OpenLegislation

Children and Families Act 2014 in Northern Ireland

2014 c. 6 · Enacted 13 March 2014 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 14 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 29 October 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
Sch. 3 para. 9-35omittedAdditional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 Sch. 1 para. 6(s)
Sch. 3 para. 38omittedAdditional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 Sch. 1 para. 6(s)
Sch. 3 para. 41(2)(b) and wordomittedAdditional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 Sch. 1 para. 6(s)
Sch. 3 para. 42word insertedAdditional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 Sch. 1 para. 6(s)
Sch. 3 para. 42(d)omittedAdditional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 Sch. 1 para. 6(s)
Sch. 3 para. 44(3)omittedAdditional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 Sch. 1 para. 6(s)
Sch. 3 para. 44(4)omittedAdditional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 Sch. 1 para. 6(s)
Sch. 3 para. 55-58omittedAdditional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 Sch. 1 para. 6(s)
Sch. 3 para. 59(c)omittedAdditional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 Sch. 1 para. 6(s)
Sch. 3 para. 60(c)omittedAdditional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 Sch. 1 para. 6(s)
Sch. 3 para. 60(g)omittedAdditional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 Sch. 1 para. 6(s)
s. 35(1)words insertedAdditional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 Sch. 1 para. 23(2)
Sch. 3 para. 73omittedAdditional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 Sch. 1 para. 23(6)
s. 91omittedTobacco and Vapes Act 2026 Sch. 7 para. 12

An Act to make provision about children, families, and people with special educational needs or disabilities; to make provision about the right to request flexible working; and for connected purposes.

[13th March 2014]

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—C1

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act applied (1.9.2014) by The Children and Families Act 2014 (Transitional and Saving Provisions) (No. 2) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/2270), art. 20(1)

Contents

  1. Adoption
  2. 1Contact between prescribed persons and adopted person's relatives
  3. 2Placement of looked after children with prospective adopters
  4. 3Repeal of requirement to give due consideration to ethnicity: England
  5. 5Adoption support services: personal budgets Not yet in force
  6. 6Adoption support services: duty to provide information
  7. 7The Adoption and Children Act Register
  8. Contact
  9. 8Contact: children in care of local authorities
  10. 9Contact: post-adoption
  11. 10Family mediation information and assessment meetings
  12. 12Child arrangements orders
  13. 13Control of expert evidence, and of assessments, in children proceedings
  14. 14Care, supervision and other family proceedings: time limits and timetables
  15. 15Care plans
  16. 17Repeal of restrictions on divorce and dissolution etc where there are children
  17. 18Repeal of uncommenced provisions of Part 2 of the Family Law Act 1996
  18. Local authority functions: general principles
  19. Special educational needs etc
  20. 20When a child or young person has special educational needs
  21. 21Special educational provision, health care provision and social care provision
  22. Identifying children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities
  23. 22Identifying children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities
  24. 23Duty of health bodies to bring certain children to local authority's attention
  25. Children and young people for whom a local authority is responsible
  26. 24When a local authority is responsible for a child or young person
  27. Education, health and care provision: integration and joint commissioning
  28. 25Promoting integration
  29. 26Joint commissioning arrangements
  30. Review of education and care provision
  31. 27Duty to keep education and care provision under review
  32. Co-operation and assistance
  33. 28Co-operating generally: local authority functions
  34. 29Co-operating generally: governing body functions
