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xThe Children Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Date: 22nd January 2025
Category:
General measures of implementation
MPs have been debating new proposals which seek to safeguard thousands of children whose rights are most at risk across England and Wales.
The Bill proposes mandatory school registration, enhanced council powers, and a unique ID number for every child. It seeks to introduce stricter oversight for home-educated children and requires councils to establish dedicated safeguarding teams to monitor children whose rights are at risk.
Further measures include capping branded school uniform requirements and providing all primary school children with access to free breakfast clubs.
Speaking in a UK Government’s press release, Mark Russell, CEO at The Children’s Society, said:
“The high cost of school uniforms has put an unnecessary financial strain on families for far too long. This is a pivotal moment on an issue we’ve campaigned on for years, and it’s very encouraging to see this progress towards a fairer and more affordable approach.
Schools will play a key role in ensuring these changes deliver for families, and so the new measures should be both practical and effective. Every child deserves to feel equal and included, regardless of their family’s income, and removing the pressure of costly branded uniforms is an essential step in making that a reality.
We’ll continue to push for reforms that put children and families first, so no child feels left out or disadvantaged because of the cost of their uniform.”
The Bill is now at the Committee stage where MPs will hear evidence from a range of experts, including representatives from children’s charities. While many organisations have expressed their general support for the Bill’s aims, some have proposed amendments to further strengthen the Bill from a children’s rights perspective – for example, the inclusion of a Play Strategy and measures to strengthen children’s participation in decisions that affect their lives.