Children’s social care

Education Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 22 Nov 2024 Closed: 2 Feb 2026 Parliament page
In December 2023, the previous Education Committee began an important inquiry into the state of children's social care in England. Unfortunately, this work was interrupted by the General Election and the dissolution of Parliament on 30 May 2024, which meant all select committees were disbanded. Recognising the critical nature of … Read more
14 Recommendations
64 Conclusions
1 Report
8 Oral sessions
5 Letters
8 Events
Activity timeline 23 events
17 Oct
2025
Report published
15 Jul
2025
Correspondence
10 Jul
2025
Report published
23 Apr
2025
Correspondence
8 Apr
2025
Correspondence
18 Mar
2025
Oral evidence
18 Mar
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
11 Feb
2025
Oral evidence
11 Feb
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
21 Jan
2025
Oral evidence
21 Jan
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
7 Jan
2025
Correspondence
Oral evidence sessions 8 sessions
18 Mar 2025
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Children’s Social Care
Fran Oram · Department for Education Janet Daby MP · The Department for Education
11 Feb 2025
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Children’s Social Care
Dan Turnbull · Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) Georgia Sullivan Jake Hartley Lamar Mohsen Louise Fitt Mr Sam Turner · Kinship Mrs Denise Rawls · The National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL) Roger Gough · The County Councils Network (CCN)
21 Jan 2025
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Children’s Social Care
Andy Smith · Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) Anna Edmundson · National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) Annie Hudson · Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel Claire Throssell MBE Lynn Perry MBE · Barnardo’s Rob Williams · National Association of Head Teachers
17 Dec 2024
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Children’s Social Care
Councillor Arooj Shah · Local Government Association (LGA) Dr Mark Kerr · Children’s Homes Association Harriet Edwards · Sense James Bury · CoramBAAF Jo Harrison · National Network of Parent Carer Forums (NNPCF) Katharine Sacks-Jones · Become Maris Stratulis · British Association of Social Workers England Matthew Horne · Innovation Unit
30 Apr 2024
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Children’s social care
Annie Hudson · Child Safeguarding Review Panel Ms Katie Ghose · Kids Professor Michelle McManus, Professor of Safeguarding and Violence Prevention Stephen Kingdom · Disabled Children’s Partnership Tina Emory OBE · National Network of Parent Carer Forums Yvette Stanley · Ofsted
16 Apr 2024
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Children's Social Care (3/5)
Emily Frith · Adoption UK Lucille Allain · Association of Professors of Social Work Lucy Peake · Kinship Mary Jackson · Frontline Matt Clayton · Coventry City Council Sarah Thomas · The Fostering Network
26 Mar 2024
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Children’s social care
Dan Turnbull · Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) Dr Mark Kerr · Children’s Homes Association John Pearce · Association of Directors of Children’s Services Mr Andrew Isaac · Children’s Services Development Group Ms Lucy Croxton · Together Trust Roger Gough · The County Councils Network (CCN) Stuart Ashley · Hampshire County Council
27 Feb 2024
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Children’s social care
Dinithi Wijedasa · Bristol University Dr Ray Jones · Kingston University June Thoburn CBE · University of East Anglia Katharine Sacks-Jones · Become Lynn Perry MBE · Barnardo’s Will McMahon · Care Leavers’ Association
Title HC No. Published Items Response
4th Report - Children’s social care HC 430 10 Jul 2025 78 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
6 results
Clear
6 Recommendation Accepted in Part
4th Report - Children’s social care
Commit to making Families First permanent and restore early intervention funding to 2010 levels.
The Department for Education must commit to making the Families First Partnership programme permanent if it demonstrates a positive impact. The Government must ensure that a significant majority of the new funding announced in the Spending Review is allocated to … Read more
Government Response
The government commits to increasing funding for the Families First Partnership Programme by £300 million over two years (2026-28), continuing £523 million investment annually until 2028-29, and allocating an additional £18 million for 2025-26, with grant conditions ensuring use for preventative services.
Department for Education
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40 Conclusion Accepted in Part
4th Report - Children’s social care
Make Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund permanent; consult on a support plan.
The Department must end the annual cliff-edge of uncertainty faced by adoptive families and make funding for the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund permanent. It should monitor the impact of the reduced funding limits after 12 months of the … Read more
Government Response
The government confirmed the ASGSF will continue until 2026-27, not permanently, and will monitor funding limit impacts but without committing to increasing limits. It noted a new Adoption Support Plan rollout, but not a consultation on a plan with appropriate duties as recommended.
Department for Education
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44 Recommendation Accepted in Part
4th Report - Children’s social care
Unacceptable placement of vulnerable children in unsuitable homes, requiring full care provision for all.
It is unacceptable that vulnerable children are being placed in unsuitable homes such as barges and caravans with little or no support. The new regulatory and inspection regime is an important step in the right direction, but the Department for … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees unsuitable settings are unacceptable and points to existing Quality Standards, but states it is focusing on updating out-dated National Minimum Standards and working with Ofsted on inspection reform, rather than developing a single universal set of standards as implied by the recommendation for all children to receive care.
Department for Education
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46 Recommendation Accepted in Part
4th Report - Children’s social care
Serious recruitment and retention problems in children's social care workforce require wholesale review.
There is a serious problem with recruitment and retention in the social care workforce. High turnover and overstretched staff are exacerbating the instability experienced by children in care and increase the risk of 89 safeguarding concerns being overlooked. The Department … Read more
Government Response
The government recognises the importance of the social care workforce and outlines several ongoing initiatives to improve recruitment, retention, and training, including gathering evidence and shaping future workforce support through the Families First Partnership Programme, and reviewing qualifications for residential care, but does not commit to a single wholesale review of the entire workforce.
Department for Education
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72 Conclusion Accepted in Part
4th Report - Children’s social care
Care leavers face poorest outcomes due to insufficient support and limited Bill measures.
Care leavers have some of the poorest outcomes in society across a range of measures, and the support available to them falls far short of what is needed. The state has a grave responsibility to the children it takes 93 … Read more
Government Response
The government will implement a national Staying Close support package through the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill to help care leavers with accommodation and independent living. It also notes ongoing cross-government activity to improve support for care experienced adults.
Department for Education
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73 Conclusion Accepted in Part
4th Report - Children’s social care
Care leavers face unacceptable financial hardship compromising their education upon turning 18.
It is unacceptable that young people are left to support themselves financially on turning 18 while still in full-time education and face having to reduce time spent in education or drop out completely to support themselves. No responsible parent would … Read more
Government Response
The government will introduce a national Staying Close support package via the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill to help care leavers with accommodation and independent living. It also notes ongoing cross-government work to improve adult care support.
Department for Education
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Government Response AI assessment · 78 of 14 classified
Accepted 45
Accepted in Part 6
Acknowledged 15
Deferred 5
Not Addressed 3
Rejected 4
Total 14 recs + 64 conclusions
Correspondence 5 letters
15 Jul 2025 To committee Letter from Minister for Children and Families on New Children's Homes dated 09.07.25
Parliament page
23 Apr 2025 To committee Letter from Minister for Children and Families on Children's Social Care, dated 08.04.25
Parliament page
8 Apr 2025 From committee Letter to Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Children and Families) on Children's Social Care, dated 24.03.25
Parliament page
7 Jan 2025 To committee letter from Maris Stratulis, National Director, BASW England on Children's Social Care, dated 02.01.25
Parliament page
24 May 2024 Correspondence to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children, Families and Wellbeing on the Committee's inquiry into Children's social care
Parliament page