  35. Information and advice
  36. 31Co-operating in specific cases: local authority functions
  37. 32Advice and information
  38. Mainstream education
  39. 33Children and young people with EHC plans
  40. 34Children and young people with special educational needs but no EHC plan
  41. 35Children with SEN in maintained nurseries and mainstream schools
  42. Assessment
  43. 36Assessment of education, health and care needs
  44. Education, health and care plans
  45. 39Finalising EHC plans: request for particular school or other institution
  46. 40Finalising EHC plans: no request for particular school or other institution
  47. 41Independent special schools and special post-16 institutions: approval
  48. 42Duty to secure special educational provision and health care provision in accordance with EHC Plan
  49. 43Schools and other institutions named in EHC plan: duty to admit
  50. 44Reviews and re-assessments
  51. 45Ceasing to maintain an EHC plan
  52. 46Maintaining an EHC plan after young person's 25th birthday
  53. 47Transfer of EHC plans
  54. 48Release of child or young person for whom EHC plan previously maintained
  55. 49Personal budgets and direct payments
  56. 50Continuation of services under section 17 of the Children Act 1989
  57. Appeals, mediation and dispute resolution
  58. 51Appeals
  59. 52Right to mediation
  60. 53Mediation: health care issues
  61. 54Mediation: educational and social care issues etc
  62. 55Mediation
  63. 56Mediation: supplementary
  64. 57Resolution of disagreements
  65. 59Appeals and claims by children: follow-up provision
  66. 60Equality Act 2010: claims against schools by disabled young people
  67. Special educational provision: functions of local authorities
  68. 61Special educational provision otherwise than in schools, post-16 institutions etc
  69. 62Special educational provision outside England and Wales
  70. 63Fees for special educational provision at non-maintained schools and post-16 institutions
  71. 64Supply of goods and services
  72. 65Access to schools, post-16 institutions and other institutions
  73. Special educational provision: functions of governing bodies and others
  74. 66Using best endeavours to secure special educational provision
  75. 67SEN co-ordinators
  76. 68Informing parents and young people
  77. 69SEN information report
  78. 70Application of Part to detained persons
  79. 71Assessment of post-detention education, health and care needs of detained persons
  80. 72Securing EHC plans for certain detained persons
  81. 73EHC plans for certain detained persons: appeals and mediation
  82. 74Duty to keep EHC plans for detained persons
  83. 75Supply of goods and services: detained persons
  84. Information to improve well-being of children and young people with SEN
  85. 76Provision and publication of special needs information
  86. Code of practice
  87. 77Code of practice
  88. 79Review of resolution of disagreements
  89. Supplementary
  90. 80Parents and young people lacking capacity
  91. 81Disapplication of Chapter 1 of Part 4 of EA 1996 in relation to children in England
  92. 82Consequential amendments
  93. 84Childminder agencies
  94. 85Inspections at request of providers of childcare to young children
  95. 86Repeal of local authority's duty to assess sufficiency of childcare provision
  96. 87Discharge of authority's duty to secure free early years provision
  97. 88Governing bodies: provision of community facilities
  98. 89Childcare costs scheme: preparatory expenditure
  99. Part 5: Welfare of children
  100. 90Extension of licensing of child performances to children under 14
  101. Tobacco, nicotine products and smoking
  102. 94Regulation of retail packaging etc of tobacco products Repealed
  103. 96Young carers
  104. 97Parent carers
  105. 98Arrangements for living with former foster parents after reaching adulthood
  106. 99Promotion of educational achievement of children looked after by local authorities
  107. 100Duty to support pupils with medical conditions
  108. 100AAllergy safety policy
  109. 100BRegulations about allergy safety
  110. 101Local authority functions relating to children etc: intervention
