Children and Social Work Bill
The BBC reports that the Department for Education will not be taking forward provisions in the Children and Social Work Bill that would allow councils to apply for exemptions from social care legislation.
Source: BBC Date: 03 March 2017
Further information: Children and Social Work Bill
Relationships education, relationships and sex education, and personal, social, health and economic education
The Department for Education (DfE) has published a policy statement on relationships education in primary schools; relationships and sex education (RSE); and personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE). This explains an amendment to the Children and Social Work Bill which places a duty on the Secretary of State to make relationships education, RSE and PSHE statutory. Draft regulations and guidance for consultation are planned for the autumn of 2017.
Source: DfE Date: 01 March 2017
Further information: Policy statement: relationships education, relationships and sex education, and personal, social, health and economic education (PDF)
Government change on controversial Child Protection opt-out
You may remember that the government had included a controversial clause into the Children and Social Work Bill that would potentially mean local authorities could opt-out of a range of child protection duties for upto six years.
The government has now agreed to ‘scrap’ the clauses from the Bill. You can read more here: Ministers’ U-turn over ‘bonfire of children’s rights’ (BBC)
