CRAE, UNICEF UK and NSPCC on behalf of the Children’s Charities Coalition, have coordinated a joint briefing ahead of Committee Stage in the House of Lords on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, now backed by 121 organisations.
The Bill presents a vital opportunity to embed stronger protections for children’s rights into UK law. Our joint briefing—led by CRAE, UNICEF UK and the NSPCC for the Children’s Charities Coalition—supports two simple but powerful amendments tabled by Baroness Lister of Burtersett with support from Baroness Blower. These will be debated at Committee Stage in the House of Lords on Thursday 18 September 2025. The amendments are backed by Baroness Bennett, Baroness Walmsley and the Bishop of Gloucester.
They would:
- Place a statutory duty on Ministers to consider children’s rights when exercising their functions relating to children’s wellbeing, social care or education (Amendment 470)
- Require Ministers and government departments to prepare and publish Child Rights Impact Assessments (CRIAs) for all relevant legislation, policies and strategic decisions (Amendment 469)
These simple, practical reforms would bring England in line with Wales, Scotland and Jersey and help ensure children’s rights are systematically considered in decisions that affect them.