Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
2nd Report – Scrutiny of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Education Committee
HC 732
Published 28 February 2025
Recommendations
4
Not Addressed
Require Government to follow legislative guidelines and engage meaningfully with select committees
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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 to the Liaison Committee.
Department for Education
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8
Rejected
Implicit inclusion of children with SEND in breakfast clubs risks unequal access.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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
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9
Accepted in Part
Introduce auto-enrolment for all eligible children in free school meals without delay.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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 not commit to full auto-enrolment.
Department for Education
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10
Accepted
Require local authorities to consult domestic abuse charities on FGDM decisions involving abuse.
Recommendation
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 Summary
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
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14
Acknowledged
Consider Chair's tabled New Clauses and amendments to address witness concerns and recommendations.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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
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Conclusions (8)
2
Conclusion
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 Summary
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.
3
Conclusion
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 Summary
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.
5
Conclusion
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 Summary
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.
6
Conclusion
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 Summary
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 strengthening care leavers' legal entitlements and support requirements.
7
Conclusion
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 Summary
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' to consider what changes are needed to further ensure support.
11
Conclusion
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 Summary
The government acknowledges the Committee's feedback regarding the clarity provided on teacher pay measures in the Bill.
12
Conclusion
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 Summary
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.
13
Conclusion
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 Summary
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.