The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill is scheduled for second reading in the House of Lords on 1 May 2025. The bill would make a number of changes to children’s social care and schools.
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (655 KB , PDF)
Part 1 of the bill includes measures aimed at improving the wellbeing of children, such as provisions to further regulate children’s homes and increase support for care leavers. Part 2 includes measures concerning schools such as the introduction of free breakfast clubs in state primary schools, introducing a register of children not in school and a number of measures about academies.
Many proposals in the bill, particularly in part 1 of the bill, have cross-party support. Some proposals on schools, particularly with regards to academies, have been more contentious. No non-government amendments were made during the bill’s passage in the House of Commons; there were several government amendments. The Education Committee chair, amongst others, expressed concern regarding the speed of the bill’s passage and number of government amendments at a later stage of the bill.
The majority of the bill’s measures would extend to England and Wales and apply to England. Most measures in the bill would come into force on a day specified in regulations by the secretary of state. Some would come into force two months after the act was passed.
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (655 KB , PDF)
On 6 March 2025, the House of Lords is scheduled to hold a debate marking International Women’s Day focused on the steps being taken to promote women’s participation and leadership in science and technology. The motion for the debate is sponsored by Baroness Gustafsson, the government minister for investment. This briefing provides an overview of data and research in this area, as well as information on government policy.
The Education (Assemblies) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill introduced by Baroness Burt of Solihull (Liberal Democrat). It would repeal the requirement for schools in England without a designated religious character to provide daily acts of collective religious worship. In its place, the bill would establish a new duty to provide non-religious assemblies which develop the spiritual, moral, social, and cultural education of pupils.
![Education (Assemblies) Bill [HL]:HL Bill 35 of 2024-25](https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/content/uploads/sites/2/2020/01/Government-VIGS-568x426.jpg)
The government has identified the creative industries as one of eight “growth driving” sectors it will prioritise in its industrial strategy. The strategy is due to be published later this year, along with a creative industries sector plan. The creative industries have called on barriers to growth, such as skills gaps and access to funding, to be addressed in the sector plan.
