Member

Together, these two amendments embody a balanced approach. Amendment 426D asks us to learn from those local authorities that have built constructive, low-conflict relationships with families. Amendment 426E asks us to ensure that, in our zeal to regulate, we do not inflict greater harm on the very children we seek to protect. In an era when parental choice, diversity of provision and flexibility of learning are increasingly recognised as vital, we cannot afford a heavy-handed approach that alienates families and risks undermining children’s welfare. If we are serious about promoting the best interests of children, and if we truly believe in both the duty of the state and the rights of parents, I urge the Government to give these amendments serious consideration. They represent a constructive step forward in reconciling oversight with respect, accountability with compassion and enforcement with the paramount principle that no child should be harmed in the name of regulation. I beg to move.