Legalize / United Kingdom / Public General Act

Children Act 1989

Type Public General Act

Publication 1989-11-16

Last updated 2026-08-27

State In force

Department Statute Law Database

Source legislation.gov.uk

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articles Not indexed

An Act to reform the law relating to children; to provide for local authority services for children in need and others; to amend the law with respect to children’s homes, community homes, voluntary homes and voluntary organisations; to make provision with respect to fostering, child minding and day care for young children and adoption; and for connected purposes.

Reform history JSON API

(4) Any objection made under subsection (3) may be made orally or in writing, by the recipient of the notice or a representative.

(5) If the Assembly , after giving the person concerned an opportunity to object to the step being taken, decides nevertheless to take it, it shall send him written notice of its decision.

(6) A step of a kind mentioned in subsection (1)(b) or (c) shall not take effect until the expiry of the time within which an appeal may be brought under section 79M or, where such an appeal is brought, before its determination.

(7) Subsection (6) does not prevent a step from taking effect before the expiry of the time within which an appeal may be brought under section 79M if the person concerned notifies the Assembly in writing that he does not intend to appeal.

Appeals.

79M

(1) An appeal against—

(a) the taking of any step mentioned in section 79L(1); . . .

(b) an order under section 79K, or

(c) a determination made by the Assembly under this Part (other than one falling within paragraph (a) or (b)) which is of a prescribed description,

shall lie to the First-tier Tribunal.

(2) On an appeal, the First-tier Tribunal may—

(a) confirm the taking of the step or the making of the order or determination or direct that it shall not have, or shall cease to have, effect; and

(b) impose, vary or cancel any condition.

Inspection: England

General functions of the Chief Inspector.

79N

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Early years child care inspectorate.

79P

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Inspection of provision of child minding and day care in England.

79Q

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Reports of inspections.

79R

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Inspection: Wales

General functions of the Assembly.

79S

(1) The Assembly may secure the provision of training for persons who provide or assist in providing child minding or day care, or intend to do so.

(2) In relation to child minding and day care provided in Wales, the Assembly shall have any additional function specified in regulations made by the Assembly; . . .

Inspection: Wales.

79T

(1) The Assembly may at any time require any registered person to provide it with any information connected with the person’s activities as a child minder or provision of day care which the Assembly considers it necessary to have for the purposes of its functions under this Part.

(2) The Assembly may by regulations make provision—

(a) for the inspection of . . . child minding provided in Wales by registered persons and of day care provided by registered persons on premises in Wales;

(b) for the publication of reports of the inspections in such manner as the Assembly considers appropriate.

(3) The regulations may provide for the inspections to be organised by—

(a) the Assembly; or

(b) Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales, or any other person, under arrangements made with the Assembly.

(4) The regulations may provide for subsections (2) to (4) of section 29 of the Education Act 2005 to apply with modifications in relation to the publication of reports under the regulations.

Supplementary

Rights of entry etc.

79U

(1) Any person authorised for the purposes of this subsection by the Assembly may at any reasonable time enter any premises in . . . Wales on which child minding or day care is at any time provided.

(2) Where a person who is authorised for the purposes of this subsection by the Assembly has reasonable cause to believe that a child is being looked after on any premises in contravention of this Part, he may enter those premises at any reasonable time.

(2A) Authorisation under subsection (1) or (2)—

(a) may be given for a particular occasion or period;

(b) may be given subject to conditions.

(3) A person entering premises under this section may (subject to any conditions imposed under subsection (2A)(b))—

(a) inspect the premises;

(b) inspect, and take copies of—

(i) any records kept by the person providing the child minding or day care; and

(ii) any other documents containing information relating to its provision;

(c) seize and remove any document or other material or thing found there which he has reasonable grounds to believe may be evidence of a failure to comply with any condition or requirement imposed by or under this Part;

(d) require any person to afford him such facilities and assistance with respect to matters within the person’s control as are necessary to enable him to exercise his powers under this section;

(e) take measurements and photographs or make recordings;

(f) inspect any children being looked after there, and the arrangements made for their welfare;

(g) interview in private the person providing the child minding or day care; and

(h) interview in private any person looking after children, or living or working, there who consents to be interviewed.

(4) Section 58 of the Education Act 2005 (inspection of computer records for purposes of Part I of that Act) shall apply for the purposes of subsection (3) as it applies for the purposes of Part I of that Act.

(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6) A person exercising any power conferred by this section shall, if so required, produce some duly authenticated document showing his authority to do so.

(7) It shall be an offence wilfully to obstruct a person exercising any such power.

(8) Any person guilty of an offence under subsection (7) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

(9) In this section—

. . .

“documents” and “records” each include information recorded in any form.

Function of local authorities.

79V

Each local authority in Wales shall, in accordance with regulations, secure the provision—

(a) of information and advice about child minding and day care; and

(b) of training for persons who provide or assist in providing child minding or day care.

Checks on suitability of persons working with children over the age of seven

Requirement for certificate of suitability.

79W

(1) This section applies to any person not required to register under this Part who looks after, or provides care for, children in Wales and meets the following conditions.

(2) The first condition is that the period, or the total of the periods, in any week which he spends looking after children or (as the case may be) during which the children are looked after exceeds five hours.

(3) The second condition is that he would be required to register under this Part (or, as the case may be, this Part if it were subject to prescribed modifications) if the children were under the age of eight.

(4) Regulations may require a person to whom this section applies to hold a certificate issued by the Assembly as to his suitability, and the suitability of each prescribed person, to look after children.

(5) The regulations may make provision about—

(a) applications for certificates;

(b) the matters to be taken into account by the Assembly in determining whether to issue certificates;

(d) the period of their validity.

(6) The regulations may provide that a person to whom this section applies shall be guilty of an offence—

(a) if he does not hold a certificate as required by the regulations; or

(b) if, being a person who holds such a certificate, he fails to produce it when reasonably required to do so by a prescribed person.

(7) The regulations may provide that a person who, for the purpose of obtaining such a certificate, knowingly makes a statement which is false or misleading in a material particular shall be guilty of an offence.

(8) The regulations may provide that a person guilty of an offence under the regulations shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

Time limit for proceedings

Time limit for proceedings.

79X

Proceedings for an offence under this Part or regulations made under it may be brought within a period of six months from the date on which evidence sufficient in the opinion of the prosecutor to warrant the proceedings came to his knowledge; but no such proceedings shall be brought by virtue of this section more than three years after the commission of the offence.

Part XI — Secretary of State’s Supervisory Functions and Responsibilities

Inspection of children’s homes etc. by persons authorised by the Appropriate National Authority.

80

(1) The Appropriate National Authority may cause to be inspected from time to time any—

(a) private children’s home in England;

(b) premises in which a child who is being looked after by a local authority is living;

(c) premises in which a child who is being accommodated by or on behalf of a local authority in the exercise of education functions or a voluntary organisation is living;

(d) premises in which a child who is being accommodated by or on behalf of a Local Health Board, Special Health Authority ... , National Health Service trust or NHS foundation trust or pursuant to arrangements made by the Appropriate National Authority, NHS England or an integrated care board under the National Health Service Act 2006 is living;

(e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(f) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(g) premises in which a privately fostered child, or child who is treated as a foster child by virtue of paragraph 9 of Schedule 8, is living or in which it is proposed that he will live;

(h) premises on which any person is acting as a child minder;

(i) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(j) care home in England or independent hospital used to accommodate children;

(k) premises which are provided by a local authority and in which any service is provided by that authority under Part III;

(l) school or college providing accommodation for any child;

(2) An inspection under this section shall be conducted by a person authorised to do so by the Appropriate National Authority.

