Children and Families Act 2014
| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| Long title | An Act to make provision about children, families, and people with special educational needs or disabilities; to make provision about the right to request flexible working; and for connected purposes. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 2014 c. 6 |
| Introduced by | Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Education (Commons) Lord Nash, Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Education (Lords) |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 13 March 2014 |
Status: Current legislation | |
| History of passage through Parliament | |
| Text of the Children and Families Act 2014 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The Children and Families Act 2014 is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom relating to family law.
Provisions
[edit]The right to request flexible working was extended to all employees with rather than just parents and carers.[1]
The adoption process through the courts is sped up.[1] At the time of the passage of the legislation, there were 6,000 children to be adopted.[2]
The act bans the purchase of tobacco or cigarette papers on the behalf of individuals who are under the age of 18.[3]
The act established a system of education, health and care plans for pupils with special educational needs which is extended from birth to age 25.[2]
New parents can access shared parental leave and pay in relation to babies born after 5 April 2015 with up to 52 weeks spread across both parents.[1][4]
Councils are required to havea virtual school head.[1]
Schools and providers are allowed to establish childminder agencies.[2] The legal duty of local authorities to carry out childcare sufficiency assessments was removed.[2] The right of nurseries and childminders to request an Ofsted inspection was also removed.[2]
Reception
[edit]The Labour Party criticised the legislation for not removing the right to mainstream education from pupils with special educational needs.[5]
The measures relating to childminder agencies were largely criticised by existing childminders and early years organisations.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Children and Families Bill to be published today". ITV News. 5 February 2013. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "Children and Families Bill becomes law". Nursery World. 13 March 2014. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
- ^ "Children and Families Bill". Democracy Live. BBC News. 4 February 2014. Archived from the original on 14 March 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
- ^ Moss, Rob (14 March 2014). "Children and Families Bill receives Royal Assent". Personnel Today. Archived from the original on 16 August 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
- ^ "Peers continue scrutiny of Children and Families Bill". Democracy Live. BBC News. 8 January 2014. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.