Overview

The Children, Schools and Families Act 2010 is a UK law that made changes to how children with special educational needs are supported in schools, gave governing bodies more powers, reformed Local Safeguarding Children Boards, and altered the rules about publishing information from family court proceedings.

Description

The Act has three main parts. Part 1 focuses on children and schools. It strengthens school inspection processes to ensure the needs of children with disabilities and special educational needs are adequately addressed. It also grants parents greater rights to appeal decisions relating to their child's statement of special educational needs. Further, it provides for more flexibility in providing education to ill or excluded children, and extends the powers of school governing bodies, allowing them to establish companies to run academies and provide community facilities.

Part 2 concerns family proceedings. It introduced significant changes to the rules on publishing information relating to family court cases. The aim was to balance the public's right to know with the need to protect the privacy and safety of individuals involved in these cases, particularly children. It creates a system of permitted publications, with restrictions on identifying information and sensitive personal data. This part also defines what constitutes a contempt of court in relation to such publications and outlines appeal processes. An independent review of this part's operation was mandated.

Part 3 covers miscellaneous and final provisions, including amendments to other acts relating to complaints procedures in schools and the fees for pre-registration inspections of independent schools.

Government Spending

The Act mandates that any expenditure incurred by a Minister of the Crown in implementing its provisions, and any increases in sums payable under other enactments due to this Act, will be covered by funds provided by Parliament. No specific figures are provided in the Act itself.

Groups Affected

• Children with special educational needs and disabilities: Increased access to support and appeal rights.
• Parents of children with special educational needs: Enhanced rights of appeal concerning their children's educational plans.
• School governing bodies: Expanded powers to manage schools and provide community services.
• Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs): Enhanced powers to request information relevant to their work.
• Individuals involved in family court proceedings: Increased protection of privacy, particularly relating to children.
• News organizations and journalists: Changes to rules regarding the publication of information from family court proceedings.
• Independent educational institutions: Changes to fees for pre-registration inspections.

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