  111. 102Application of suspension etc powers to establishments and agencies in England
  112. 103Objectives and standards for establishments and agencies in England
  113. 104National minimum standards for establishments and agencies in England
  114. 105Disqualification from carrying on, or being employed in, a children's home
  115. 106Provision of free school lunches
  116. 107Primary function of the Children's Commissioner
  117. 108Provision by Commissioner of advice and assistance to certain children
  118. 109Commissioner's powers to enter premises
  119. 110Provision of information to Commissioner
  120. 111Advisory board
  121. 112Business plans
  122. 113Annual reports
  123. 114Children living away from home or receiving social care
  124. 115Children's Commissioner: minor and consequential amendments
  125. 116Repeal of requirement to appoint Children's Rights Director
  126. Part 7: Statutory rights to leave and pay
  127. 117Shared parental leave
  128. 118Exclusion or curtailment of other statutory rights to leave
  129. 119Statutory shared parental pay
  130. 120Exclusion or curtailment of other statutory rights to pay
  131. 121Statutory rights to leave and pay of prospective adopters with whom looked after children are placed
  132. 122Statutory rights to leave and pay of applicants for parental orders
  133. 123Statutory paternity pay: notice requirement and period of payment
  134. 124Rate of statutory adoption pay
  135. 125Abolition of additional paternity leave and additional statutory paternity pay
  136. Further amendments
  137. 126Further amendments
  138. 127Time off work to accompany to ante-natal appointments
  139. 128Time off work to attend adoption appointments
  140. 129Right not to be subjected to detriment: agency workers
  141. 130Time off work for ante-natal care: increased amount of award
  142. 134Review of sections 131 to 133
  143. Part 10: General provisions
  144. 135Orders and regulations
  145. 136Consequential amendments, repeals and revocations
  146. 137Transitional, transitory or saving provision
  147. 138Financial provision
  148. 139Commencement
  149. 140Short title and extent
  150. Schedule 1: The Adoption and Children Act Register
  151. 1Paragraph 1
  152. 2Paragraph 2
  153. 3Paragraph 3
  154. 4Paragraph 4
  155. 5Paragraph 5
  156. 6Paragraph 6
  157. 7Paragraph 7
  158. 8Paragraph 8
  159. 9Paragraph 9
  160. 10Paragraph 10
  161. 11Paragraph 11
  162. Schedule 2: Child arrangements orders: amendments
  163. Part 1: Amendments of the Children Act 1989
  164. 1Paragraph 1
  165. 2Paragraph 2
  166. 3Paragraph 3
  167. 4Paragraph 4
  168. 5Paragraph 5
  169. 6Paragraph 6
  170. 7Paragraph 7
  171. 8Paragraph 8
  172. 9Paragraph 9
  173. 10Paragraph 10
  174. 11Paragraph 11
  175. 12Paragraph 12
  176. 13Paragraph 13
  177. 14Paragraph 14
  178. 15Paragraph 15
  179. 16Paragraph 16
  180. 17Paragraph 17
  181. 18Paragraph 18
  182. 19Paragraph 19
  183. 20Paragraph 20
  184. 21Paragraph 21
  185. 22Paragraph 22
  186. 23Paragraph 23
  187. 24Paragraph 24
  188. 25Paragraph 25
  189. 26Paragraph 26
  190. 27Paragraph 27
  191. 28Paragraph 28
  192. 29Paragraph 29
  193. 30Paragraph 30
  194. 31Paragraph 31
  195. 32Paragraph 32
  196. 33Paragraph 33
  197. 34Paragraph 34
  198. 35Paragraph 35
  199. 36Paragraph 36
  200. 37Paragraph 37
  201. 38Paragraph 38
  202. 39Paragraph 39
  203. 40Paragraph 40
  204. 41Paragraph 41
  205. Part 2: Amendments in other legislation
  206. Marriage Act 1949 (c. 76)
  207. 42Paragraph 42
  208. Children and Young Persons Act 1969 (c. 54)
  209. 43Paragraph 43
  210. Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 (c. 42)
  211. 44Paragraph 44
  212. Domicile and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1973 (c. 45)
  213. 45Paragraph 45
  214. Mental Health Act 1983 (c. 20)
  215. 46Paragraph 46
  216. Child Abduction Act 1984 (c. 37)
  217. 47Paragraph 47
  218. Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985 (c. 60)
  219. 48Paragraph 48
  220. Family Law Act 1986 (c. 55)
  221. 49Paragraph 49
  222. 50Paragraph 50
  223. 51Paragraph 51
  224. Child Support Act 1991 (c. 48)
  225. 52Paragraph 52
  226. Armed Forces Act 1991 (c. 62)
  227. 53Paragraph 53
