Department for Education
44 Recommendation 4th Report - Children’s social care Accepted in Part

Unacceptable placement of vulnerable children in unsuitable homes, requiring full care provision for all.

It is unacceptable that vulnerable children are being placed in unsuitable homes such as barges and caravans with little or no support. The new regulatory and inspection regime is an important step in the right direction, but the Department for Education needs to go further and ensure that all children … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees unsuitable settings are unacceptable and points to existing Quality Standards, but states it is focusing on updating out-dated National Minimum Standards and working with Ofsted on inspection reform, rather than developing a single universal set of standards as implied by the recommendation …
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Department for Education
46 Recommendation 4th Report - Children’s social care Accepted in Part

Serious recruitment and retention problems in children's social care workforce require wholesale review.

There is a serious problem with recruitment and retention in the social care workforce. High turnover and overstretched staff are exacerbating the instability experienced by children in care and increase the risk of 89 safeguarding concerns being overlooked. The Department for Education has begun to address this with the planned … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government recognises the importance of the social care workforce and outlines several ongoing initiatives to improve recruitment, retention, and training, including gathering evidence and shaping future workforce support through the Families First Partnership Programme, and reviewing qualifications for residential care, but does not commit …
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Department for Education
72 Conclusion 4th Report - Children’s social care Accepted in Part

Care leavers face poorest outcomes due to insufficient support and limited Bill measures.

Care leavers have some of the poorest outcomes in society across a range of measures, and the support available to them falls far short of what is needed. The state has a grave responsibility to the children it takes 93 into its care, and these outcomes are simply not good … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government will implement a national Staying Close support package through the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill to help care leavers with accommodation and independent living. It also notes ongoing cross-government activity to improve support for care experienced adults.
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Department for Education
73 Conclusion 4th Report - Children’s social care Accepted in Part

Care leavers face unacceptable financial hardship compromising their education upon turning 18.

It is unacceptable that young people are left to support themselves financially on turning 18 while still in full-time education and face having to reduce time spent in education or drop out completely to support themselves. No responsible parent would allow this and the state in its role as parent … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government will introduce a national Staying Close support package via the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill to help care leavers with accommodation and independent living. It also notes ongoing cross-government work to improve adult care support.
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Department for Education

Oral evidence sessions

8 sessions
Date Witnesses
18 Mar 2025 Fran Oram · Department for Education, Janet Daby MP · The Department for Education View ↗
11 Feb 2025 Dan Turnbull · Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), Georgia Sullivan, Jake Hartley, Lamar Mohsen, Louise Fitt, Mr Sam Turner · Kinship, Mrs Denise Rawls · The National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL), Roger Gough · The County Councils Network (CCN) View ↗
21 Jan 2025 Andy Smith · Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS), Anna Edmundson · National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), Annie Hudson · Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel, Claire Throssell MBE, Lynn Perry MBE · Barnardo’s, Rob Williams · National Association of Head Teachers View ↗
17 Dec 2024 Councillor Arooj Shah · Local Government Association (LGA), Dr Mark Kerr · Children’s Homes Association, Harriet Edwards · Sense, James Bury · CoramBAAF, Jo Harrison · National Network of Parent Carer Forums (NNPCF), Katharine Sacks-Jones · Become, Maris Stratulis · British Association of Social Workers England, Matthew Horne · Innovation Unit View ↗
30 Apr 2024 Annie Hudson · Child Safeguarding Review Panel, Ms Katie Ghose · Kids, Professor Michelle McManus, Professor of Safeguarding and Violence Prevention, Stephen Kingdom · Disabled Children’s Partnership, Tina Emory OBE · National Network of Parent Carer Forums, Yvette Stanley · Ofsted View ↗
16 Apr 2024 Emily Frith · Adoption UK, Lucille Allain · Association of Professors of Social Work, Lucy Peake · Kinship, Mary Jackson · Frontline, Matt Clayton · Coventry City Council, Sarah Thomas · The Fostering Network View ↗
26 Mar 2024 Dan Turnbull · Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), Dr Mark Kerr · Children’s Homes Association, John Pearce · Association of Directors of Children’s Services, Mr Andrew Isaac · Children’s Services Development Group, Ms Lucy Croxton · Together Trust, Roger Gough · The County Councils Network (CCN), Stuart Ashley · Hampshire County Council View ↗
27 Feb 2024 Dinithi Wijedasa · Bristol University, Dr Ray Jones · Kingston University, June Thoburn CBE · University of East Anglia, Katharine Sacks-Jones · Become, Lynn Perry MBE · Barnardo’s, Will McMahon · Care Leavers’ Association View ↗

Who gave evidence

44 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Dan Turnbull · Director, Markets Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) 2
Dr Mark Kerr · Chief Executive Children’s Homes Association 2
Katharine Sacks-Jones · Chief Executive Become 2
Lynn Perry MBE · Chief Executive Barnardo’s 2
Roger Gough · Children’s Services Spokesperson The County Councils Network (CCN) 2
Andy Smith · President Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) 1
Anna Edmundson · Head of Policy and Public Affairs National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) 1
Annie Hudson · Chair Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel 1
Annie Hudson · Chair Child Safeguarding Review Panel 1
Claire Throssell MBE 1
Councillor Arooj Shah · Chair of Children and Young People Board Local Government Association (LGA) 1
Dinithi Wijedasa · Associate Professor Bristol University 1
Dr Ray Jones · Professor Kingston University 1
Emily Frith · CEO Adoption UK 1
Fran Oram · Portfolio Director for Children’s Social Care Ref… Department for Education 1
Georgia Sullivan 1
Harriet Edwards · Head of Policy Sense 1
Jake Hartley 1
James Bury · Head of Policy, Research and Development CoramBAAF 1
Janet Daby MP · Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister … The Department for Education 1
Jo Harrison · Director and Co-Chair National Network of Parent Carer Forums (NNPCF) 1
John Pearce · President Association of Directors of Children’s Services 1
June Thoburn CBE · Professor University of East Anglia 1
Lamar Mohsen 1
Louise Fitt 1
Lucille Allain · Co-Chair Association of Professors of Social Work 1
Lucy Peake · CEO Kinship 1
Maris Stratulis · National Director British Association of Social Workers England 1
Mary Jackson · CEO Frontline 1
Matt Clayton · Strategic Lead for Children in Care and Care Leav… Coventry City Council 1
Matthew Horne · Chief Executive Officer Innovation Unit 1
Mr Andrew Isaac · Chair Children’s Services Development Group 1
Mr Sam Turner · Associate Director of Policy and Public Affairs Kinship 1
Mrs Denise Rawls · Executive Director The National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL) 1
Ms Katie Ghose · CEO Kids 1
Ms Lucy Croxton · Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns Manager Together Trust 1
Professor Michelle McManus, Professor of Safeguarding and Violence Prevention 1
Rob Williams · Senior Policy Advisor National Association of Head Teachers 1
Sarah Thomas · CEO The Fostering Network 1
Stephen Kingdom · Campaign Manager Disabled Children’s Partnership 1
Showing 40 of 44.

Correspondence

5 letters
DateDirectionTitle
15 Jul 2025 To cttee Letter from Minister for Children and Families on New Children's Homes dated 09…
23 Apr 2025 To cttee Letter from Minister for Children and Families on Children's Social Care, dated…
8 Apr 2025 From cttee Letter to Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Children and Fam…
7 Jan 2025 To cttee letter from Maris Stratulis, National Director, BASW England on Children's Soci…
24 May 2024 Correspondence to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children, Fami…