Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 35
35
Acknowledged
Legislate for statutory kinship leave, ensuring equal entitlements to adoptive parents.
Recommendation
It was a missed opportunity not to include statutory kinship leave in the recent Employment Rights Bill. The Government should ensure that entitlements to kinship leave are included in its forthcoming review of the parental leave system and legislate for this at the earliest opportunity. As part of the review, the Government should critically evaluate whether kinship carers should receive the same entitlements to paid leave as adoptive parents when a child comes into their care. (Recommendation, Paragraph 84)
Government Response Summary
The government commits to including kinship carers in its review of the parental leave system, considering whether support meets their needs, but does not commit to legislating for statutory kinship leave. They also highlight existing employer guidance and their own departmental policy for kinship carers.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government recognises the challenge that many kinship carers face in continuing to work alongside the pressures of taking in and raising a child. The Government has committed to conduct a review of the whole parental leave system. This review was launched on 1 July and represents a much- needed opportunity to consider our approach to the system of parental leave and pay. The Review will consider whether the support available meets the needs of other working families who do not qualify for existing leave and pay entitlements, such as kinship carers. The Kinship Carers in the Workplace: Guidance for Employers sets out best practice for supporting kinship carers at work, including how to adapt internal policies, signpost existing entitlements and create a culture of support to best meet the needs of kinship carers. We encourage all organisations to review their guidance and explore what changes they can make. As the department leading on support for kinship carers, the Department of Education is determined to be an exemplar employer. As such in 2024, we joined a small number of private sector employers, including Card Factory, Tesco and John Lewis, in offering a pay and leave entitlement to all eligible staff who become kinship carers.