the children and families act 2014

• Children's commissioner:

  
  

  - gives them stronger powers

  -made to focus on rights of all children including those living away from home

  -increases their role to promote and protect the rights of children.
• Parents who have a new child:

  
  

  -parents can opt to share parental leave so each can take time off work

  -mother's partner can take unpaid leave to attend up to 2 antenatal appointments

  -allows potential adoptive parents time off work to see the child and attend meetings
• family courts and justice:

  -introduced a 26 week deadline for family court to rule on proceedings

  -courts should help parents do what's right for the child, not what they want

  -both separated parents should be in the children's life so long as it's safe and in their best interests
• SEND (special educational needs):

  -introduced education and healthcare plans

  -gives right to a personal budget for children with EHC plans

  -schools to be provided with more support to meet needs of children with medical conditions