OpenLegislation

Children and Families Act 2014 in Scotland

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. Part 9: Right to request flexible working
  143. 134Review of sections 131 to 133
  144. Part 10: General provisions
  145. 135Orders and regulations
  146. 136Consequential amendments, repeals and revocations
  147. 137Transitional, transitory or saving provision
  148. 138Financial provision
  149. 139Commencement
  150. 140Short title and extent
  151. Schedule 1: The Adoption and Children Act Register
  152. 1Paragraph 1
  153. 2Paragraph 2
  154. 3Paragraph 3
  155. 4Paragraph 4
  156. 5Paragraph 5
  157. 6Paragraph 6
  158. 7Paragraph 7
  159. 8Paragraph 8
  160. 9Paragraph 9
  161. 10Paragraph 10
  162. 11Paragraph 11
  163. Schedule 2: Child arrangements orders: amendments
  164. Part 1: Amendments of the Children Act 1989
  165. 1Paragraph 1
  166. 2Paragraph 2
  167. 3Paragraph 3
  168. 4Paragraph 4
  169. 5Paragraph 5
  170. 6Paragraph 6
  171. 7Paragraph 7
  172. 8Paragraph 8
  173. 9Paragraph 9
  174. 10Paragraph 10
  175. 11Paragraph 11
  176. 12Paragraph 12
  177. 13Paragraph 13
  178. 14Paragraph 14
  179. 15Paragraph 15
  180. 16Paragraph 16
  181. 17Paragraph 17
  182. 18Paragraph 18
  183. 19Paragraph 19
  184. 20Paragraph 20
  185. 21Paragraph 21
  186. 22Paragraph 22
  187. 23Paragraph 23
  188. 24Paragraph 24
  189. 25Paragraph 25
  190. 26Paragraph 26
  191. 27Paragraph 27
  192. 28Paragraph 28
  193. 29Paragraph 29
  194. 30Paragraph 30
  195. 31Paragraph 31
  196. 32Paragraph 32
  197. 33Paragraph 33
  198. 34Paragraph 34
  199. 35Paragraph 35
  200. 36Paragraph 36
  201. 37Paragraph 37
  202. 38Paragraph 38
  203. 39Paragraph 39
  204. 40Paragraph 40
  205. 41Paragraph 41
  206. Part 2: Amendments in other legislation
  207. Marriage Act 1949 (c. 76)
  208. 42Paragraph 42
  209. Children and Young Persons Act 1969 (c. 54)
  210. 43Paragraph 43
  211. Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 (c. 42)
  212. 44Paragraph 44
  213. Domicile and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1973 (c. 45)
  214. 45Paragraph 45
  215. Mental Health Act 1983 (c. 20)
  216. 46Paragraph 46
  217. Child Abduction Act 1984 (c. 37)
  218. 47Paragraph 47
  219. Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985 (c. 60)
  220. 48Paragraph 48
  221. Family Law Act 1986 (c. 55)
  222. 49Paragraph 49
  223. 50Paragraph 50
  224. 51Paragraph 51
  225. Child Support Act 1991 (c. 48)
  226. 52Paragraph 52
  227. Armed Forces Act 1991 (c. 62)
  228. 53Paragraph 53
  229. 54Paragraph 54
  230. 55Paragraph 55
  231. 56Paragraph 56
  232. 57Paragraph 57
  233. 58Paragraph 58
  234. Adoption and Children Act 2002 (c. 38)
  235. 59Paragraph 59
  236. 60Paragraph 60
  237. 61Paragraph 61
  238. 62Paragraph 62
  239. 63Paragraph 63
  240. 64Paragraph 64
  241. 65Paragraph 65
  242. Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33)
  243. 66Paragraph 66
  244. Income Tax (Trading and Other Income) Act 2005 (c. 5)
  245. 67Paragraph 67
  246. 68Paragraph 68
  247. 69Paragraph 69
  248. Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10)
  249. 70Paragraph 70
  250. Schedule 3: Special educational needs: consequential amendments
  251. Part 1: Amendments to the Education Act 1996
  252. 1Paragraph 1
  253. 2Paragraph 2
  254. 3Paragraph 3
  255. 4Paragraph 4
  256. 5Paragraph 5
  257. 6Paragraph 6
  258. 7Paragraph 7
  259. 8Paragraph 8
  260. 9Paragraph 9
  261. 10Paragraph 10
  262. 11Paragraph 11
  263. 12Paragraph 12
  264. 13Paragraph 13
  265. 14Paragraph 14
  266. 15Paragraph 15
  267. 16Paragraph 16
  268. 17Paragraph 17
  269. 18Paragraph 18
  270. 19Paragraph 19
