Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
4th Report - Children’s social care
Education Committee
HC 430
Published 10 July 2025
Recommendations
6
Accepted in Part
Commit to making Families First permanent and restore early intervention funding to 2010 levels.
Recommendation
The Department for Education must commit to making the Families First Partnership programme permanent if it demonstrates a positive impact. The Government must ensure that a significant majority of the new funding announced in the Spending Review is allocated to …
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Government Response Summary
The government commits to increasing funding for the Families First Partnership Programme by £300 million over two years (2026-28), continuing £523 million investment annually until 2028-29, and allocating an additional £18 million for 2025-26, with grant conditions ensuring use for preventative services.
Department for Education
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44
Accepted in Part
Unacceptable placement of vulnerable children in unsuitable homes, requiring full care provision for all.
Recommendation
It is unacceptable that vulnerable children are being placed in unsuitable homes such as barges and caravans with little or no support. The new regulatory and inspection regime is an important step in the right direction, but the Department for …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees unsuitable settings are unacceptable and points to existing Quality Standards, but states it is focusing on updating out-dated National Minimum Standards and working with Ofsted on inspection reform, rather than developing a single universal set of standards as implied by the recommendation for all children to receive care.
Department for Education
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46
Accepted in Part
Serious recruitment and retention problems in children's social care workforce require wholesale review.
Recommendation
There is a serious problem with recruitment and retention in the social care workforce. High turnover and overstretched staff are exacerbating the instability experienced by children in care and increase the risk of 89 safeguarding concerns being overlooked. The Department …
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Government Response Summary
The government recognises the importance of the social care workforce and outlines several ongoing initiatives to improve recruitment, retention, and training, including gathering evidence and shaping future workforce support through the Families First Partnership Programme, and reviewing qualifications for residential care, but does not commit to a single wholesale review of the entire workforce.
Department for Education
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Conclusions (3)
40
Conclusion
Accepted in Part
The Department must end the annual cliff-edge of uncertainty faced by adoptive families and make funding for the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund permanent. It should monitor the impact of the reduced funding limits after 12 months of the reduced personal limit and engage with organisations representing adoptive families …
Government Response Summary
The government confirmed the ASGSF will continue until 2026-27, not permanently, and will monitor funding limit impacts but without committing to increasing limits. It noted a new Adoption Support Plan rollout, but not a consultation on a plan with appropriate duties as recommended.
72
Conclusion
Accepted in Part
Care leavers have some of the poorest outcomes in society across a range of measures, and the support available to them falls far short of what is needed. The state has a grave responsibility to the children it takes 93 into its care, and these outcomes are simply not good …
Government Response Summary
The government will implement a national Staying Close support package through the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill to help care leavers with accommodation and independent living. It also notes ongoing cross-government activity to improve support for care experienced adults.
73
Conclusion
Accepted in Part
It is unacceptable that young people are left to support themselves financially on turning 18 while still in full-time education and face having to reduce time spent in education or drop out completely to support themselves. No responsible parent would allow this and the state in its role as parent …
Government Response Summary
The government will introduce a national Staying Close support package via the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill to help care leavers with accommodation and independent living. It also notes ongoing cross-government work to improve adult care support.