(3) An officer of a local authority shall not be so authorised except with the consent of that authority.

(4) The Appropriate National Authority may require any person of a kind mentioned in subsection (5) to furnish it with such information, or allow it to inspect such records (in whatever form they are held), relating to—

(a) any premises to which subsection (1) or, in relation to Scotland, subsection (1)(h) or (i) applies;

(b) any child who is living in any such premises;

(d) the discharge by any local authority of any of their functions under this Act,

as the Appropriate National Authority may at any time direct.

(5) The persons are any—

(a) local authority;

(b) voluntary organisation;

(d) proprietor of an independent school or governing body of any other school;

(da) governing body of an institution designated under section 28 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992;

(db) further education corporation;

(dc) sixth form college corporation;

(dd) proprietor of a 16 to 19 Academy;

(e) person fostering any privately fostered child or providing accommodation for a child on behalf of a local authority, ... Local Health Board, Special Health Authority ... National Health Service trust , NHS foundation trust or voluntary organisation;

(ea) person providing accommodation for a child pursuant to arrangements made by the Secretary of State, NHS England or an integrated care board under the National Health Service Act 2006;

(f) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(g) person employed in a teaching or administrative capacity at any educational establishment (whether or not maintained by a local authority) at which a child is accommodated on behalf of a local authority . . . ;

(h) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(hh) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(i) person carrying on any home of a kind mentioned in subsection (1)(j).

(j) person carrying on a fostering agency.

(6) Any person inspecting any home or other premises under this section may—

(a) inspect the children there; and

(b) make such examination into the state and management of the home or premises and the treatment of the children there as he thinks fit.

(7) Any person authorised by the Appropriate National Authority to exercise the power to inspect records conferred by subsection (4)—

(a) shall be entitled at any reasonable time to have access to, and inspect and check the operation of, any computer and any associated apparatus or material which is or has been in use in connection with the records in question; and

(b) may require—

(i) the person by whom or on whose behalf the computer is or has been so used; or

(ii) any person having charge of, or otherwise concerned with the operation of, the computer, apparatus or material,

to afford him such reasonable assistance as he may require.

(8) A person authorised to inspect any premises under this section shall have a right to enter the premises for that purpose, and for any purpose specified in subsection (4), at any reasonable time.

(9) Any person exercising that power shall, if so required, produce some duly authenticated document showing his authority to do so.

(10) Any person who intentionally obstructs another in the exercise of that power shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(11) The Appropriate National Authority may by order provide for subsections (1), (4) and (6) not to apply in relation to such homes, or other premises, as may be specified in the order.

(11A) But subsections (1), (4) and (6) do not apply if—

(a) the Appropriate National Authority is the Welsh Ministers; and

(b) the inspection relates to a private children’s home or a care home (see, instead the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 (anaw 2)).

(12) Without prejudice to section 104, any such order may make different provision with respect to each of those subsections.

(13) In this section—

“college” means an institution within the further education sector as defined in section 91 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 or a 16 to 19 Academy;

“fostering agency” has the same meaning as in the Care Standards Act 2000;

“further education corporation” has the same meaning as in the Further and Higher Education Act 1992.

“sixth form college corporation” has the same meaning as in that Act.

“proprietor” has the same meaning as in the Education Act 1996.

(14) In this section “Appropriate National Authority” means—

(a) in relation to England, the Secretary of State; and

(b) in relation to Wales, the Welsh Ministers.

Inquiries.

81

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Financial support by Secretary of State.

82

(1) The Secretary of State may (with the consent of the Treasury) defray or contribute towards—

(a) any fees or expenses incurred by any person undergoing approved child care training;

(b) any fees charged, or expenses incurred, by any person providing approved child care training or preparing material for use in connection with such training; or

(2) The Secretary of State may make grants to local authorities in respect of expenditure incurred by them in providing secure accommodation in community homes other than assisted community homes.

(3) Where—

(a) a grant has been made under subsection (2) with respect to any secure accommodation; but

(b) the grant is not used for the purpose for which it was made or the accommodation is not used as, or ceases to be used as, secure accommodation,

the Secretary of State may (with the consent of the Treasury) require the authority concerned to repay the grant, in whole or in part.

(4) The Secretary of State may make grants to voluntary organisations towards—

(a) expenditure incurred by them in connection with the establishment, maintenance or improvement of voluntary homes which, at the time when the expenditure was incurred—

(i) were assisted community homes; or

(ii) were designated as such; or

(b) expenses incurred in respect of the borrowing of money to defray any such expenditure.

(5) The Secretary of State may arrange for the provision, equipment and maintenance of homes for the accommodation of children who are in need of particular facilities and services which—

(a) are or will be provided in those homes; and

(b) in the opinion of the Secretary of State, are unlikely to be readily available in community homes.

(6) In this Part—

“child care training” means training undergone by any person with a view to, or in the course of—

(a) his employment for the purposes of any of the functions mentioned in section 83(9) or in connection with the adoption of children or with the accommodation of children in a care home or independent hospital; or

(b) his employment by a voluntary organisation for similar purposes;

“approved child care training” means child care training which is approved by the Secretary of State; and

“secure accommodation” means accommodation provided for the purpose of restricting the liberty of children.

(7) Any grant made under this section shall be of such amount, and shall be subject to such conditions, as the Secretary of State may (with the consent of the Treasury) determine.

Research and returns of information.

83

(1) The Secretary of State may conduct, or assist other persons in conducting, research into any matter connected with—

(a) his functions, or the functions of local authorities, under the enactments mentioned in subsection (9);

(aa) the functions of—

(i) the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel;

(ii) safeguarding partners (within the meaning given by section 16E(3) of the Children Act 2004) in relation to local authority areas in England;

(iii) child death review partners (within the meaning given by section 16Q(2) of the Children Act 2004) in relation to local authority areas in England;

(b) the adoption of children; or

(2) Any local authority may conduct, or assist other persons in conducting, research into any matter connected with—

(a) their functions under the enactments mentioned in subsection (9);

(aa) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b) the adoption of children; or

(3) Every local authority shall, at such times and in such form as the Secretary of State may direct, transmit to him such particulars as he may require with respect to—

(a) the performance by the local authority of all or any of their functions—

(i) under the enactments mentioned in subsection (9); or

(ii) in connection with the accommodation of children in a care home or independent hospital; and

(b) the children in relation to whom the authority have exercised those functions.;...

(4) Every voluntary organisation shall, at such times and in such form as the Secretary of State may direct, transmit to him such particulars as he may require with respect to children accommodated by them or on their behalf.

(4A) Particulars required to be transmitted under subsection (3) or (4) may include particulars relating to and identifying individual children.

(5) The Secretary of State may direct an officer of the family court to transmit—

(a) to such person as may be specified in the direction; and

(b) at such times and in such form as he may direct,

such particulars as he may require with respect to proceedings of the court which relate to children.

(6) The Secretary of State shall in each year lay before Parliament a consolidated and classified abstract of the information transmitted to him under subsections (3) to (5).

(7) The Secretary of State may institute research designed to provide information on which requests for information under this section may be based.

(8) The Secretary of State shall keep under review the adequacy of the provision of child care training and for that purpose shall receive and consider any information from or representations made by—

(a) the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work;

(b) such representatives of local authorities as appear to him to be appropriate; or

concerning the provision of such training.

