Child protection and safeguarding: Education Committee questions experts
The Education Committee will examine ways to improve child protection services and relevant proposals in the Government’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.
Meeting details
The session will explore safeguarding in England and what can be done to prevent cases like that of Sara Sharif reoccurring.
Government data has shown a decrease over recent years in the number of children on child protection plans. But the cross-party Committee will question whether this reflects an improving situation around the country, or if local social services are struggling to cope with demand.
There will also be questions about striking a balance between improving early intervention before cases result in serious harm, while ensuring families of potentially vulnerable children do not feel threatened or stigmatised in the process.
Witnesses will also be asked to comment on the proposal of introducing a mandatory reporting duty – a recommendation made following the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse led by Professor Alexis Jay.
A second panel of witnesses representing the schools and social care sectors, as well as the Chair of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel, will be asked about reforms in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.
There will be questions about provisions in the Bill to promote multi-agency working between schools, social services and police, and for schools to have a statutory role in safeguarding vulnerable children. The Independent Review of Children's Social Care described “fraught” relationships between social care and education professionals, with the latter at times kept out of safeguarding decisions.
The Committee will ask witnesses about the Bill’s proposal for a register of children not in school and how it would be administered, and for restrictions on children being homeschooled by parents or carers when social workers have concerns for their safety.
The second panel will also be questioned on whether the children’s social care workforce is sufficiently resourced, and for their views on the Alexis Jay inquiry recommendation for a mandatory reporting duty for child sexual abuse.