Select committee: Education Committee
Conclusion 7
2nd Report – Scrutiny of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Published 28 Feb 2025
Addressed to Department for Education
Education Committee Children's Wellbeing and School Bill All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
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 in practice. Our witnesses were clear that there is scope to strengthen the requirement for the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in the care system to be assessed. (Conclusion, Paragraph 23)
From: Education Committee, 2nd Report – Scrutiny of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (HC 732), 28 February 2025
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 23 May 2025 (deadline 28 April 2025).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government welcomes the Committee's report and defends the Bill's timetable and approach, while declining some specific proposals such as a national care offer and express SEND provision on the face of the Bill.
- On scrutiny, the government says it "did not consider the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill necessary for pre-legislative scrutiny" and that the Bill's passage and timing between intervals is "in line with the government’s guidance on making legislation".
- On a National Care Offer for care leavers, it states that "Central Government should not design a national offer for 152 local areas as one size does not fit all", and says it is reviewing its published information so care leavers can understand their entitlements.
- On mental health assessment of children in care, it says "We agree and recognise this is both concerning". The Department for Education and the Department of Health and Social Care are reviewing statutory guidance and "will consider what changes are needed".
- On free school meals auto-enrolment, it does not commit to it, but says it is exploring data sharing options and "expect[s] to have these in place from Spring next year", ahead of September 2026.