(9) The enactments are—

(a) this Act;

(b) the Children and Young Persons Acts 1933 to 1969;

(ca) Part 1 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002;

(cb) the Children Act 2004;

(cc) the Children and Young Persons Act 2008.

(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Local authority failure to comply with statutory duty: default power of Secretary of State.

84

(1) If the Secretary of State is satisfied that any local authority has failed, without reasonable excuse, to comply with any of the duties imposed on them by or under this Act he may make an order declaring that authority to be in default with respect to that duty.

(2) An order under subsection (1) shall give the Secretary of State’s reasons for making it.

(3) An order under subsection (1) may contain such directions for the purpose of ensuring that the duty is complied with, within such period as may be specified in the order, as appear to the Secretary of State to be necessary.

(4) Any such direction shall, on the application of the Secretary of State, be enforceable by mandamus.

Part XII — Miscellaneous and General

Notification of children accommodated in certain establishments

Children accommodated by health authorities and local education authorities.

85

(1) Where a child is provided with accommodation in England by any ..., Special Health Authority, ... National Health Service trust or NHS foundation trust or by a local authority in England in the exercise of education functions (“the accommodating authority”)—

(a) for a consecutive period of at least three months; or

(b) with the intention, on the part of that authority, of accommodating him for such a period,

the accommodating authority shall notify the appropriate officer of the responsible authority.

(2) Where subsection (1) applies with respect to a child, the accommodating authority shall also notify the appropriate officer of the responsible authority when they cease to accommodate the child.

(2ZA) Where a child is provided with accommodation—

(a) by a body which is not mentioned in subsection (1), and

(b) pursuant to arrangements made by the Secretary of State, NHS England or an integrated care board under the National Health Service Act 2006,

subsections (1) and (2) apply in relation to the Secretary of State, NHS England or (as the case may be) the integrated care board as if it were the accommodating authority.

(2A) In a case where the child is provided with accommodation in England by a local authority in England in the exercise of education functions, subsections (1) and (2) apply only if the local authority providing the accommodation is different from the responsible authority.

(3) In this section “the responsible authority” means—

(a) the local authority appearing to the accommodating authority to be the authority within whose area the child was ordinarily resident immediately before being accommodated; or

(b) where it appears to the accommodating authority that a child was not ordinarily resident within the area of any local authority, the local authority within whose area the accommodation is situated.

(3A) In this section and sections 86 and 86A “ the appropriate officer ” means—

(a) in relation to a local authority in England, their director of children's services; and

(b) in relation to a local authority in Wales, their director of social services.

(4) Where the appropriate officer of a local authority in England has been notified under this section, or under section 120 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (assessment of children accommodated by health authorities and education authorities), the local authority shall—

(a) take such steps as are reasonably practicable to enable them to determine whether the child’s welfare is adequately safeguarded and promoted while he is accommodated by the accommodating authority; and

(b) consider the extent to which (if at all) they should exercise any of their functions under this Act with respect to the child.

(5) For the purposes of subsection (4)(b), if the child is not in the area of the local authority, they must treat him as if he were in that area.

Children accommodated in care homes or independent hospitals.

86

(1) Where a child is provided with accommodation in England in any care home or independent hospital—

(a) for a consecutive period of at least three months; or

(b) with the intention, on the part of the person taking the decision to accommodate him, of accommodating him for such period,

the person carrying on the establishment in question shall notify the appropriate officer of the local authority within whose area the establishment is carried on.

(2) Where subsection (1) applies with respect to a child, the person carrying on the establishment shall also notify the appropriate officer of that authority when he ceases to accommodate the child in the establishment .

(3) Where the appropriate officer of a local authority has been notified under this section, the local authority shall—

(a) take such steps as are reasonably practicable to enable them to determine whether the child’s welfare is adequately safeguarded and promoted while he is accommodated in the establishment in question ; and

(b) consider the extent to which (if at all) they should exercise any of their functions under this Act with respect to the child.

(4) If the person carrying on any care home or independent hospital fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with this section he shall be guilty of an offence.

(5) A person authorised by a local authority in England may enter any care home or independent hospital within the authority’s area for the purpose of establishing whether the requirements of this section have been complied with.

(6) Any person who intentionally obstructs another in the exercise of the power of entry shall be guilty of an offence.

(7) Any person exercising the power of entry shall, if so required, produce some duly authenticated document showing his authority to do so.

(8) Any person committing an offence under this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

Visitors for children notified to local authority ...

86A

(1) This section applies if the appropriate officer of a local authority in England—

(a) has been notified with respect to a child under section 85(1) or 86(1) “, or under section 120(2)(a) of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014; and

(b) has not been notified with respect to that child under section 85(2) , 86(2), or under section 120(2)(b) of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, as the case may be.

(2) The local authority must, in accordance with regulations made under this section, make arrangements for the child to be visited by a representative of the authority (“a representative”).

(3) It is the function of a representative to provide advice and assistance to the local authority on the performance of their duties under section 85(4) or, as the case may be, 86(3).

(4) Regulations under this section may make provision about—

(a) the frequency of visits under visiting arrangements;

(b) circumstances in which visiting arrangements must require a child to be visited; and

(5) Regulations under this section are to be made by the Secretary of State ....

(6) In choosing a representative a local authority must satisfy themselves that the person chosen has the necessary skills and experience to perform the functions of a representative.

(7) In this section “ visiting arrangements ” means arrangements made under subsection (2).

Welfare of children in boarding schools and colleges.

87

(1) Where a school or college provides accommodation for any child, it shall be the duty of the relevant person to safeguard and promote the child’s welfare.

(1A) For the purposes of this section and sections 87A to 87D, a school or college provides accommodation for a child if—

(a) it provides accommodation for the child on its own premises, or

(b) it arranges for accommodation for the child to be provided elsewhere (other than in connection with a residential trip away from the school).

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to a school or college which is a children’s home or care home.

(3) Where accommodation is provided for a child by any school or college the appropriate authority shall take such steps as are reasonably practicable to enable them to determine whether the child’s welfare is adequately safeguarded and promoted while accommodation for the child is provided by the school or college.

(3A) Where accommodation is provided for a child by a school or college in England, the Secretary of State may at any time (including a time when the duty under subsection (3) is suspended by virtue of section 87A) direct the Chief Inspector for England to take the steps referred to in subsection (3).

(3B) Where accommodation is provided for a child by a school or college in Wales, the Welsh Ministers may, at any time when the duty under subsection (3) is suspended by virtue of section 87A, take the steps referred to in subsection (3).

(4) Where the Chief Inspector for England is of the opinion that there has been a failure to comply with subsection (1) in relation to a child provided with accommodation by a school or college in England, he shall—

(a) in the case of a school other than an independent school , an alternative provision Academy that is not an independent school or a special school, notify the local authority for the area in which the school is situated;

(b) in the case of a special school which is maintained by a local authority, notify that authority;

(4A) Where the National Assembly for Wales are of the opinion that there has been a failure to comply with subsection (1) in relation to a child provided with accommodation by a school or college in Wales, they shall—

(a) in the case of a school other than an independent school or a special school, notify the local authority for the area in which the school is situated;

(b) in the case of a special school which is maintained by a local authority, notify that authority.

(5) Where accommodation is, or is to be, provided for a child by any school or college, a person authorised by the appropriate authority may, for the purpose of enabling that authority to discharge any of its functions under this section, enter at any time premises which are, or are to be, premises of the school or college.

(6) Any person exercising the power conferred by subsection (5) may carry out such inspection of premises, children and records as is prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this section.

