Members of Parliament discuss child safeguarding, teacher salaries, and investigate grooming gang activities.

January 8, 2025 TruthUSA

The progress of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill could be hindered if a Conservative-proposed amendment is approved by Parliament on Wednesday.

The House of Commons convened on Wednesday for the second reading of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, a legislative effort aimed at fortifying child protection and enhancing educational standards in England.

The government introduced the bill earlier this year to bridge gaps in safeguarding measures and elevate the quality of education for all children.

One of the key provisions is the establishment of a register for children not attending school, in line with Labour’s manifesto commitment, and granting local authorities the authority to inspect family homes and ensure school attendance if the environment is deemed unsuitable or unsafe.

The push for this measure gained momentum following the tragic case of Sara Sharif, a 10-year-old who was tragically killed by her father and stepmother after being withdrawn from school months prior.

In her address to Parliament, Liberal Democrats’ education spokeswoman Munira Wilson emphasized the importance of a register for children not in school in safeguarding those at risk of abuse.

The bill will empower local authorities to assess the appropriateness of home environments for children, with the ability to mandate school attendance if the environment is deemed unsafe, overriding parental preferences.

Although the measure has received positive responses from campaigners, advocates for home education have voiced concerns about what they perceive as a diminishing of parental rights.

Former Conservative minister Graham Stuart highlighted that schoolchildren spend approximately 86% of their time outside of school, noting that children at risk are often already under the scrutiny of social services.

“A failure of social services, which requires rectification, is frequently conflated with home education, which is distinct,” he informed MPs.

Teachers’ Salaries

Within the legislation, there are provisions to standardize teacher salaries and conditions in all state-funded schools in England.

Currently, academies have the autonomy to set their own salary scales and working conditions. The majority of academies currently adhere to the existing pay and conditions framework, and the bill will formalize this practice after September 2026, according to the Department for Education.

Responding to concerns about the impact on certain academies that offer increased pay to attract and retain talent, especially in challenging areas, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson reassured that teachers’ pay will not be impacted.

However, the Conservative Party expressed apprehensions that the measure would “effectively eliminate” academy freedoms, leading to poorer outcomes for students.

Screen grab of Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch speaking during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, London, on Jan. 8, 2025. (PA) — Screen grab of Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons, London, on Jan. 8, 2025. PA

Grooming Gangs

Earlier, the Conservatives proposed an amendment to the bill, advocating for the inclusion of a national inquiry into grooming gangs. If endorsed by MPs in a vote scheduled for Wednesday, the amendment could disrupt the bill’s progression.

The proposition comes amidst a contentious debate between the government and the opposition, spearheaded by Kemi Badenoch, who has emphasized the necessity of a new national inquiry into cases of child sexual abuse.

Considering Labour’s parliamentary majority, it is expected that the amendment will be rejected in the Commons. The government’s focus is on implementing the recommendations of the 2022 Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) led by Alexis Jay rather than initiating a new inquiry.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed his shock at the idea of any MP voting down a bill designed to safeguard “the most vulnerable in our society.”

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage affirmed that his party would fund an inquiry into child sexual abuse if the government failed to do so.

Further in the session, MPs also heard from another Reform UK member, Rupert Lowe, who posed numerous questions, including the government’s stance on the deportation of foreign nationals convicted in child sexual abuse cases.

School Lunches

Other provisions in the bill aim to assist with school uniform expenses and introduce free breakfast clubs in all state-funded primary schools in England. The nationwide rollout of free breakfast clubs is slated for September 2026, with some launching as soon as April 2025.

Former teacher and Labour MP Steve Witherden welcomed this initiative and urged the government to extend the program to secondary school students and consider providing free school lunches.

Liberal Democrats’ Wilson emphasized to Parliament that access to midday meals will positively impact students’ learning outcomes.

“We must also acknowledge that hunger persists beyond 11. Breakfast clubs are beneficial, but expanding lunch provision is a more ambitious step and one that would have a greater impact on addressing child hunger,” she remarked.

Phillipson assured MPs that the government would continue to monitor developments regarding school meals.

PA Media contributed to this report.

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