Debate on bill on Tuesday, 3 February 2026, in the House of Lords, led by Baroness Smith of Malvern and Baroness Blake of Leeds. The answering members were Earl of Effingham and Baroness Barran.

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Lords report stage fifth day. Amendment 209 agreed to on division (176 to 132). Amendment 216 (to amendment 215) disagreed to on division (36 to 144). Amendment 215 agreed to on division (178 to 140). Amendments 244 to 246, 249 and 253 agreed to. Bill, as amended, ordered to be printed (HL Bill 166). (Part 2 of 2).

Secondary information

Type: Parliamentary proceeding
Reference: 852 cc1511-1575
Session: 2024-26
Department: Department for Education
Legislative stage: Report stage
Procedure: New clauses; Government defeats
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Related items: Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill 2024-26. As amended in Committee
Thursday, 18 September 2025
Bills
House of Lords; Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Tuesday, 3 February 2026
Parliamentary proceedings
House of Lords; Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill 2024-26. As amended on Report
Tuesday, 3 February 2026
Bills
House of Lords
Proceeding contributions: Baroness Morgan of Cotes | 852 c1511 (Link to this contribution)
Moved by
Baroness Morgan of Cotes
209: After Clause 63, insert the following new Clau...; Baroness Morgan of Cotes | 852 cc1511-4 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, it gives me great pleasure to move Amendment 209 and to support the other amendments in...; Lord Freyberg | 852 c1514 (Link to this contribution)
Moved by
Lord Freyberg
210: After subsection (1)(a), insert—
“(aa) ensure that ...; Lord Freyberg | 852 cc1514-5 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, Amendment 209 goes to the heart of what families rightly expect schools to do: keep chi...; Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle | 852 cc1515-6 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I will speak briefly, having attached my name to Amendment 209, as the noble Baroness, ...; Baroness Ramsey of Wall Heath | 852 cc1516-7 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I support Amendment 209, in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Morgan of Cotes, to wh...; Lord Remnant | 852 cc1517-8 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I support all the amendments in this group, and particularly Amendment 209, in the name...; Baroness Finlay of Llandaff | 852 cc1518-9 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, it was 19 years ago that I had the privilege of chairing the Science and Technology Com...; Baroness Kennedy of Cradley | 852 cc1519-1520 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I support Amendments 209, 210 and 212 and declare my interest as the chief operating of...; Lord Mendelsohn | 852 cc1520-1 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Morgan of Cotes, for moving this amendment, and I asso...; Lord Storey | 852 cc1521-2 (Link to this contribution)
Every child must be safeguarded and safe from harm when they attend school. I remember, 15 years ...; Earl of Effingham | 852 c1522 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, His Majesty’s loyal Opposition understand how crucial allergy safety is in schools, and...; Baroness Smith of Malvern | 852 cc1522-4 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, in concluding this group, I start by paying tribute to those who have campaigned
...; Baroness Morgan of Cotes | 852 c1524 (Link to this contribution)
I get the impression that the Minister may be about to finish so, before she does, may I just ask...; Baroness Smith of Malvern | 852 c1525 (Link to this contribution)
On the second point, I said that schools are able to purchase their own spares. Many do so, but I...; Baroness Morgan of Cotes | 852 c1525 (Link to this contribution)
I thank all noble Lords who have spoken in the debate. We have paid tribute to the campaigners; m...; Baroness Morris of Bolton | 852 c1525 (Link to this contribution)
Before the noble Baroness tells us what she is going to do, I turn to the noble Lord, Lord Freybe...; Lord Freyberg | 852 c1526 (Link to this contribution)
I beg leave to withdraw Amendment 210.; Baroness Morgan of Cotes | 852 c1526 (Link to this contribution)
I am sorry for that cliffhanger. I am still learning about procedure after six and a bit years.; Baroness Smith of Malvern | 852 c1526 (Link to this contribution)
May I just prolong the cliffhanger slightly? I reiterate that I was clear that this is statutory ...; Baroness Morgan of Cotes | 852 c1526 (Link to this contribution)
I take the Minister’s point. I understand what she is saying and I know that schools will want to...; Baroness Barran | 852 cc1526-9 (Link to this contribution)
Moved by
Baroness Barran
215: After Clause 63, insert the following new Clause—; Baroness Barran | 852 cc1529-1531 (Link to this contribution)
The decision before us this evening in relation to Amendment 215 is whether we support the Govern...; Lord Addington | 852 c1531 (Link to this contribution)
Moved by
Lord Addington
216: After subsection (2)(b), insert—
“(ba) may provide...; Lord Addington | 852 c1531 (Link to this contribution)