(7) Any person exercising that power shall, if asked to do so, produce some duly authenticated document showing his authority to do so.

(8) Any person authorised by the regulations to inspect records—

(a) shall be entitled at any reasonable time to have access to, and inspect and check the operation of, any computer and any associated apparatus or material which is or has been in use in connection with the records in question; and

(b) may require—

(i) the person by whom or on whose behalf the computer is or has been so used; or

(ii) any person having charge of, or otherwise concerned with the operation of, the computer, apparatus or material,

to afford him such assistance as he may reasonably require.

(9) Any person who intentionally obstructs another in the exercise of any power conferred by this section or the regulations shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(9A) Where the Chief Inspector for England or the National Assembly for Wales exercises the power conferred by subsection (5) in relation to a child, that authority must publish a report on whether the child’s welfare is adequately safeguarded and promoted while accommodation for the child is provided by the school or college.

(9B) Where the Chief Inspector for England or the National Assembly for Wales publishes a report under this section, it must—

(a) send a copy of the report to the school or college concerned; and

(b) make copies of the report available for inspection at its offices by any person at any reasonable time.

(9C) Any person who requests a copy of a report published under this section is entitled to have one on payment of such reasonable fee (if any) as the Chief Inspector for England or the National Assembly for Wales (as the case may be) considers appropriate.

(10) In this section and sections 87A to 87D—

“ the 1992 Act ” means the Further and Higher Education Act 1992;

“ appropriate authority ” means— in relation to England, the Chief Inspector for England;in relation to Wales, the National Assembly for Wales;

“ the Chief Inspector for England ” means Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills;

“ college ” means an institution within the further education sector as defined in section 91 of the 1992 Act or a 16 to 19 Academy ;

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

“ further education corporation ” has the same meaning as in the 1992 Act;

local authority and “proprietor” have the same meanings as in the Education Act 1996

“sixth form college corporation” has the same meaning as in the 1992 Act.

(11) In this section and sections 87A and 87D “ relevant person ” means—

(a) in relation to an independent school or an alternative provision Academy that is not an independent school, the proprietor of the school;

(b) in relation to any other school, or an institution designated under section 28 of the 1992 Act, the governing body of the school or institution;

(c) in relation to an institution conducted by a further education corporation or sixth form college corporation, the corporation.

(d) in relation to a 16 to 19 Academy, the proprietor of the Academy.

(12) Where a person other than the proprietor of an independent school or an alternative provision Academy that is not an independent school is responsible for conducting the school, references in this section to the relevant person include references to the person so responsible.

Suspension of duty under section 87(3).

87A

(1) The Secretary of State may appoint a person to be an inspector for the purposes of this section if—

(a) that person already acts as an inspector for other purposes in relation to schools or colleges to which section 87(1) applies, and

(b) the Secretary of State is satisfied that the person is an appropriate person to determine whether the welfare of children provided with accommodation by such schools or colleges is adequately safeguarded and promoted while accommodation for the children is provided by them.

(2) Where—

(a) the relevant person enters into an agreement in writing with a person appointed under subsection (1),

(b) the agreement provides for the person so appointed to have in relation to the school or college the function of determining whether section 87(1) is being complied with, and

(c) the appropriate authority receive from the person mentioned in paragraph (b) (“the inspector”) notice in writing that the agreement has come into effect,

the appropriate authority’s duty under section 87(3) in relation to the school or college shall be suspended.

(3) Where the appropriate authority’s duty under section 87(3) in relation to any school or college is suspended under this section, it shall cease to be so suspended if the appropriate authority receive—

(a) a notice under subsection (4) relating to the inspector, or

(b) a notice under subsection (5) relating to the relevant agreement.

(4) The Secretary of State shall terminate a person’s appointment under subsection (1) if—

(a) that person so requests, or

(b) the Secretary of State ceases, in relation to that person, to be satisfied that he is such a person as is mentioned in paragraph (b) of that subsection,

and shall give notice of the termination of that person’s appointment to the appropriate authority.

(4A) The Secretary of State may by regulations specify matters that must be taken into account in deciding whether to appoint a person to be an inspector for the purposes of this section in relation to schools or colleges in England, or to terminate the appointment of such a person under subsection (4)(b).

(5) Where—

(a) the appropriate authority’s duty under section 87(3) in relation to any school or college is suspended under this section, and

(b) the relevant agreement ceases to have effect,

the inspector shall give to the appropriate authority notice in writing of the fact that it has ceased to have effect.

(6) In this section references to the relevant agreement, in relation to the suspension of the appropriate authority’s duty under section 87(3) as regards any school or college, are to the agreement by virtue of which the appropriate authority’s duty under that provision as regards that school or college is suspended.

Duties of inspectors under section 87A.

87B

(1) The Secretary of State may impose on a person appointed under section 87A(1) (“an authorised inspector”) such requirements relating to, or in connection with, the carrying out under substitution agreements of the function mentioned in section 87A(2)(b) as the Secretary of State thinks fit.

(2) Where, in the course of carrying out under a substitution agreement the function mentioned in section 87A(2)(b), it appears to an authorised inspector that there has been a failure to comply with section 87(1) in the case of a child provided with accommodation by the school or college to which the agreement relates, the inspector shall give notice of that fact

(a) in the case of a school other than an independent school , an alternative provision Academy that is not an independent school or a special school, to the local authority for the area in which the school is situated;

(b) in the case of a special school which is maintained by a local authority, to that authority;

(3) Where, in the course of carrying out under a substitution agreement the function mentioned in section 87A(2)(b), it appears to an authorised inspector that a child provided with accommodation by the school or college to which the agreement relates is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm, the inspector shall—

(a) give notice of that fact to the local authority in whose area the school or college is situated, and

(b) where the inspector is required to make inspection reports to the Secretary of State, supply that local authority with a copy of the latest inspection report to have been made by the inspector to the Secretary of State in relation to the school or college.

(4) In this section “substitution agreement” means an agreement by virtue of which the duty of the appropriate authority under section 87(3) in relation to a school or college is suspended.

Quality assurance of inspectors under section 87A

87BA

(1) The Secretary of State may require the Chief Inspector for England to prepare and send to the Secretary of State a report about—

(a) a particular inspector appointed under section 87A, or

(b) inspectors appointed under that section generally or of a particular description.

(2) In preparing a report under this section the Chief Inspector for England must have regard to such matters as the Secretary of State may direct.

(3) The Secretary of State may in particular give directions about—

(a) matters to be taken into account in preparing a report, and

(b) the form and contents of a report.

87BB

(1) The Chief Inspector for England may disclose information to an inspector appointed under section 87A for the purpose of enabling or facilitating the exercise by the inspector of the function mentioned in section 87A(2)(b).

(2) A disclosure of information under this section made for the purpose of safeguarding or promoting the welfare of children provided with accommodation by a school or college does not breach—

(a) any obligation of confidence owed by the Chief Inspector for England, or

(b) any other restriction on the disclosure of information (however imposed).

Boarding schools: national minimum standards.

87C

(1) The Secretary of State may prepare and publish statements of national minimum standards for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children for whom accommodation is provided by a school or college.

(2) The Secretary of State shall keep the standards set out in the statements under review and may publish amended statements whenever he considers it appropriate to do so.

(3) Before issuing a statement, or an amended statement which in the opinion of the Secretary of State effects a substantial change in the standards, the Secretary of State shall consult any persons he considers appropriate.

