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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 …

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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

5 items
56 Conclusion 4th Report - Children’s social care Deferred

Address inappropriate assessment processes for disabled children’s parents and implement Law Commission proposals.

It is deeply concerning to hear that parents of disabled children are being treated with suspicion and undergoing inappropriate assessment processes when reaching out for help. The Department for Education must address this as an urgent priority and ensure that it fully implements the Law Commission’s proposals relating to assessment …

Government response. The government deferred action, stating it would follow its protocol for responding to the Law Commission's upcoming report within six months for an interim response and one year for a full response, outlining which recommendations it accepts or rejects.
Department for Education
57 Conclusion 4th Report - Children’s social care Deferred

Set out clear implementation plan for Law Commission's disabled children's social care proposals.

The Department for Education must set out how it will implement the proposals in the Law Commission’s review of disabled children’s social care no later than two months following the publication of the review, which is expected shortly. This should include a clear timeframe and assessment of any spending required …

Government response. The government will follow its protocol with the Law Commission, providing an interim response within six months and a full response within one year of the review's publication, outlining accepted/rejected recommendations and implementation timescales if applicable.
Department for Education
58 Conclusion 4th Report - Children’s social care Deferred

Introduce national eligibility criteria for disabled children’s social care and communicate to families.

The Department should introduce national eligibility criteria for disabled children’s social care and ensure that local authorities are clearly communicating these to families. (Recommendation, Paragraph 144)

Government response. The government deferred the introduction of national eligibility criteria, stating it is awaiting recommendations from the Law Commission and will assess reforms and set out plans in due course after their submission.
Department for Education
74 Conclusion 4th Report - Children’s social care Deferred

Proposed Universal Credit reductions for under-22s will disproportionately impact care leavers.

We welcome the new Youth Guarantee and the focus on supporting young people to access employment, education and training. However, we are deeply concerned about the proposal to reduce support through Universal Credit for those aged under 22. This is likely to have a disproportionate impact on care leavers, who …

Government response. The government is consulting on proposals in the Pathways to Work White Paper, including raising the age for the Universal Credit Health Element to 22. It states no decisions have been made yet and feedback will be considered before implementing …
Department for Education
77 Conclusion 4th Report - Children’s social care Deferred

Exempt care leavers from proposed Universal Credit reductions and prioritise Youth Guarantee access.

The Department for Work and Pensions must exempt care leavers from its proposed plans to reduce Universal Credit support for those aged under 22, if these reforms go ahead, and ensure that care leavers are prioritised for access to support through the Youth Guarantee. (Recommendation, Paragraph 196)

Government response. The government is consulting on proposals in the Pathways to Work White Paper, including raising the age for the Universal Credit Health Element to 22. It states no decisions have been made yet and feedback will be considered before implementing …
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 ↗

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…