  228. 54Paragraph 54
  229. 55Paragraph 55
  230. 56Paragraph 56
  231. 57Paragraph 57
  232. 58Paragraph 58
  233. Adoption and Children Act 2002 (c. 38)
  234. 59Paragraph 59
  235. 60Paragraph 60
  236. 61Paragraph 61
  237. 62Paragraph 62
  238. 63Paragraph 63
  239. 64Paragraph 64
  240. 65Paragraph 65
  241. Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33)
  242. 66Paragraph 66
  243. Income Tax (Trading and Other Income) Act 2005 (c. 5)
  244. 67Paragraph 67
  245. 68Paragraph 68
  246. 69Paragraph 69
  247. Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10)
  248. 70Paragraph 70
  249. Schedule 3: Special educational needs: consequential amendments
  250. Part 1: Amendments to the Education Act 1996
  251. 1Paragraph 1
  252. 2Paragraph 2
  253. 3Paragraph 3
  254. 4Paragraph 4
  255. 5Paragraph 5
  256. 6Paragraph 6
  257. 7Paragraph 7
  258. 8Paragraph 8
  259. 9Paragraph 9
  260. 10Paragraph 10
  261. 11Paragraph 11
  262. 12Paragraph 12
  263. 13Paragraph 13
  264. 14Paragraph 14
  265. 15Paragraph 15
  266. 16Paragraph 16
  267. 17Paragraph 17
  268. 18Paragraph 18
  269. 19Paragraph 19
  270. 20Paragraph 20
  271. 21Paragraph 21
  272. 22Paragraph 22
  273. 23Paragraph 23
  274. 24Paragraph 24
  275. 25Paragraph 25
  276. 26Paragraph 26
  277. 27Paragraph 27
  278. 28Paragraph 28
  279. 29Paragraph 29
  280. 30Paragraph 30
  281. 31Paragraph 31
  282. 32Paragraph 32
  283. 33Paragraph 33
  284. 34Paragraph 34
  285. 35Paragraph 35
  286. 36Paragraph 36
  287. 37Paragraph 37
  288. 38Paragraph 38
  289. 39Paragraph 39
  290. 40Paragraph 40
  291. 41Paragraph 41
  292. 42Paragraph 42
  293. 43Paragraph 43
  294. 44Paragraph 44
  295. 45Paragraph 45
  296. 46Paragraph 46
  297. 47Paragraph 47
  298. 48Paragraph 48
  299. 49Paragraph 49
  300. 50Paragraph 50
  301. 51Paragraph 51
  302. 52Paragraph 52
  303. 53Paragraph 53
  304. 54Paragraph 54
  305. 55Paragraph 55
  306. 56Paragraph 56
  307. 57Paragraph 57
  308. 58Paragraph 58
  309. 59Paragraph 59
  310. 60Paragraph 60
  311. 61Paragraph 61
  312. 62Paragraph 62
  313. Part 2: Amendments to other Acts
  314. Local Government Act 1974 (c. 7)
  315. 63Paragraph 63
  316. Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 (c. 33)
  317. 64Paragraph 64
  318. Children Act 1989 (c. 41)
  319. 65Paragraph 65
  320. Value Added Tax Act 1994 (c. 23)
  321. 66Paragraph 66
  322. School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (c. 31)
  323. 67Paragraph 67
  324. 68Paragraph 68
  325. 69Paragraph 69
  326. 70Paragraph 70
  327. Learning and Skills Act 2000 (c. 21)
  328. 71Paragraph 71
  329. 72Paragraph 72
  330. 73Paragraph 73
  331. 74Paragraph 74
  332. 75Paragraph 75
  333. Education Act 2002 (c. 32)
  334. 76Paragraph 76
  335. 77Paragraph 77
  336. 78Paragraph 78
  337. Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (c. 41)
  338. 79Paragraph 79
  339. Children Act 2004 (c. 31)
  340. 80Paragraph 80
  341. Education and Inspections Act 2006 (c. 40)
  342. 81Paragraph 81
  343. Education and Skills Act 2008 (c. 25)
  344. 82Paragraph 82
  345. 83Paragraph 83
  346. 84Paragraph 84
  347. 85Paragraph 85
  348. 86Paragraph 86
  349. 87Paragraph 87
  350. Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (c. 22)
  351. 88Paragraph 88
  352. 89Paragraph 89
  353. 90Paragraph 90
  354. 91Paragraph 91
  355. 92Paragraph 92
  356. 93Paragraph 93
  357. 94Paragraph 94
  358. Academies Act 2010 (c. 32)
  359. 95Paragraph 95
  360. Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10)
  361. 96Paragraph 96
  362. Schedule 4: Childminder agencies: amendments
  363. Part 1: The childcare registers
  364. 1Paragraph 1
  365. 2Paragraph 2
  366. Part 2: Early years childminder agencies
  367. 3Paragraph 3
  368. 4Paragraph 4
  369. 5Paragraph 5
  370. 6Paragraph 6
  371. 7Paragraph 7
  372. 8Paragraph 8
  373. 9Paragraph 9
  374. 10Paragraph 10
  375. 11Paragraph 11
  376. 12Paragraph 12
  377. 13Paragraph 13
  378. Part 3: Later years childminder agencies
  379. 14Paragraph 14
  380. 15Paragraph 15
  381. 16Paragraph 16
  382. 17Paragraph 17
  383. 18Paragraph 18
  384. 19Paragraph 19
  385. 20Paragraph 20
  386. 21Paragraph 21
  387. 22Paragraph 22
  388. 23Paragraph 23
