The UK Government is introducing a landmark bill aimed at strengthening child protection laws and ensuring at-risk children receive the care and oversight they need. The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which is being unveiled in the Commons on Tuesday, comes on the same day as the sentencing of the killers of 10-year-old Sara Sharif, whose tragic death has sparked renewed scrutiny of home-schooling safeguards.
Sara Sharif’s case, in which her father Urfan Sharif, stepmother Beinash Batool, and uncle Faisal Malik were convicted, highlighted failures in safeguarding. Sara had been withdrawn from school despite visible injuries that had been referred to social services. Her battered body was later discovered in her family home in Woking, Surrey, in August last year.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described Sara’s case as raising “questions that need to be answered” about the protection of vulnerable children. Now, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has vowed to address these concerns, declaring the bill a “seminal moment for child protection.”
Key provisions of the bill
Under the proposed legislation:
- Local Authority Oversight: Councils will have the power to mandate school attendance for children if their home environment is deemed unsafe or unsuitable.
- Home Education Restrictions: Parents will no longer have an automatic right to home-educate children who are under child protection plans or subject to child protection investigations.
- Child Identification Measures: The introduction of unique identification numbers for children will facilitate better tracking across social, educational, and health services.
- Registers of Children Not in School: New records will ensure authorities are aware of children being educated outside formal school settings.
A ‘Child-centred government’
Speaking ahead of the Bill’s introduction, Bridget Phillipson said:
“In recent years, too many children have been failed by their last line of defence: the state. This Bill will be a seminal moment for child protection. No more words, no more lessons learnt. This Government will put children first at every turn.”
She added, “This legislation delivers on our Plan for Change, ensuring that all children, regardless of their circumstances, have the opportunity to achieve and thrive.”
The Department for Education stated that teachers and schools will play a central role in decisions around safeguarding children, ensuring a collaborative approach between educational institutions and social care.
Support from the children’s commissioner
Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza praised the urgency of the legislation:
“This Bill lays a foundation for change in many children’s lives – many of whom have been neglected or hidden by services working in silos. Introducing a unique identifier for children and a register of those not in school are landmark measures that will have a profound impact.”
However, Dame Rachel stressed the importance of proper data-sharing among organisations to prevent any child from “falling through the cracks.”
Criticism of funding levels
While the Government has announced a doubling of investment in Family Help services to £500 million next year, the Children’s Charities Coalition argued the funding remains insufficient.
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“The money announced today falls far short of what’s needed,” the coalition said. “Children and families desperately need – and deserve – sustained investment in early help services, mental health support, and children’s social care.”
The coalition also called for a comprehensive strategy to tackle child poverty, which it views as a root cause of many child protection issues.
Profit limit on social care providers
The Government has pledged to introduce a “backstop” law to cap profits for children’s social care providers if voluntary measures to curb profiteering are not implemented.
Calls for further action
Charities and local authorities are urging the Government to go further by including auto-enrolment for free school meals in the Bill, ensuring no eligible child misses out on this essential support.
A turning point for child protection?
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill has been broadly welcomed as a step in the right direction. Its measures promise to enhance safeguards for at-risk children while improving coordination between schools, local authorities, and social services.
However, critics caution that funding shortfalls and systemic challenges must be addressed to make meaningful progress. The Bill, described by many as a potential turning point, now faces close scrutiny as it begins its journey through Parliament.
