Select Committee · Education Committee

Children's Wellbeing and School Bill

Status: Open Opened: 21 Jan 2025 5 recommendations 8 conclusions 1 report
Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
2nd Report – Scrutiny of the Children's Wellbeing and Schoo… HC 732 28 Feb 2025 13 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

2 items
7 Conclusion 2nd Report – Scrutiny of the Children's… Accepted

Inadequate assessment of mental health for children and young people in care.

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
10 Recommendation 2nd Report – Scrutiny of the Children's… Accepted

Require local authorities to consult domestic abuse charities on FGDM decisions involving abuse.

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

Oral evidence sessions

1 session
Date Witnesses
4 Feb 2025 Clare Canning · Broadleaf Home Ed Co-operative, Councillor Bev Craig · Local Government Association (LGA), Daniel Kebede · National Education Union, Dr Rebecca Montacute · Sutton Trust, John Barneby · Oasis Community Learning, Kate Anstey · Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), Lindsey MacDonald · Magic Breakfast, Sam Freedman · The Institute for Government, Thomas Brooke · Office of the Schools Adjudicator View ↗

Correspondence

5 letters
DateDirectionTitle
6 May 2025 To cttee Letter from Minister for School Standards on Children's Wellbeing and Schools B…
23 Apr 2025 From cttee Letter to Minister for Schools Standards on Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bi…
18 Mar 2025 To cttee Letter from Minister for School Standards on Scrutiny of the Children's Wellbei…
4 Feb 2025 CWS 05 - Written evidence from Broadleaf Home Ed Co-operative to Children's Wel…
7 Jan 2025 Correspondence with Minister for School Standards on Children’s Wellbeing Bill,…