Our response to the new Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
How the new bill can best support children’s mental health and wellbeing.
The new Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - sometimes referred to as the Children's Wellbeing Bill - was published in Parliament just before Christmas. This week it was debated in Parliament for the first time by MPs from all the main parties. It will continue to be scrutinised and shaped over the coming months before any proposals become law.
The Government says the aim of this Bill is to put children and their wellbeing at the centre of the education and children’s social care systems. This is to help ensure every child can have a safe and fulfilling childhood, enabling them to succeed and thrive into adult life.
Here our CEO shares how the Bill can be strengthened to best support children’s mental health and wellbeing.
Professor Eamon McCrory, Anna Freud CEO, said: “It has been a number of years since legislation focused on children’s wellbeing has gone through parliament, so the Children's Wellbeing Bill presents a vital opportunity to transform young lives.
“We very much welcome the proposals to enhance child protection and safeguarding measures, particularly for the most vulnerable children. The introduction of free breakfast clubs in every primary school and limits to uniform costs, will also help thousands of families grappling with living costs.
“However, we need to see more of a direct focus on mental health. For example, the introduction of a national wellbeing measurement would standardise data to help inform local action. We also want to see a statutory duty to establish a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing to help ensure children and young people flourish not just academically, but socially and emotionally.
“Over the coming months, we will watch the Bill closely and work with our partners to ensure the legislation meets the mental health needs of all children and young people.”
Find out more:
As co-founders of #BeeWell, we are working with a coalition of other organisations to call for a national wellbeing measurement programme. Read the Second Reading Briefing produced by the Our Wellbeing, Our Voice Coalition ahead of the debate this week.
Find out more about the changes we want the government to make to close the gap in children and young people’s mental health in our Thinking Differently manifesto.