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Education and Skills Bill

My Lords, I am so glad that the Government have recognised the importance of listening to children, 19 years after Recommendation 75 of the report into discipline in schools that I was fortunate enough to chair was enthusiastically accepted. One word of caution. I am sorry that it has to be in legislation. We are a litigious nation, and it would be very unfortunate if we were to have a rash of cases of parents saying, ““You were not listening to my little Johnny””. Therefore, I am glad to see the flexibility written into the amendment—the variety of ways in which consultation can take place. I merely urge the Government to maintain that flexibility clearly in the regulations.