  389. 24Paragraph 24
  390. 25Paragraph 25
  391. 26Paragraph 26
  392. Part 4: Voluntary registration with childminder agency
  393. 27Paragraph 27
  394. 28Paragraph 28
  395. 29Paragraph 29
  396. 30Paragraph 30
  397. 31Paragraph 31
  398. Part 5: Provisions applying in relation to all childminder agencies
  399. 32Paragraph 32
  400. 33Paragraph 33
  401. 34Paragraph 34
  402. 35Paragraph 35
  403. 36Paragraph 36
  404. 37Paragraph 37
  405. 38Paragraph 38
  406. 39Paragraph 39
  407. 40Paragraph 40
  408. 41Paragraph 41
  409. 42Paragraph 42
  410. 43Paragraph 43
  411. 44Paragraph 44
  412. 45Paragraph 45
  413. 46Paragraph 46
  414. 47Paragraph 47
  415. 48Paragraph 48
  416. 49Paragraph 49
  417. 50Paragraph 50
  418. 51Paragraph 51
  419. 52Paragraph 52
  420. 53Paragraph 53
  421. 54Paragraph 54
  422. 55Paragraph 55
  423. 56Paragraph 56
  424. 57Paragraph 57
  425. 58Paragraph 58
  426. 59Paragraph 59
  427. 60Paragraph 60
  428. 61Paragraph 61
  429. 62Paragraph 62
  430. Part 6: Other amendments
  431. 63Paragraph 63
  432. 64Paragraph 64
  433. Schedule 5: Children's Commissioner: minor and consequential amendments
  434. Inquiries
  435. 1Paragraph 1
  436. 2Paragraph 2
  437. Functions of Commissioner: children in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
  438. 3Paragraph 3
  439. 4Paragraph 4
  440. 5Paragraph 5
  441. Young persons
  442. 6Paragraph 6
  443. Appointment and tenure of Children's Commissioner
  444. 7Paragraph 7
  445. 8Paragraph 8
  446. Deputy Children's Commissioner
  447. 9Paragraph 9
  448. Schedule 6: Repeal of requirement to appoint Children's Rights Director: transfer schemes
  449. Staff transfer schemes
  450. 1Paragraph 1
  451. Property transfer schemes
  452. 2Paragraph 2
  453. The Chief Inspector
  454. 3Paragraph 3
  455. Continuity
  456. 4Paragraph 4
  457. Supplementary provisions
  458. 5Paragraph 5
  459. Interpretation
  460. 6Paragraph 6
  461. Social Security Act 1989 (c. 24)
  462. 1Paragraph 1
  463. 3Paragraph 3
  464. 4Paragraph 4
  465. Finance Act 1989 (c. 26)
  466. 5Paragraph 5
  467. Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c. 4)
  468. 6Paragraph 6
  469. 7Paragraph 7
  470. 9Paragraph 9
  471. 10Paragraph 10
  472. 11Paragraph 11
  473. 12Paragraph 12
  474. 13Paragraph 13
  475. 14Paragraph 14
  476. 15Paragraph 15
  477. 16Paragraph 16
  478. 17Paragraph 17
  479. 18Paragraph 18
  480. 19Paragraph 19
  481. 20Paragraph 20
  482. 21Paragraph 21
  483. 22Paragraph 22
  484. Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c. 5)
  485. 23Paragraph 23
  486. 24Paragraph 24
  487. 25Paragraph 25
  488. 26Paragraph 26
  489. 27Paragraph 27
  490. 28Paragraph 28
  491. Employment Rights Act 1996 (c. 18)
  492. 29Paragraph 29
  493. 30Paragraph 30
  494. 31Paragraph 31
  495. 32Paragraph 32
  496. 33Paragraph 33
  497. 35Paragraph 35
  498. 36Paragraph 36
  499. 37Paragraph 37
  500. 38Paragraph 38
  501. 39Paragraph 39
  502. 40Paragraph 40
  503. 41Paragraph 41
  504. 43Paragraph 43
  505. Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999 (c. 2)
  506. 44Paragraph 44
  507. 45Paragraph 45
  508. 46Paragraph 46
  509. 47Paragraph 47
  510. Finance Act 1999 (c. 16)
  511. 48Paragraph 48
  512. Finance Act 2000 (c. 17)
  513. 49Paragraph 49
  514. 50Paragraph 50
  515. 51Paragraph 51
  516. 52Paragraph 52
  517. 53Paragraph 53
  518. 54Paragraph 54
  519. 55Paragraph 55
  520. 56Paragraph 56
  521. 57Paragraph 57
  522. 59Paragraph 59
  523. Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29)
  524. 60Paragraph 60
  525. Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (c. 1)
  526. 61Paragraph 61
  527. 62Paragraph 62
  528. 63Paragraph 63
  529. Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (c. 11)
  530. 64Paragraph 64
  531. Work and Families Act 2006 (c. 18)
  532. 65Paragraph 65
  533. 66Paragraph 66
  534. 67Paragraph 67
  535. 68Paragraph 68
  536. Income Tax Act 2007 (c. 3)
  537. 69Paragraph 69
  538. 70Paragraph 70
  539. 71Paragraph 71
  540. 72Paragraph 72
  541. Welfare Reform Act 2007 (c. 5)
  542. 73Paragraph 73
  543. Pensions Act 2008 (c. 30)
  544. 74Paragraph 74
  545. Welfare Reform Act 2012 (c. 5)
  546. 75Paragraph 75