Recommendations & Conclusions
13 items
2
Conclusion
2nd Report – Scrutiny of the Children's…
Not Addressed
The Government did not, in this case, publish the Bill in draft. Nonetheless, the Bill’s timetable could have factored in time for our Committee to come to a considered view on its contents. Although the Minister for School Standards had written to us of her wish to “work closely” with …
Government response. The government defends its decision not to publish the Bill in draft and its compressed timetable, stating it aligns with legislative programme requirements and seeks to progress landmark reforms quickly.
Department for Education
3
Conclusion
2nd Report – Scrutiny of the Children's…
Rejected
The Government has neither followed its own guidelines, nor engaged as productively as we would have liked with our Committee over this Bill. The interval between introduction and Second Reading was not long enough for proper preparation by Members of the House. The publication of the Impact Assessment over a …
Government response. The government rejects the Committee's criticisms of its engagement and adherence to guidelines, stating it gave due consideration to the legislative process, provided briefings, and that the Bill's timing was in line with guidance for progressing manifesto commitments quickly.
Department for Education
4
Recommendation
2nd Report – Scrutiny of the Children's…
Not Addressed
We recommend that the Government undertakes to follow the Cabinet Office Guide to Making Legislation and engage meaningfully, and in a timely way, with select committees as a way of improving policy making and building consensus on important legislation. We further recommend that the Government provide a memorandum to the …
Government response. The government's response defends its past engagement process for the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill but does not address the recommendation to commit to following engagement guidelines with select committees more meaningfully in the future or to provide a memorandum …
Department for Education
5
Conclusion
2nd Report – Scrutiny of the Children's…
Not Addressed
We would have liked to dedicate more time to a considered examination of the policy issues in the Bill and the mechanisms by which the Bill seeks to meet its policy aims. However, given the tight timetable the Government has provided for this Bill, and our wish to contribute effectively …
Government response. The government defends its legislative timetable and decision not to publish the Bill in draft, stating its process was in line with guidance and aimed to progress reforms quickly, rather than directly addressing the Committee's wish for more time.
Department for Education
6
Conclusion
2nd Report – Scrutiny of the Children's…
Rejected
Care leavers face a confusing patchwork of entitlements when they leave care. This is made more complex by the differing offers in each local authority and the fact that they are having to navigate this at a young age, often with little or no support. Our witnesses supported the view …
Government response. The government rejects the concept of a National Care Offer, stating that local authorities are best placed to respond to local needs and a central framework would be bureaucratic. It instead highlights existing legislation and upcoming Bill changes aimed at …
Department for Education
7
Conclusion
2nd Report – Scrutiny of the Children's…
Accepted
Young people in care are significantly more likely to have experienced trauma and adverse experiences than their peers, and therefore strong mental health support is crucial. Although local authorities are required to assess the emotional and mental health of children in their care, evidence suggests this does not always happen …
Government response. The government acknowledges the committee's concern that mental health assessments for children in care do not always happen in practice, despite existing requirements. It commits to reviewing and updating statutory guidance on 'Promoting the health and wellbeing of looked-after children' …
Department for Education
8
Recommendation
2nd Report – Scrutiny of the Children's…
Rejected
Despite the implicit inclusion of children with SEND in the Bill’s provisions on breakfast clubs, we consider that express inclusion of the needs of those children on the face of the Bill would be a much stronger safeguard against schools failing—for reasons of cost, convenience and accident—to put in place …
Government response. The government agrees on the importance of SEND accessibility but rejects placing express inclusion on the Bill's face, believing it would not alter the intended effect. It outlines existing funding and plans to test and learn from early adopter schools.
Department for Education
9
Recommendation
2nd Report – Scrutiny of the Children's…
Accepted in Part
We consider that the arguments for auto-enrolment in free school meals for those children currently eligible are conclusive. In the interests of alleviating hunger in schools and improving health and educational outcomes for the poorest children, auto-enrolment must be brought in without delay. (Conclusion, Paragraph 35) 27
Government response. The government acknowledges the importance of free school meals and commits to making it quicker and easier for families to sign up by upgrading the Eligibility Checking System and exploring options for data sharing and Universal Credit integration, but does …
Department for Education
10
Recommendation
2nd Report – Scrutiny of the Children's…
Accepted
We consider that local authorities should draw on the advice of specialist domestic abuse charities in coming to a decision on whether FGDM is in the child’s best interests where domestic abuse has occurred. (Conclusion, Paragraph 41)
Government response. The government accepts the recommendation, committing to develop updated statutory guidance and best practice guidance with the support of specialist domestic abuse charities to help local authorities assess FGDM decisions where domestic abuse has occurred.
Department for Education
11
Conclusion
2nd Report – Scrutiny of the Children's…
Acknowledged
We welcome the additional clarity on teacher pay offered by the Government’s new clause and new schedule brought forward at Committee stage. (Conclusion, Paragraph 47)
Government response. The government acknowledges the Committee's feedback regarding the clarity provided on teacher pay measures in the Bill.
Department for Education
12
Conclusion
2nd Report – Scrutiny of the Children's…
Not Addressed
We have not had the time or resource to comb through the Bill or take evidence on the delegated powers within it, although we note that the published Delegated Powers Memorandum for the Bill is 75 pages long. We stated at the beginning of this Report that the Bill’s timetable …
Government response. The government thanks the Committee for reviewing the published documents and defends the detailed nature and justification of the Bill's delegated powers, without addressing the Committee's lack of time for detailed scrutiny.
Department for Education
13
Conclusion
2nd Report – Scrutiny of the Children's…
Acknowledged
We have worked at pace on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to contribute to fulfil our scrutiny role within the parameters set by the Government’s timetable and increase transparency for the benefit of the House and, we hope, those who will be affected by the legislation. We are particularly …
Government response. The government expresses gratitude for the Committee's support, engagement, and the contributions of policy experts and stakeholders, acknowledging their work on the Bill and looking forward to further engagement.
Department for Education
14
Recommendation
2nd Report – Scrutiny of the Children's…
Acknowledged
We draw the Government’s attention to the New Clauses and amendments tabled in the name of our Chair which seek to offer practical ways to meet the concerns and put into effect the recommendations we have heard in evidence from witnesses. (Recommendation, Paragraph 68) 28
Government response. The government acknowledges the Committee's work and the Chair's welcomed assurances on the tabled amendments, expressing gratitude for engagement and looking forward to further discussions as the Bill progresses.
Department for Education