Government invites evidence on Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

2 mins read

Tuesday 14 January 2025

The government has opened calls for written evidence on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill for England. This follows its second reading in Parliament last week.

MPs debated the Bill last Wednesday 8 January, voting down an amendment to the Bill that would have stopped the proposals moving onto the next stage of scrutiny.

The Bill has two parts: one on children’s social care and one on schools. The latter part contains measures on breakfast clubs; the requirement for parents to get consent to home educate certain children; and the requirement on local authorities to keep a register of children not in school.

On behalf of Contact, Sarah Russell MP and Helen Hayes MP highlighted the need for breakfast clubs to be accessible. We have raised concerns about schools making exemptions that would discriminate against disabled children.

Connor Rand MP and Amanda Martin MP argued that many parents with disabled children are forced to home educate because the school is unable to provide the support their child need. In Contact’s view, the government must rethink its home education proposals. It doesn’t seem fair that parents forced to home educate a disabled child because a school can’t meet need, must then seek local authority permission in line with children at risk of harm. This could lead to children forced to stay in an unsafe environment. This Bill must also come alongside wider improvements to support for SEND in schools.

The Bill is now at Committee Stage, where detailed examination takes place. The Public Bill Committee is now taking written evidence, which it advises to submit as soon as possible.