This is fairly straightforward. There is a bit of passion being stirred up and a nice pace, so le...; Lord Bethell | 852 cc1531-2 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I pay tribute to the noble Lord, Lord Addington, for a very moving speech there, but I ...; Lord Hampton | 852 c1532 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I have spoken on this issue so many times in this House that I am not going to repeat m...; Baroness Benjamin | 852 cc1532-3 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I support Amendment 215 in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Barran, and Amendment 2...; Lord Storey | 852 cc1533-4 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I will speak to Amendment 216. The amendment to ban mobile phones in schools was introd...; Baroness Kidron | 852 cc1534-5 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I too added my name to Amendment 215 but, like my noble friend Lord Hampton, I have spo...; Baroness Morgan of Cotes | 852 cc1535-6 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, when I spoke on this Bill at Second Reading—which seems a million months ago, but perha...; Baroness Cass | 852 cc1536-7 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I want to speak to this amendment for two reasons. One is that my name is on it. The se...; Lord Mohammed of Tinsley | 852 c1537 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I want to share the experience of schoolteachers, particularly head teachers. I and the...; Baroness Spielman | 852 c1537 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I want to make just one point, following up on the points made by the noble Baroness, L...; Lord Elliott of Ballinamallard | 852 c1538 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, very briefly, it will come as no surprise that, when I was going to school, I did not h...; Lord Reid of Cardowan | 852 c1538 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, for precisely the reasons outlined by the noble Lord, Lord Elliott, I have great suspic...; Lord Nash | 852 c1539 (Link to this contribution)
I rise to support this amendment. The Government have, as I understand it, proposed non-statutory...; Lord Sentamu | 852 cc1539-1540 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, will you allow me to introduce another voice—a voice that is not of this House? On 18 J...; Baroness Barran | 852 c1540 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, the House is probably keener to hear from the Minister than from me. I am grateful to n...; Baroness Smith of Malvern | 852 cc1540-2 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, the Government recognise concerns about the impact of mobile phones in schools, includi...; Baroness Bull | 852 c1542 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I remind the House that the Question before the House is on Amendment 216 in the name o...; Lord Addington | 852 c1542 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, as it appears that everybody wants to vote on this, I would like Amendment 215 to be in...; Baroness Barran | 852 c1542 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, the Minister says that phones have no place in schools and that the Government want a n...; Baroness Barran | 852 c1542 (Link to this contribution)
Moved by
Baroness Barran
217: After Clause 63, insert the following new Clause—; Baroness Barran | 852 cc1542-7 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, this group of amendments returns to the issue of balancing the rights of children who a...; Baroness Fox of Buckley | 852 cc1548-9 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, one year ago today, on 3 February 2025, 15 year-old Harvey Willgoose was tragically sta...; Lord Storey | 852 cc1549-1550 (Link to this contribution)
Children have a right to learn, and teachers have a right to teach. Permanent exclusion is far mo...; Lord Hampton | 852 c1550 (Link to this contribution)
I will speak very briefly to Amendment 217. I know from my own teaching experience—and anyone who...; Baroness Smith of Malvern | 852 cc1550-1 (Link to this contribution)
The amendments in group 8 relate to the school exclusion framework. We firmly believe that every ...; Baroness Barran | 852 c1551 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the Minister for those remarks. They are slightly disappointing, and certainly the Govern...; Baroness Lister of Burtersett | 852 cc1426-1434 (Link to this contribution)
Moved by
Baroness Lister of Burtersett
221: After Clause 63, insert the following new...; Baroness Lister of Burtersett | 852 cc1435-1554 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I thank my fellow signatories to Amendment 221, those who supported a similar amendment...; Lord Meston | 852 cc1555-6 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I will speak in support of Amendment 221, cogently moved by the noble Baroness, Lady Li...; Baroness Walmsley | 852 cc1450-1557 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I too have added my name to this important amendment. I agree with the noble Lord, Lord...; Earl of Effingham | 852 c1457 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, we admire the noble Baroness, Lady Lister, for her relentless focus on this issue, whic...; Baroness Blake of Leeds | 852 cc1457-1559 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, Amendment 221, tabled by my noble friend Lady Lister, would place a duty on Ministers a...; Baroness Lister of Burtersett | 852 cc1559-1465 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I thank those who spoke in support of the amendment. I am disappointed with my noble fr...; Lord Storey | 852 cc1468-1560 (Link to this contribution)
Moved by
Lord Storey
222: After Clause 63, insert the following new Clause—
“Na...; Lord Storey | 852 cc1560-1474 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I rise to move Amendment 222 in my name. This would require the Secretary of State to p...; Lord Macpherson of Earl's Court | 852 cc1475-1561 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I will speak in support of Amendment 243E, tabled by the noble Lord, Lord Layard. It is...; Lord Mott | 852 cc1561-2 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I shall speak to Amendment 241 in my name. It would require the Secretary of State to c...; Baroness Boycott | 852 cc1562-3 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, my Amendment 243 deals with climate mitigation and adaptation. It would make statutory ...; Lord Young of Acton | 852 cc1563-4 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, in speaking to my Amendment 243A, I declare my interests as the director of the Free Sp...; Baroness Tyler of Enfield | 852 cc1565-1483 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I rise very briefly to signal my support for Amendment 243E, in the name of the noble L...; Lord Storey | 852 cc1483-1566 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I will speak to my other amendment in this group, Amendment 243B, but I will just add a...; Earl of Effingham | 852 cc1566-7 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, this has been a wide-ranging group and we thank all noble Lords who have made valuable ...; Baroness Blake of Leeds | 852 cc1567-1570 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I think I win the prize tonight for the most wide-ranging set of amendments that could ...; Lord Storey | 852 c1570 (Link to this contribution)