(4) The standards shall be taken into account—

(a) in the making by the appropriate authority of any determination under section 87(4) or (4A);

(b) in the making by a person appointed under section 87A(1) of any determination under section 87B(2); and

(c) in any proceedings under any other enactment in which it is alleged that the person has failed to comply with section 87(1).

Annual fee for boarding school inspections.

87D

(1) Regulations under subsection (2) may be made in relation to any school or college in respect of which the appropriate authority is required to take steps under section 87(3).

(2) The Secretary of State may by regulations require the relevant person to pay the appropriate authority an annual fee of such amount, and within such time, as the regulations may specify.

(3) A fee payable by virtue of this section may, without prejudice to any other method of recovery, be recovered summarily as a civil debt.

Adoption

Amendments of adoption legislation.

88

(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Paternity tests

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

89

Criminal care and supervision orders

Care and supervision orders in criminal proceedings.

90

(1) The power of a court to make an order under subsection (2) of section 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969 (care proceedings in youth courts) where it is of the opinion that the condition mentioned in paragraph (f) of that subsection (“the offence condition”) is satisfied is hereby abolished.

(2) The powers of the court to make care orders—

(a) under section 7(7)(a) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969 (alteration in treatment of young offenders etc.); and

(b) under section 15(1) of that Act, on discharging a supervision order made under section 7(7)(b) of that Act,

are hereby abolished.

(3) The powers given by that Act to include requirements in supervision orders shall have effect subject to amendments made by Schedule 12.

Effect and duration of orders etc.

91

(1) The making of a child arrangements order with respect to the living arrangements of a child who is the subject of a care order discharges the care order.

(1A) For the purposes of subsection (1), a child arrangements order is one made with respect to the living arrangements of a child if the arrangements regulated by the order consist of, or include, arrangements which relate to either or both of the following—

(a) with whom the child is to live, and

(b) when the child is to live with any person.

(2) The making of a care order with respect to a child who is the subject of any section 8 order discharges that order.

(2A) Where an activity direction has been made with respect to a child, the making of a care order with respect to the child discharges the direction.

(3) The making of a care order with respect to a child who is the subject of a supervision order discharges that other order.

(4) The making of a care order with respect to a child who is a ward of court brings that wardship to an end.

(5) The making of a care order with respect to a child who is the subject of a school attendance order made under section 437 of the Education Act 1996 discharges the school attendance order.

(5A) The making of a special guardianship order with respect to a child who is the subject of—

(a) a care order; or

(b) an order under section 34,

discharges that order.

(6) Where an emergency protection order is made with respect to a child who is in care, the care order shall have effect subject to the emergency protection order.

(7) Any order made under section 4(1) 4ZA(1),4A(1) or 5(1) shall continue in force until the child reaches the age of eighteen, unless it is brought to an end earlier.

(8) Any—

(a) agreement under section 4 , 4ZA or 4A; or

(b) appointment under section 5(3) or (4),

shall continue in force until the child reaches the age of eighteen, unless it is brought to an end earlier.

(9) An order under Schedule 1 has effect as specified in that Schedule.

(10) A section 8 order ... shall, if it would otherwise still be in force, cease to have effect when the child reaches the age of sixteen, unless it is to have effect beyond that age by virtue of section 9(6). . . .

(10A) Subsection (10) does not apply to provision in a child arrangements order which regulates arrangements relating to—

(a) with whom a child is to live, or

(b) when a child is to live with any person.

(11) Where a section 8 order has effect with respect to a child who has reached the age of sixteen, it shall, if it would otherwise still be in force, cease to have effect when he reaches the age of eighteen.

(12) Any care order, other than an interim care order, shall continue in force until the child reaches the age of eighteen, unless it is brought to an end earlier.

(13) Any order made under any other provision of this Act in relation to a child shall, if it would otherwise still be in force, cease to have effect when he reaches the age of eighteen.

(14) On disposing of any application for an order under this Act, the court may (whether or not it makes any other order in response to the application) order that no application for an order under this Act of any specified kind may be made with respect to the child concerned by any person named in the order without leave of the court.

For further provision about orders under this subsection, see section 91A (section 91(14) orders: further provision).

(15) Where an application (“the previous application”) has been made for—

(a) the discharge of a care order;

(b) the discharge of a supervision order;

(d) the substitution of a supervision order for a care order; or

(e) a child assessment order,

no further application of a kind mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (e) may be made with respect to the child concerned, without leave of the court, unless the period between the disposal of the previous application and the making of the further application exceeds six months.

(16) Subsection (15) does not apply to applications made in relation to interim orders.

(17) Where—

(a) a person has made an application for an order under section 34;

(b) the application has been refused; and

that person may not make a further application for such an order with respect to the same child, unless he has obtained the leave of the court.

Section 91(14) orders: further provision

91A

(1) This section makes further provision about orders under section 91(14) (referred to in this section as “section 91(14) orders”).

(2) The circumstances in which the court may make a section 91(14) order include, among others, where the court is satisfied that the making of an application for an order under this Act of a specified kind by any person who is to be named in the section 91(14) order would put—

(a) the child concerned, or

(b) another individual (“the relevant individual”),

at risk of harm.

(3) In the case of a child or other individual who has reached the age of eighteen, the reference in subsection (2) to “harm” is to be read as a reference to ill-treatment or the impairment of physical or mental health.

(4) Where a person who is named in a section 91(14) order applies for leave to make an application of a specified kind, the court must, in determining whether to grant leave, consider whether there has been a material change of circumstances since the order was made.

(5) A section 91(14) order may be made by the court—

(a) on an application made—

(i) by the relevant individual;

(ii) by or on behalf of the child concerned;

(iii) by any other person who is a party to the application being disposed of by the court;

(b) of its own motion.

(6) In this section, “the child concerned” means the child referred to in section 91(14).

Jurisdiction and procedure etc.

Jurisdiction of courts.

92

(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(7) For the purposes of this Act “the court” means the High Court or the family court .

(8) Subsection (7) is subject to ... any express provision as to the jurisdiction of any court made by any other provision of this Act.

(9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(10) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(10A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(11) Part II of Schedule 11 makes amendments consequential on this section.

Rules of court.

93

(1) An authority having power to make rules of court may make such provision for giving effect to—

(a) this Act;

(b) the provisions of any statutory instrument made under this Act; or

as appears to that authority to be necessary or expedient.

(2) The rules may, in particular, make provision—

(a) with respect to the procedure to be followed in any relevant proceedings (including the manner in which any application is to be made or other proceedings commenced);

(b) as to the persons entitled to participate in any relevant proceedings, whether as parties to the proceedings or by being given the opportunity to make representations to the court;

(bb) for children to be separately represented in relevant proceedings,

(c) with respect to the documents and information to be furnished, and notices to be given, in connection with any relevant proceedings;

(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(e) with respect to preliminary hearings;

(f) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(g) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(h) enabling the court, in such circumstances as may be prescribed, to proceed on any application even though the respondent has not been given notice of the proceedings;

(i) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(j) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) In subsection (2)—

“notice of proceedings” means a summons or such other notice of proceedings as is required; and “given”, in relation to a summons, means “served”;

“prescribed” means prescribed by the rules; and

“relevant proceedings” means any application made, or proceedings brought, under any of the provisions mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c) of subsection (1) and any part of such proceedings.

(4) This section and any other power in this Act to make rules of court are not to be taken as in any way limiting any other power of the authority in question to make rules of court.

(5) When making any rules under this section an authority shall be subject to the same requirements as to consultation (if any) as apply when the authority makes rules under its general rule making power.

