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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

3 items
16 Conclusion 4th Report - Children’s social care Not Addressed

Produce DfE analysis of funding needed for children's social care reforms and implementation plan.

The Department for Education should produce an analysis of the level of funding that is still needed to achieve the necessary reforms to children’s social care and set out how it will work towards achieving the level of funding recommended by the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care. (Recommendation, Paragraph …

Government response. The government did not commit to producing an analysis of needed funding or setting out how it will work towards achieving the recommended level, instead stating they are already investing the recommended amount.
Department for Education
31 Conclusion 4th Report - Children’s social care Not Addressed

Crucial sibling relationships for children in care unprotected due to lack of separation data.

Sibling relationships are crucial for many children in care and, for some, may be the only family relationships they have. They must be protected and supported as much as possible. The lack of any data on the extent of sibling separation makes it difficult to understand the main causes of …

Government response. The government response cuts off mid-sentence and does not engage with the committee's concern about the lack of data on sibling separation in care.
Department for Education
70 Conclusion 4th Report - Children’s social care Not Addressed

Strictly limit handcuff use for child transport and ensure provider accountability with Ofsted.

The Department for Education must act to strictly limit the use of handcuffs to those cases where it is otherwise unavoidable or necessary for the child’s own safety, and work with Ofsted to ensure that local authorities and transport providers are held accountable on this. (Recommendation, Paragraph 176)

Government response. The government reiterates that children's homes regulations permit restraint only when necessary to prevent injury, damage, or absconding, and it must be proportionate. While stating these principles should apply across children's social care, the response does not commit to new …
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…