  271. 20Paragraph 20
  272. 21Paragraph 21
  273. 22Paragraph 22
  274. 23Paragraph 23
  275. 24Paragraph 24
  276. 25Paragraph 25
  277. 26Paragraph 26
  278. 27Paragraph 27
  279. 28Paragraph 28
  280. 29Paragraph 29
  281. 30Paragraph 30
  282. 31Paragraph 31
  283. 32Paragraph 32
  284. 33Paragraph 33
  285. 34Paragraph 34
  286. 35Paragraph 35
  287. 36Paragraph 36
  288. 37Paragraph 37
  289. 38Paragraph 38
  290. 39Paragraph 39
  291. 40Paragraph 40
  292. 41Paragraph 41
  293. 42Paragraph 42
  294. 43Paragraph 43
  295. 44Paragraph 44
  296. 45Paragraph 45
  297. 46Paragraph 46
  298. 47Paragraph 47
  299. 48Paragraph 48
  300. 49Paragraph 49
  301. 50Paragraph 50
  302. 51Paragraph 51
  303. 52Paragraph 52
  304. 53Paragraph 53
  305. 54Paragraph 54
  306. 55Paragraph 55
  307. 56Paragraph 56
  308. 57Paragraph 57
  309. 58Paragraph 58
  310. 59Paragraph 59
  311. 60Paragraph 60
  312. 61Paragraph 61
  313. 62Paragraph 62
  314. Part 2: Amendments to other Acts
  315. Local Government Act 1974 (c. 7)
  316. 63Paragraph 63
  317. Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 (c. 33)
  318. 64Paragraph 64
  319. Children Act 1989 (c. 41)
  320. 65Paragraph 65
  321. Value Added Tax Act 1994 (c. 23)
  322. 66Paragraph 66
  323. School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (c. 31)
  324. 67Paragraph 67
  325. 68Paragraph 68
  326. 69Paragraph 69
  327. 70Paragraph 70
  328. Learning and Skills Act 2000 (c. 21)
  329. 71Paragraph 71
  330. 72Paragraph 72
  331. 73Paragraph 73
  332. 74Paragraph 74
  333. 75Paragraph 75
  334. Education Act 2002 (c. 32)
  335. 76Paragraph 76
  336. 77Paragraph 77
  337. 78Paragraph 78
  338. Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (c. 41)
  339. 79Paragraph 79
  340. Children Act 2004 (c. 31)
  341. 80Paragraph 80
  342. Education and Inspections Act 2006 (c. 40)
  343. 81Paragraph 81
  344. Education and Skills Act 2008 (c. 25)
  345. 82Paragraph 82
  346. 83Paragraph 83
  347. 84Paragraph 84
  348. 85Paragraph 85
  349. 86Paragraph 86
  350. 87Paragraph 87
  351. Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (c. 22)
  352. 88Paragraph 88
  353. 89Paragraph 89
  354. 90Paragraph 90
  355. 91Paragraph 91
  356. 92Paragraph 92
  357. 93Paragraph 93
  358. 94Paragraph 94
  359. Academies Act 2010 (c. 32)
  360. 95Paragraph 95
  361. Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10)
  362. 96Paragraph 96
  363. Schedule 4: Childminder agencies: amendments
  364. Part 1: The childcare registers
  365. 1Paragraph 1
  366. 2Paragraph 2
  367. Part 2: Early years childminder agencies
  368. 3Paragraph 3
  369. 4Paragraph 4
  370. 5Paragraph 5
  371. 6Paragraph 6
  372. 7Paragraph 7
  373. 8Paragraph 8
  374. 9Paragraph 9
  375. 10Paragraph 10
  376. 11Paragraph 11
  377. 12Paragraph 12
  378. 13Paragraph 13
  379. Part 3: Later years childminder agencies
  380. 14Paragraph 14
  381. 15Paragraph 15
  382. 16Paragraph 16
  383. 17Paragraph 17
  384. 18Paragraph 18
  385. 19Paragraph 19
  386. 20Paragraph 20
  387. 21Paragraph 21
  388. 22Paragraph 22
  389. 23Paragraph 23
  390. 24Paragraph 24
  391. 25Paragraph 25
  392. 26Paragraph 26
  393. Part 4: Voluntary registration with childminder agency
  394. 27Paragraph 27
  395. 28Paragraph 28
  396. 29Paragraph 29
  397. 30Paragraph 30
  398. 31Paragraph 31
  399. Part 5: Provisions applying in relation to all childminder agencies
  400. 32Paragraph 32
  401. 33Paragraph 33
  402. 34Paragraph 34
  403. 35Paragraph 35
  404. 36Paragraph 36
  405. 37Paragraph 37
  406. 38Paragraph 38
  407. 39Paragraph 39
  408. 40Paragraph 40
  409. 41Paragraph 41
  410. 42Paragraph 42