I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.; Lord Tarassenko | 852 cc1494-6 (Link to this contribution)
Moved by
Lord Tarassenko
227: After Clause 63, insert the following new Clause—; Lord Tarassenko | 852 cc1496-1571 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, Amendment 227 is in my name and that of the noble Baroness, Lady Kidron. We started wit...; Baroness Kidron | 852 cc1571-3 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, Amendments 238 to 240 are in my name and those of my noble friends Lady Cass and Lord R...; Baroness Cass | 852 cc1502-8 (Link to this contribution)
I will be brief, given the time. I will talk about only two things and try to keep noble Lords aw...; Lord Russell of Liverpool | 852 cc1508-1575 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I put my name to the amendments tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Kidron, for a very s...; Lord Storey | 852 cc1575-1518 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, it is a bit like the noble Baroness, Lady Cass, having the two doctors in the room and ...; Baroness Barran | 852 cc1518-1578 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I start by acknowledging, as I am sure others in the House felt while listening to the ...; Baroness Smith of Malvern | 852 cc1578-1581 (Link to this contribution)
As we turn to the amendments in group 11, which are, of course, on educational technology, I than...; Baroness Barran | 852 c1580 (Link to this contribution)
Before the noble Baroness sits down, she talked, in relation to my Amendment 236 and homework, ab...; Baroness Smith of Malvern | 852 c1580 (Link to this contribution)
In those cases, I would expect every school thinking about its homework policy to have engaged wi...; Lord Tarassenko | 852 cc1580-1531 (Link to this contribution)
Very briefly, given the time, I just want to reassure noble Lords, particularly the noble Lord, L...; Lord Addington | 852 cc1582-1534 (Link to this contribution)
Moved by
Lord Addington
228: After Clause 63, insert the following new Clause—
...; Lord Addington | 852 c1535 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, the two amendments in this group were designed to, shall we say, spur the Government to...; Earl of Effingham | 852 cc1537-1583 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, we thank the noble Lord, Lord Addington, for his two amendments. The establishment of a...; Baroness Smith of Malvern | 852 cc1583-4 (Link to this contribution)
Much as I try to satisfy Members in the House of Lords—for all the good it does me—no, you cannot...; Lord Addington | 852 c1584 (Link to this contribution)
Well, it was worth a try. At least we did not hear that when the moon is full and the wind is hig...; Baroness Tyler of Enfield | 852 cc1542-9 (Link to this contribution)
Moved by
Baroness Tyler of Enfield
233: After Clause 63, insert the following new Cla...; Baroness Tyler of Enfield | 852 cc1549-1586 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I will speak to Amendment 233, to which my name is attached, in the place of the noble ...; Lord Watson of Invergowrie | 852 cc1585-7 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, nine months after Second Reading, in which I spoke, it falls to me to speak to the last...; Baroness Sater | 852 c1587 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I will speak very briefly in support of Amendment 233, which I also supported in Commit...; Baroness Lister of Burtersett | 852 cc1587-1555 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I will speak very briefly in support of Amendment 233, as I was not able to speak on it...; Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle | 852 cc1588-1557 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I will speak very briefly. I strongly support Amendment 233, as I did in Committee, as ...; Baroness Barran | 852 cc1557-1589 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, on these Benches, as is true across the House, of course we want our children to have t...; Baroness Smith of Malvern | 852 cc1589-1590 (Link to this contribution)
Well, as we approach nine hours of considering the 13 groups that we have got through today, I no...; Baroness Tyler of Enfield | 852 c1590 (Link to this contribution)
My Lords, I thank the Minister and all noble Lords who have contributed to this important debate....; Baroness Smith of Malvern | 852 cc1562-1591 (Link to this contribution)
Moved by
Baroness Smith of Malvern
244: After Clause 64, insert the following new Cla...; Baroness Smith of Malvern | 852 cc1592-1567 (Link to this contribution)
Moved by
Baroness Smith of Malvern
246: Clause 67, page 127, line 28, leave out “regu...; Baroness Smith of Malvern | 852 c1570 (Link to this contribution)
Moved by
Baroness Smith of Malvern
249: Clause 67, page 128, line 6, after second “by...; Baroness Smith of Malvern | 852 cc1571-4 (Link to this contribution)
Moved by
Baroness Smith of Malvern
253: Clause 67, page 128, line 21, after second “b...
Subjects: Children Assessments Data protection Curriculum Children's rights Climate change Apprentices Catering Health Further education Protection Parents Pupil exclusions Prisoners Pupils Mobile phones Political impartiality Mental health services Allergies Teaching methods Safety Schools Special educational needs Training VAT Technology Antisemitism Impact assessments Artificial intelligence Social media Adrenaline auto-injectors Assistive technology
Legislation: Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill 2024-26
Link: View this Parliamentary proceeding on hansard.parliament.uk

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Secondary information

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