Appeals.

94

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Attendance of child at hearing under Part IV or V.

95

(1) In any proceedings in which a court is hearing an application for an order under Part IV or V, or is considering whether to make any such order, the court may order the child concerned to attend such stage or stages of the proceedings as may be specified in the order.

(2) The power conferred by subsection (1) shall be exercised in accordance with rules of court.

(3) Subsections (4) to (6) apply where—

(a) an order under subsection (1) has not been complied with; or

(b) the court has reasonable cause to believe that it will not be complied with.

(4) The court may make an order authorising a constable, or such person as may be specified in the order—

(a) to take charge of the child and to bring him to the court; and

(b) to enter and search any premises specified in the order if he has reasonable cause to believe that the child may be found on the premises.

(5) The court may order any person who is in a position to do so to bring the child to the court.

(6) Where the court has reason to believe that a person has information about the whereabouts of the child it may order him to disclose it to the court.

Evidence given by, or with respect to, children.

96

(1) Subsection (2) applies where a child who is called as a witness in any civil proceedings does not, in the opinion of the court, understand the nature of an oath.

(2) The child’s evidence may be heard by the court if, in its opinion—

(a) he understands that it is his duty to speak the truth; and

(b) he has sufficient understanding to justify his evidence being heard.

(3) The Lord Chancellor may , with the concurrence of the Lord Chief Justice, by order make provision for the admissibility of evidence which would otherwise be inadmissible under any rule of law relating to hearsay.

(4) An order under subsection (3) may only be made with respect to—

(a) civil proceedings in general or such civil proceedings, or class of civil proceedings, as may be prescribed; and

(b) evidence in connection with the upbringing, maintenance or welfare of a child.

(5) An order under subsection (3)—

(a) may, in particular, provide for the admissibility of statements which are made orally or in a prescribed form or which are recorded by any prescribed method of recording;

(b) may make different provision for different purposes and in relation to different descriptions of court; and

(c) may make such amendments and repeals in any enactment relating to evidence (other than in this Act) as the Lord Chancellor considers necessary or expedient in consequence of the provision made by the order.

(6) Subsection (5)(b) is without prejudice to section 104(4).

(7) In this section—

“ civil proceedings ” means civil proceedings, before any tribunal, in relation to which the strict rules of evidence apply, whether as a matter of law or by agreement of the parties, and references to “ the court ” shall be construed accordingly;

“prescribed” means prescribed by an order under subsection (3).

Privacy for children involved in certain proceedings.

97

(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2) No person shall publish to the public at large or any section of the public any material which is intended, or likely, to identify—

(a) any child as being involved in any proceedings before the High Court or the family court in which any power under this Act or the Adoption and Children Act 2002 may be exercised by the court with respect to that or any other child; or

(b) an address or school as being that of a child involved in any such proceedings.

(3) In any proceedings for an offence under this section it shall be a defence for the accused to prove that he did not know, and had no reason to suspect, that the published material was intended, or likely, to identify the child.

(4) The court or the Lord Chancellor may, if satisfied that the welfare of the child requires it and, in the case of the Lord Chancellor, if the Lord Chief Justice agrees , by order dispense with the requirements of subsection (2) to such extent as may be specified in the order.

(5) For the purposes of this section—

“publish” includes—include in a programme service (within the meaning of the Broadcasting Act 1990);cause to be published; and

“material” includes any picture or representation.

(6) Any person who contravenes this section shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

(6A) It is not a contravention of this section to—

(a) enter material in the Adoption and Children Act Register (established under section 125 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002), or

(b) permit persons to search and inspect that register pursuant to regulations made under section 128A of that Act.

(7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(9) The Lord Chief Justice may nominate a judicial office holder (as defined in section 109(4) of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005) to exercise his functions under subsection (4).

Self-incrimination.

98

(1) In any proceedings in which a court is hearing an application for an order under Part IV or V, no person shall be excused from—

(a) giving evidence on any matter; or

(b) answering any question put to him in the course of his giving evidence,

on the ground that doing so might incriminate him or his spouse or civil partner of an offence.

(2) A statement or admission made in such proceedings shall not be admissible in evidence against the person making it or his spouse or civil partner in proceedings for an offence other than perjury.

.

99

(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Restrictions on use of wardship jurisdiction.

100

(1) Section 7 of the Family Law Reform Act 1969 (which gives the High Court power to place a ward of court in the care, or under the supervision, of a local authority) shall cease to have effect.

(2) No court shall exercise the High Court’s inherent jurisdiction with respect to children—

(a) so as to require a child to be placed in the care, or put under the supervision, of a local authority;

(b) so as to require a child to be accommodated by or on behalf of a local authority;

(d) for the purpose of conferring on any local authority power to determine any question which has arisen, or which may arise, in connection with any aspect of parental responsibility for a child.

(3) No application for any exercise of the court’s inherent jurisdiction with respect to children may be made by a local authority unless the authority have obtained the leave of the court.

(4) The court may only grant leave if it is satisfied that—

(a) the result which the authority wish to achieve could not be achieved through the making of any order of a kind to which subsection (5) applies; and

(b) there is reasonable cause to believe that if the court’s inherent jurisdiction is not exercised with respect to the child he is likely to suffer significant harm.

(5) This subsection applies to any order—

(a) made otherwise than in the exercise of the court’s inherent jurisdiction; and

(b) which the local authority is entitled to apply for (assuming, in the case of any application which may only be made with leave, that leave is granted).

Effect of orders as between England and Wales and Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

101

(1) The Secretary of State may make regulations providing—

(a) for prescribed orders which—

(i) are made by a court in Northern Ireland; and

(ii) appear to the Secretary of State to correspond in their effect to orders which may be made under any provision of this Act,

to have effect in prescribed circumstances, for prescribed purposes of this Act, as if they were orders of a prescribed kind made under this Act;

(b) for prescribed orders which—

(i) are made by a court in England and Wales; and

(ii) appear to the Secretary of State to correspond in their effect to orders which may be made under any provision in force in Northern Ireland,

to have effect in prescribed circumstances, for prescribed purposes of the law of Northern Ireland, as if they were orders of a prescribed kind made in Northern Ireland.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) may provide for the order concerned to cease to have effect for the purposes of the law of Northern Ireland, or (as the case may be) the law of England and Wales, if prescribed conditions are satisfied.

(3) The Secretary of State may make regulations providing for prescribed orders which—

(a) are made by a court in the Isle of Man or in any of the Channel Islands; and

(b) appear to the Secretary of State to correspond in their effect to orders which may be made under this Act,

to have effect in prescribed circumstances for prescribed purposes of this Act, as if they were orders of a prescribed kind made under this Act.

(4) Where a child who is in the care of a local authority is lawfully taken to live in Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or any of the Channel Islands, the care order in question shall cease to have effect if the conditions prescribed in regulations made by the Secretary of State are satisfied.

(5) Any regulations made under this section may—

(a) make such consequential amendments (including repeals) in—

(i) section 25 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969 (transfers between England and Wales and Northern Ireland); or

(ii) section 26 (transfers between England and Wales and Channel Islands or Isle of Man) of that Act,

as the Secretary of State considers necessary or expedient; and

(b) modify any provision of this Act, in its application (by virtue of the regulations) in relation to an order made otherwise than in England and Wales.

Search warrants

Power of constable to assist in exercise of certain powers to search for children or inspect premises.

