Children Act 2004
Encyclopedia
The Children Act 2004 is an Act
of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
.
The Act amended the Children Act 1989
, largely in consequence of the Victoria Climbié inquiry.
The Act is now the basis for most official administration considered helpful to children, notably bringing all local government functions of children's welfare and education under the statutory authority of local Directors of Children's Services. The Act also created the ContactPoint database.
agencies, babysitting
services, and the handling of child-related crimes and crimes against children.
and the Children Act 2004, there were reports in 2002, 2003, and 2004-05. Each Act has progressively attempted to improve the legal powers and official functions related to children in all forms, and to make official provision for children better and safer.
Acts of Parliament in the United Kingdom
An Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom is a type of legislation called primary legislation. These Acts are passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom at Westminster, or by the Scottish Parliament at Edinburgh....
of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
.
The Act amended the Children Act 1989
Children Act 1989
The Children Act 1989 is a British Act of Parliament that altered the law in regard to children. In particular, it introduced the notion of parental responsibility. Later laws amended certain parts of the Children Act...
, largely in consequence of the Victoria Climbié inquiry.
The Act is now the basis for most official administration considered helpful to children, notably bringing all local government functions of children's welfare and education under the statutory authority of local Directors of Children's Services. The Act also created the ContactPoint database.
Purpose
The Act was created with a certain set of goals. Its primary purpose was to give boundaries and help for local authorities and/or other entities to better regulate official intervention in the interests of children. The Act also made changes to laws that pertain to children, notably on foster homes, adoptionAdoption
Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting for another and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities from the original parent or parents...
agencies, babysitting
Babysitting
Babysitting is the practice of temporarily caring for a child on behalf of the child's parents. Babysitting is commonly performed as an odd job by teenagers for extra money.-General:...
services, and the handling of child-related crimes and crimes against children.
History
The long history of children's welfare legislation had given rise to numerous unco-ordinated official powers and functions, even within the same local authorities, resulting in the tragic maladministration of the Climbié case. Along with the Children Act 1989Children Act 1989
The Children Act 1989 is a British Act of Parliament that altered the law in regard to children. In particular, it introduced the notion of parental responsibility. Later laws amended certain parts of the Children Act...
and the Children Act 2004, there were reports in 2002, 2003, and 2004-05. Each Act has progressively attempted to improve the legal powers and official functions related to children in all forms, and to make official provision for children better and safer.
General
This Act's ultimate purpose is to make the UK better and safer for children of all ages The idea behind the Act is to promote (co-ordination) between multiple official entities to improve the overall well-being of children. The 2004 Act also specifically provided for including and affecting disabled children.Repeals
This Act made repeals and amendments to numerous statutes:- Children Act 1989Children Act 1989The Children Act 1989 is a British Act of Parliament that altered the law in regard to children. In particular, it introduced the notion of parental responsibility. Later laws amended certain parts of the Children Act...
- Education Act 1996
- Education Act 1997
- School Standards and Framework Act 1998School Standards and Framework Act 1998The School Standards and Framework Act 1998 was the major education legislation passed by the incoming Labour government of Tony Blair.This Act:* imposed a limit of 30 on infant class sizes....
- Learning and Skills Act 2000Learning and Skills Act 2000The Learning and Skills Act 2000 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It made changes in the funding and administration of further education, and of work-based learning for young people, within England and Wales....
- Adoption and Children Act 2002
- Education Act 2002Education Act 2002The Education Act 2002 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.-Main provisions:The act significantly amended legislation relating to academies, publicly-funded schools operating outside of local government control and with a significant degree of autonomy areas such as wages and...
- Children and Young Persons Act 1933Children and Young Persons Act 1933The Children and Young Persons Act 1933 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland...
- Children and Young Persons Act 1963
- Local Authority Social Services Act 1970
- Local Government Act 1972Local Government Act 1972The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
- Mental Health Act 1983Mental Health Act 1983The Mental Health Act 1983 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which applies to people in England and Wales. It covers the reception, care and treatment of mentally disordered persons, the management of their property and other related matters...
- Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 is an Act of Parliament which instituted a legislative framework for the powers of police officers in England and Wales to combat crime, as well as providing codes of practice for the exercise of those powers. Part VI of PACE required the Home Secretary...
- Local Government and Housing Act 1989
- Criminal Justice Act 1991
- Crime (Sentences) Act 1997
- Crime and Disorder Act 1998Crime and Disorder Act 1998The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Act was published on 2 December 1997 and received Royal Assent in July 1998...
- Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000The Powers of Criminal Courts Act 2000 is a consolidation Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that brings together parts of several other Acts dealing with the sentencing treatment of offenders and defaulters...
- Local Government Act 2000Local Government Act 2000The Local Government Act 2000 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales. Its principal purposes are:...
- Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000
- Criminal Justice Act 2003Criminal Justice Act 2003The Criminal Justice Act 2003 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is a wide ranging measure introduced to modernise many areas of the criminal justice system in England and Wales and, to a lesser extent, in Scotland and Northern Ireland....
Section 67 - Commencement
The following orders have been made under this section:- The Children Act 2004 (Commencement No. 1) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/394 (C. 18))
- The Children Act 2004 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/700 (W. 59) (C. 30))
- The Children Act 2004 (Commencement No. 3) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/847 (C. 35))
- The Children Act 2004 (Commencement No. 4 and Savings) (England) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2298 (C. 97))
- The Children Act 2004 (Commencement No. 5) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/3464 (C. 145))
- The Children Act 2004 (Commencement No. 5) (Wales) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/3363 (C. 260) (W. 143))
- The Children Act 2004 (Commencement No. 6) (Wales) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/885 (W. 85) (C. 23))
- The Children Act 2004 (Commencement No. 7) (Wales) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/870 (W. 80) (C. 20))
- The Children Act 2004 (Commencement No. 8) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/927 (C. 24))
- The Children Act 2004 (Commencement No. 8) (Wales) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/1904 (W. 182))
- The Children Act 2004 (Commencement No. 9) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/752 (C. 33))
External links
UK Legislation
- Explanatory notes to the Children Act 2004.