TheChildren Act 2004 (c. 31) is anAct of theParliament of the United Kingdom.[a]
The Act amended theChildren Act 1989, largely in consequence of theVictoria Climbié inquiry.[1][2]
The Act is now the basis for most official administration that is considered helpful to children, notably bringing alllocal government functions of children's welfare and education under the statutory authority of local Directors of Children's Services. The Act also created theContactPoint database; this, however, has since been axed.
The purpose of the act was to give boundaries and help forlocal authorities and/or other entities to better regulate official intervention in the interests of children.This act ultimate purpose is to make the UK better and safer for children of all ages. The goal 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 measures including and affecting disabled children.
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 seen in the Climbié case. Along with theChildren Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004, there were reports in 2002, 2003, and 2004–05.[3] 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. In family courts this version of the act is very rarely referred to with the Children's Act 1989 more favourably used.[3]
The act contains a "moderate" ban on smacking.[4] This prohibition banned "punishment which causes visible bruising, grazes, scratches, minor swellings or cuts".[5]
The act established theChildren's Commissioner for England.[6]
Section 13 provides for the creation and multi-agency representation of a Local Children's Safeguarding Board in each council area.[7]
In 2024, the BBC reported that the UK government was considering introducing a smacking ban for England.[8]
The following commencement orders have been made for this act:
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