  411. 43Paragraph 43
  412. 44Paragraph 44
  413. 45Paragraph 45
  414. 46Paragraph 46
  415. 47Paragraph 47
  416. 48Paragraph 48
  417. 49Paragraph 49
  418. 50Paragraph 50
  419. 51Paragraph 51
  420. 52Paragraph 52
  421. 53Paragraph 53
  422. 54Paragraph 54
  423. 55Paragraph 55
  424. 56Paragraph 56
  425. 57Paragraph 57
  426. 58Paragraph 58
  427. 59Paragraph 59
  428. 60Paragraph 60
  429. 61Paragraph 61
  430. 62Paragraph 62
  431. Part 6: Other amendments
  432. 63Paragraph 63
  433. 64Paragraph 64
  434. Schedule 5: Children's Commissioner: minor and consequential amendments
  435. Inquiries
  436. 1Paragraph 1
  437. 2Paragraph 2
  438. Functions of Commissioner: children in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
  439. 3Paragraph 3
  440. 4Paragraph 4
  441. 5Paragraph 5
  442. Young persons
  443. 6Paragraph 6
  444. Appointment and tenure of Children's Commissioner
  445. 7Paragraph 7
  446. 8Paragraph 8
  447. Deputy Children's Commissioner
  448. 9Paragraph 9
  449. Schedule 6: Repeal of requirement to appoint Children's Rights Director: transfer schemes
  450. Staff transfer schemes
  451. 1Paragraph 1
  452. Property transfer schemes
  453. 2Paragraph 2
  454. The Chief Inspector
  455. 3Paragraph 3
  456. Continuity
  457. 4Paragraph 4
  458. Supplementary provisions
  459. 5Paragraph 5
  460. Interpretation
  461. 6Paragraph 6
  462. Social Security Act 1989 (c. 24)
  463. 1Paragraph 1
  464. 3Paragraph 3
  465. 4Paragraph 4
  466. Finance Act 1989 (c. 26)
  467. 5Paragraph 5
  468. Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c. 4)
  469. 6Paragraph 6
  470. 7Paragraph 7
  471. 9Paragraph 9
  472. 10Paragraph 10
  473. 11Paragraph 11
  474. 12Paragraph 12
  475. 13Paragraph 13
  476. 14Paragraph 14
  477. 15Paragraph 15
  478. 16Paragraph 16
  479. 17Paragraph 17
  480. 18Paragraph 18
  481. 19Paragraph 19
  482. 20Paragraph 20
  483. 21Paragraph 21
  484. 22Paragraph 22
  485. Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c. 5)
  486. 23Paragraph 23
  487. 24Paragraph 24
  488. 25Paragraph 25
  489. 26Paragraph 26
  490. 27Paragraph 27
  491. 28Paragraph 28
  492. Employment Rights Act 1996 (c. 18)
  493. 29Paragraph 29
  494. 30Paragraph 30
  495. 31Paragraph 31
  496. 32Paragraph 32
  497. 33Paragraph 33
  498. 35Paragraph 35
  499. 36Paragraph 36
  500. 37Paragraph 37
  501. 38Paragraph 38
  502. 39Paragraph 39
  503. 40Paragraph 40
  504. 41Paragraph 41
  505. 43Paragraph 43
  506. Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999 (c. 2)
  507. 44Paragraph 44
  508. 45Paragraph 45
  509. 46Paragraph 46
  510. 47Paragraph 47
  511. Finance Act 1999 (c. 16)
  512. 48Paragraph 48
  513. Finance Act 2000 (c. 17)
  514. 49Paragraph 49
  515. 50Paragraph 50
  516. 51Paragraph 51
  517. 52Paragraph 52
  518. 53Paragraph 53
  519. 54Paragraph 54
  520. 55Paragraph 55
  521. 56Paragraph 56
  522. 57Paragraph 57
  523. 59Paragraph 59
  524. Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29)
  525. 60Paragraph 60
  526. Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (c. 1)
  527. 61Paragraph 61
  528. 62Paragraph 62
  529. 63Paragraph 63
  530. Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (c. 11)
  531. 64Paragraph 64
  532. Work and Families Act 2006 (c. 18)
  533. 65Paragraph 65
  534. 66Paragraph 66
  535. 67Paragraph 67
  536. 68Paragraph 68
  537. Income Tax Act 2007 (c. 3)
  538. 69Paragraph 69
  539. 70Paragraph 70
  540. 71Paragraph 71
  541. 72Paragraph 72
  542. Welfare Reform Act 2007 (c. 5)
  543. 73Paragraph 73
  544. Pensions Act 2008 (c. 30)
  545. 74Paragraph 74
  546. Welfare Reform Act 2012 (c. 5)
  547. 75Paragraph 75