CEOs from the Children’s Charities Coalition respond to The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

CEOs from the Children’s Charities Coalition: Paul Carberry, Action for Children; Lynn Perry MBE, Barnardo’s; Mark Russell, The Children’s Society; Anna Feuchtwang, National Children’s Bureau; and Maria Neophytou, NSPCC, said:

“The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill marks a pivotal moment for child protection and safeguarding. It is the first major piece of legislation in over a decade with a clear focus on improving safety and care for children and families.

“For too long, review after review has told us that there are critical failures in both the child protection system and children's social care. We have seen various recommendations made that would kickstart the reform that is desperately needed, and it is encouraging that we are now on the cusp of having a strengthened legislative foundation to take them forward.

“Although there are other recommendations we would like to see taken forward, The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill contains welcome child protection measures that we have long called for. These include improved data sharing between agencies using a single child identifier, strengthened early family help to address issues before children’s safety is put at risk, a new duty on local partners to work together to keep children safe and a register for children who aren’t in school.

“The Bill is a major step forward for children, and we will be working with MPs across Parliament over the next few months to see where it can be strengthened even further, so that young people can be happy, healthy and have equal access to opportunities.”

ENDS.

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