102

(1) Where, on an application made by any person for a warrant under this section, it appears to the court—

(a) that a person attempting to exercise powers under any enactment mentioned in subsection (6) has been prevented from doing so by being refused entry to the premises concerned or refused access to the child concerned; or

(b) that any such person is likely to be so prevented from exercising any such powers,

it may issue a warrant authorising any constable to assist that person in the exercise of those powers, using reasonable force if necessary.

(2) Every warrant issued under this section shall be addressed to, and executed by, a constable who shall be accompanied by the person applying for the warrant if—

(a) that person so desires; and

(b) the court by whom the warrant is issued does not direct otherwise.

(3) A court granting an application for a warrant under this section may direct that the constable concerned may, in executing the warrant, be accompanied by a registered medical practitioner, registered nurse or registered midwife if he so chooses.

(3A) The reference in subsection (3) to a registered midwife is to such a midwife who is also registered in the Specialist Community Public Health Nurses' Part of the register maintained under article 5 of the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001.

(4) An application for a warrant under this section shall be made in the manner and form prescribed by rules of court.

(5) Where—

(a) an application for a warrant under this section relates to a particular child; and

(b) it is reasonably practicable to do so,

the application and any warrant granted on the application shall name the child; and where it does not name him it shall describe him as clearly as possible.

(6) The enactments are—

(a) sections 62, 64, 67, 76,79U, 80, 86 and 87;

(b) paragraph 8(1)(b) and (2)(b) of Schedule 3;

General

Offences by bodies corporate.

103

(1) This section applies where any offence under this Act is committed by a body corporate.

(2) If the offence is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of any director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate, or any person who was purporting to act in any such capacity, he (as well as the body corporate) shall be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

Regulations and orders.

104

(1) Any power of the Lord Chancellor , the Treasury , the Secretary of State or the National Assembly for Wales under this Act to make an order, regulations, or rules, except an order under section 54(2), 56(4)(a), 57(3), 84 or 97(4) or paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 4, shall be exercisable by statutory instrument.

(2) Any such statutory instrument, except one made under section 4(1B), 4ZA(3), 17(4), 107 or 108(2) or one containing regulations which fall within subsection (3AA), (3AB), (3AC), (3B) , (3BA) or (3C), shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(2A) Subsection (2) does not apply to a statutory instrument made solely by the National Assembly for Wales.

(3) An order under section 4(1B) , 4ZA(3) ... shall not be made unless a draft of it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

(3A) An order under section 4(1B) , 4ZA(3) or 17(4) or regulations which fall within subsection (3AA), (3AB), (3AC), (3B) , (3BA) , (3BB) or (3C) shall not be made by the Secretary of State unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing the order or regulations has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

(3AA) Regulations fall within this subsection if they are regulations made in the exercise of the power conferred by section 17ZB(9).

(3AB) Regulations fall within this subsection if they are regulations made in the exercise of the power conferred by section 17ZE(5).

(3AC) Regulations fall within this subsection if they are regulations made in the exercise of the power conferred by section 22J(3)(f).

(3B) Regulations fall within this subsection if they are the first regulations to be made by the Secretary of State in the exercise of the power conferred by section 23C(5B)(b).

(3BA) Regulations fall within this subsection if they are regulations made in the exercise of the power conferred by section 31(3C) or 32(9).

(3BB) Regulations fall within this subsection if they are regulations made in the exercise of the power conferred by paragraph 3B(4) of Schedule A1.

(3C) Regulations fall within this subsection if they are the first regulations to be made by the Secretary of State in the exercise of the power conferred by paragraph 6(2) of Schedule 2.

(4) Any statutory instrument made under this Act may—

(a) make different provision for different cases;

(b) provide for exemptions from any of its provisions; and

Regulations made by the Welsh Ministers under section 31A or Part 7

104A

(1) Any power of the Welsh Ministers under section 31A or Part 7 to make regulations shall be exercisable by statutory instrument.

(2) Any such statutory instrument shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the National Assembly for Wales.

Interpretation.

105

(1) In this Act—

“activity condition” has the meaning given by section 11C;

“activity direction” has the meaning given by section 11A;

“adoption agency” means a body which may be referred to as an adoption agency by virtue of section 2 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002;

“bank holiday” means a day which is a bank holiday under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971;

“care home”—has the same meaning as in the Care Standards Act 2000 in respect of a care home in England; andmeans a place in Wales at which a care home service within the meaning of Part 1 of the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 is provided wholly or mainly to persons aged 18 or over;”

“care order” has the meaning given by section 31(11) and also includes any order which by or under any enactment has the effect of, or is deemed to be, a care order for the purposes of this Act; and any reference to a child who is in the care of an authority is a reference to a child who is in their care by virtue of a care order;

“child” means, subject to paragraph 16 of Schedule 1, a person under the age of eighteen;

“child arrangements order” has the meaning given by section 8(1);

“child assessment order” has the meaning given by section 43(2);

“child minder” has the meaning given by section 71;

“child of the family”, in relation to parties to a marriage, or to two people who are civil partners of each other, means— a child of both of them, andany other child, other than a child placed with them as foster parents by a local authority or voluntary organisation, who has been treated by both of them as a child of their family;

“children’s home”—has the same meaning as it has for the purposes of the Care Standards Act 2000 in respect of a children’s home in England (see section 1 of that Act); and means a place in Wales at which—a care home service is provided wholly or mainly to children, ora secure accommodation service is provided,

and in this paragraph “care home service” and “secure accommodation service” have the meaning given in Part 1 of the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 (anaw 2);

“community home” has the meaning given by section 53;

“day care” ... has the same meaning as in section 18;

“disabled”, in relation to a child, has the same meaning as in section 17(11);

“domestic premises” has the meaning given by section 71(12);

“dwelling-house” includes—any building or part of a building which is occupied as a dwelling;any caravan, house-boat or structure which is occupied as a dwelling;and any yard, garden, garage or outhouse belonging to it and occupied with it;

“education functions” has the meaning given by section 579(1) of the Education Act 1996;

“education supervision order” has the meaning given in section 36;

“emergency protection order” means an order under section 44;

“enforcement order” has the meaning given by section 11J;

“family assistance order” has the meaning given in section 16(2);

“family proceedings” has the meaning given by section 8(3);

“functions” includes powers and duties;

“guardian of a child” means a guardian (other than a guardian of the estate of a child) appointed in accordance with the provisions of section 5;

“harm” has the same meaning as in section 31(9) and the question of whether harm is significant shall be determined in accordance with section 31(10);

“health service hospital” means a health service hospital within the meaning given by the National Health Service Act 2006 or the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006;

“hospital” ... has the same meaning as in the Mental Health Act 1983, except that it does not include a special hospital within the meaning of that Act;

“ill-treatment” has the same meaning as in section 31(9);

“income-based jobseeker’s allowance” has the same meaning as in the Jobseekers Act 1995;

“income-related employment and support allowance” means an income-related allowance under Part 1 of the Welfare Reform Act 2007 (employment and support allowance);

“independent hospital”in relation to England, means a hospital as defined by section 275 of the National Health Service Act 2006 that is not a health service hospital as defined by that section; andin relation to Wales, has the same meaning as in the Care Standards Act 2000;

“independent school” has the same meaning as in the Education Act 1996;

“integrated care board” means a body established under section 14Z25 of the National Health Service Act 2006;

“local authority” means, in relation to England ..., the council of a county, a metropolitan district, a London Borough or the Common Council of the City of London in relation to Wales, the council of a county or a county borough and, in relation to Scotland, a local authority within the meaning of section 1(2) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968;

