Children and Families Bill: second reading

The Bill covers Government proposals on adoption, the family justice system, special educational needs (SEN) and shared parental leave, as well as the introduction of childminder agencies.

Ministers want to implement a system where young people with SEN have a single plan for meeting their education, health and social care needs, which can run from birth to 25.

This differs from the current multi-faceted approach implemented by Labour. Under Labour, children were categorised under a ‘School action’ or ‘School action plus’ headline, meaning they were able to get additional educational support, such as specialist teachers or educational psychologists. Under new guidelines however, these categories will be scrapped.

Labour opposes the Government reforms which it says will alienate a large number of children, who would no longer be directly classed as needing help.

‘Many young people with special educational needs could lose support. 17 per cent of pupils have additional needs but not a statement, and they could be left without help as the Government scraps the School Action categories which provide support such as access to specialist teachers and educational psychologists,’ said Sharon Hodgson MP, Labour’s shadow minister for children and families.

‘With huge cuts to local authority budgets, many families with disabled and SEN children could be left worse off. Labour will seek to ensure that this Bill does not undermine the crucial support many families rely on,’ she added.

There are currently 841,990 pupils registered as ‘School Action’ and another 487,165 registered as ‘School Action Plus’. Labour believes that the new reforms will affect 1.4 million young people.

Clause 48 of the Bill also requires local authorities to prepare a personal budget for children or young people with an education, health and care (EHC) plan, if asked to do so by the child’s parent or the young person.

Clause 26 requires local authorities and health bodies to work in partnership when arranging provision for children and young people with SEN.

Furthermore, the bill would make changes to family justice, including the law relating to care proceedings, and arrangements for children after divorce or separation. Clause 11 introduces a presumption that the involvement of both parents in a child’s life will further that child’s welfare, unless the contrary is shown. Clause 14 introduces a 26 week time limit to proceedings for care & supervision orders, with provision for extensions in certain circumstances.

The Family Rights Group wish to make a number of amendments to the Bill. They want to ensure effective work is undertaken with families to avert the need for children to be removed into the care system and raised by unrelated carers. It also advises giving family and friends carers the same employment rights as adoptive parents.

The Bill also includes proposals to help both parents take time off work to look after newborn children. From the earliest stages of pregnancy parents will be able to share child and work responsibilities in a much more flexible environment.

• The first reading of the bill was held on 5 February this year.

The House of Commons Scruitiny Unit is running a Public Reading Stage consultation on the Children and Families Bill.

You can select the following aspects of the Bill to comment upon:

• Special Educational Needs (SEN)
• Childminder Agencies
• Children's Commissioner
• Statutory Rights to Leave and Pay
• Time Off Work
• Flexible Working

The Public Reading for the Children and Families Bill will close on Tuesday 26 February to allow time for comments to be collated and made available to MPs on the Bill Committee.

Visit http://www.parliament.uk/business/bills-and-legislation/public-reading/children-and-families-bill/