Part of Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill – in the House of Commons at 8:00 pm on 17 March 2025.
Stephen Morgan
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education
8:00,
17 March 2025
Kit Malthouse had the opportunity to speak in the debate, but he has chosen to turn up at the very end to make an Intervention. It just shows what his interest is in these issues.
We take these matters seriously, because we take children’s wellbeing seriously. The clue is in the name—Labour’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. The measures in the Bill to protect children from harm, improve their schools and save their education from causing financial distress to their parents all relate to their wellbeing, and we know that mental health goes hand in hand with wellbeing. I was at this very Dispatch Box just last week to discuss the support we are offering in schools, and we will of course have more time to talk about those issues further. I understand that new Clause 29 seeks to be supportive on this matter. The Government recognise the importance of understanding trends in the wellbeing of children and young people; indeed, schools are already encouraged to measure pupil wellbeing.
Turning to the amendments tabled by the right hon. Member for Sevenoaks relating to information sharing, as set out in Committee, Amendment 182 would create a very broad duty that would be difficult to implement in practice. Additionally, “Working together to safeguard children” already sets out the duties of practitioners to share and act on information received. On amendment 181, we agree that the documenting of decisions about information sharing is important, and we cover it in our non-statutory guidance on information sharing. We intend to strengthen this by addressing these matters in statutory guidance that relevant persons would be required to have regard to.
Finally, I turn to new clause 10 and amendment 171, and to a topic that has become a priority for Labour Members, who are listening to our constituents who demand change. That topic is support for children with SEND. The last Conservative Education Secretary deemed the system that her party left behind to be “lose, lose, lose”, and the current Conservative Deputy Chief Whip, Mr Mohindra, said that the Conservatives “didn’t do enough” and that they
“should hang our heads in shame”.
We agree—the difference is that we are doing something about it. I will be honest: I find it hard to take lectures from Conservative Members on education, knowing the scale of the mess that they left behind and the families they failed with no support, no understanding and no plan to turn things around. When they come to this place and bemoan the change that this Government are driving, I just find it shameful.
Returning to new clause 10 and amendment 171, I appreciate the input of the hon. Member for Twickenham, and note that nothing is off the table when it comes to SEND reform. However, this Government do not want to tinker around the edges of what is frankly a generational challenge. Reform must be wide-ranging, whole-system and expert-led; that is what we plan, and we will set out our plans in due course. I also assure the hon. Member that we are considering the place of profit in special schools. I hope she will agree that it would not be appropriate to extend the profit cap powers to a different sector before we set out a plan to deal with issues in the SEND system. We want to consider the role and function of independent special schools holistically, and we will set out our plans for SEND reform in due course.
In conclusion, through our plan for change, this Government will give children growing up in our country the best start in life. Each day, we are breaking down barriers to opportunity so that background does not determine where you end up in life—so that if you work hard, you can get on. Through its focus on driving high and rising school standards, cutting the cost of sending children to school and—as we have covered today—stopping vulnerable children falling through the cracks, this Bill represents a child-centred Government in action. That kind of Government was sadly lacking for so long, but it is back with Labour.
Question put and agreed to.
New clause 18 accordingly read a Second time, and added to the Bill.
A parliamentary bill is divided into sections called clauses.
Printed in the margin next to each clause is a brief explanatory `side-note' giving details of what the effect of the clause will be.
During the committee stage of a bill, MPs examine these clauses in detail and may introduce new clauses of their own or table amendments to the existing clauses.
When a bill becomes an Act of Parliament, clauses become known as sections.
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An intervention is when the MP making a speech is interrupted by another MP and asked to 'give way' to allow the other MP to intervene on the speech to ask a question or comment on what has just been said.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
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The Conservatives are a centre-right political party in the UK, founded in the 1830s. They are also known as the Tory party.
With a lower-case ‘c’, ‘conservative’ is an adjective which implies a dislike of change, and a preference for traditional values.
A parliamentary bill is divided into sections called clauses.
Printed in the margin next to each clause is a brief explanatory `side-note' giving details of what the effect of the clause will be.
During the committee stage of a bill, MPs examine these clauses in detail and may introduce new clauses of their own or table amendments to the existing clauses.
When a bill becomes an Act of Parliament, clauses become known as sections.
