The bill, presented by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, aims to strengthen child welfare, safeguarding, and educational standards across England. Here are the key components:
Child Protection and Monitoring:
- New mandatory registers to track children not in formal education
- Introduction of a unique identifier system (similar to National Insurance numbers) to improve service coordination
- Restrictions on home-schooling rights when children are under protection investigations
- Enhanced collaboration between schools, social care, and local authorities
Educational Reforms:
- Requirement for all new teachers to hold or be working toward Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
- Standardization of teacher pay and working conditions across all schools, including academies
- Greater local council authority over school admissions, particularly for vulnerable children
Financial and Support Measures:
- £500 million additional funding allocated for family support services in 2025
- Implementation of Family Group Decision-Making to involve extended family in welfare decisions
- Required "local kinship offer" from councils to support family members caring for children
- Caps on profit-making in private children's social care services
The bill has received strong support from Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children's Commissioner, who emphasized its urgency for protecting vulnerable children. Education Secretary Phillipson has described it as a "seminal moment for child protection," emphasizing the government's commitment to putting children's interests first.
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