“local authority foster parent” has the meaning given in section 22C(12);

“local authority foster parent” means a person authorised as such in accordance with regulations made by virtue of—paragraph 12F of Schedule 2; orsections 87 and 93 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (regulations providing for approval of local authority foster parents);

“Local Health Board” means a Local Health Board established under section 11 of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006;

“local housing authority” has the same meaning as in the Housing Act 1985;

“mental nursing home” has the same meaning as in the Registered Homes Act 1984;

“nursing home” has the same meaning as in the Act of 1984;

“officer of the Service” has the same meaning as in the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000;

“parental responsibility” has the meaning given in section 3;

“parental responsibility agreement” has the meaning given in sections 4(1) , 4ZA(4) and 4A(2);

“prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made under this Act;

“private children’s home” means a children’s home in respect of which a person is registered under Part II of the Care Standards Act 2000 or Part 1 of the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 which is not a community home or a voluntary home;

“privately fostered child” and “to foster a child privately” have the same meaning as in section 66;

“prohibited steps order” has the meaning given by section 8(1);

“registered children’s home” has the same meaning as in section 63;

“registered pupil” has the same meaning as in the Education Act 1996;

“relative”, in relation to a child, means a grandparent, brother, sister, uncle or aunt (whether of the full blood or half blood or by marriage or civil partnership) or step-parent;

“residential care home” has the same meaning as in the Registered Homes Act 1984 and “small home” has the meaning given by section 1(4A) of that Act;

“responsible person”, in relation to a child who is the subject of a supervision order, has the meaning given in paragraph 1 of Schedule 3;

“school” has the same meaning as in the Education Act 1996 or, in relation to Scotland, in the Education (Scotland) Act 1980;

“section 31A plan” has the meaning given by section 31A(6);

“service”, in relation to any provision made under Part III, includes any facility;

“signed”, in relation to any person, includes the making by that person of his mark;

“special educational needs” has the same meaning as in the Education Act 1996;

“special guardian” and “special guardianship order” have the meaning given by section 14A;

“Special Health Authority” means a Special Health Authority established under section 28 of the National Health Service Act 2006 or section 22 of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006,;

“specific issue order” has the meaning given by section 8(1);

“supervision order” has the meaning given by section 31(11);

“supervised child” and “supervisor”, in relation to a supervision order or an education supervision order, mean respectively the child who is (or is to be) under supervision and the person under whose supervision he is (or is to be) by virtue of the order;

“upbringing”, in relation to any child, includes the care of the child but not his maintenance;

“voluntary home” has the meaning given by section 60;

“voluntary organisation” means a body (other than a public or local authority) whose activities are not carried on for profit;

“Welsh family proceedings officer” has the meaning given by section 35 of the Children Act 2004.

(2) References in this Act to a child whose father and mother were, or (as the case may be) were not, married to , or civil partners of, each other at the time of his birth must be read with section 1 of the Family Law Reform Act 1987 (which extends the meaning of such references).

(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) References in this Act to a child who is looked after—

(a) in relation to a child who is looked after by a local authority in England, has the meaning given in section 22; and

(b) in relation to a child who is looked after by a local authority in Wales, has the meaning given in section 74 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (child or young person looked after by a local authority).

(5) References in this Act to accommodation provided by or on behalf of a local authority are references to accommodation so provided in the exercise of functions of that or any other local authority which are social services functions ....

(5A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5B) References in this Act to acting as a child minder and to a child minder shall be construed, in relation to Scotland, in accordance with section 2(17) of the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 (asp 8).

(5B) In subsection (5) “social services functions” means—

(a) in England, social services functions within the meaning of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970, and

(b) in Wales, social services functions within the meaning of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.

(6) In determining the “ordinary residence” of a child for any purpose of this Act, there shall be disregarded any period in which he lives in any place—

(a) which is a school or other institution;

(b) in accordance with the requirements of a supervision order under this Act ...;

(ba) in accordance with the requirements of a youth rehabilitation order under Chapter 1 of Part 9 of the Sentencing Code; or

(7) References in this Act to children who are in need shall be construed in accordance with section 17.

(7A) References in this Act to a hospital or accommodation made available or provided pursuant to arrangements made by the Secretary of State under the National Health Service Act 2006 are references to a hospital or accommodation made available or provided pursuant to arrangements so made in the exercise of the public health functions of the Secretary of State (within the meaning of that Act).

(7B) References in this Act to arrangements made by NHS England or an integrated care board under the National Health Service Act 2006 include references to arrangements so made in the exercise of functions of another person by virtue of any provision of that Act.

(8) Any notice or other document required under this Act to be served on any person may be served on him by being delivered personally to him, or being sent by post to him in a registered letter or by the recorded delivery service at his proper address.

(9) Any such notice or other document required to be served on a body corporate or a firm shall be duly served if it is served on the secretary or clerk of that body or a partner of that firm.

(10) For the purposes of this section, and of section 7 of the Interpretation Act 1978 in its application to this section, the proper address of a person—

(a) in the case of a secretary or clerk of a body corporate, shall be that of the registered or principal office of that body;

(b) in the case of a partner of a firm, shall be that of the principal office of the firm; and

Financial provisions.

106

(1) Any—

(a) grants made by the Secretary of State under this Act; and

(b) any other expenses incurred by the Secretary of State under this Act,

shall be payable out of money provided by Parliament.

(2) Any sums received by the Secretary of State under section 58, or by way of the repayment of any grant made under section 82(2) or (4) shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

Application to Channel Islands.

107

Her Majesty may by Order in Council direct that any of the provisions of this Act shall extend to any of the Channel Islands with such exceptions and modifications as may be specified in the Order.

Short title, commencement extent etc.

108

(1) This Act may be cited as the Children Act 1989.

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Children Act 1989

Appeals.

79M

Inspection: England

General functions of the Chief Inspector.

79N

Early years child care inspectorate.

79P

Inspection of provision of child minding and day care in England.

79Q

Reports of inspections.

79R

Inspection: Wales

General functions of the Assembly.

79S

Inspection: Wales.

79T

Supplementary

Rights of entry etc.

79U

Function of local authorities.

79V

Checks on suitability of persons working with children over the age of seven

Requirement for certificate of suitability.

79W

Time limit for proceedings

Time limit for proceedings.

79X

Part XI — Secretary of State’s Supervisory Functions and Responsibilities

Inspection of children’s homes etc. by persons authorised by the Appropriate National Authority.

80

Inquiries.

81

Financial support by Secretary of State.

82

Research and returns of information.

83

Local authority failure to comply with statutory duty: default power of Secretary of State.

84

Part XII — Miscellaneous and General

Notification of children accommodated in certain establishments

Children accommodated by health authorities and local education authorities.

85

Children accommodated in care homes or independent hospitals.

86

Visitors for children notified to local authority ...

86A

Welfare of children in boarding schools and colleges.

87

Suspension of duty under section 87(3).

87A

Duties of inspectors under section 87A.

87B

Quality assurance of inspectors under section 87A

87BA

Information sharing between the Chief Inspector for England and section 87A inspectors

87BB

Boarding schools: national minimum standards.

87C

Annual fee for boarding school inspections.

87D

Adoption

Amendments of adoption legislation.

88

Paternity tests

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

89

Criminal care and supervision orders

Care and supervision orders in criminal proceedings.

90

Effect and duration of orders etc.

Effect and duration of orders etc.

91

Section 91(14) orders: further provision

91A

Jurisdiction and procedure etc.

Jurisdiction of courts.

92

Rules of court.

93