Children and Families Act 2014
What this means for your business
- Applies to
- United Kingdom
- On this page
- 4 compliance obligations, 1 practical guide
What you must do
4 compliance obligations under this legislation.
Management duties 1
Co‑operate with the local authority
If your organisation is listed as a local partner of a local authority (e.g. an academy proprietor, special school provider, youth offending team, NHS trust, etc.), you must work with that authority and share information to help it carry out its duties under the Children and Families Act. In practice this means attending joint meetings, responding to requests and aligning your services with the authority’s plans.
Offences and prohibitions 3
Buy tobacco or nicotine products for under‑18s
Fine up to £2,500If you (or someone acting for you) purchase, or try to purchase, tobacco, cigarette papers or a nicotine product for a person under 18, you commit an offence. The only defence is that you genuinely had no reason to suspect the buyer was a child. On conviction you face a fine of up to £2,500, dealt with in the Magistrates' Court.
Fail to comply with tribunal document or attendance request
Fine up to £1,000If you (or your organisation) are required by Tribunal Procedure Rules to provide documents or attend a hearing in relation to an appeal about a detained child’s EHC plan, and you do not do so without a reasonable excuse, you commit an offence. On summary conviction you can be fined up to £1,000.
Sell nicotine products to under‑18s
Fine up to £2,500If you sell any nicotine product to a person who is under 18 you commit a criminal offence, unless the buyer is an employee of a nicotine‑product manufacturer or dealer purchasing for business purposes. On conviction you will be fined up to £2,500 and the case will be heard in the magistrates' court.
Penalties for non-compliance
3 penalties under this legislation.
Buy tobacco or nicotine products for under‑18s
Fine up to £2,500
Sell nicotine products to under‑18s
Fine up to £2,500
Fail to comply with tribunal document or attendance request
Fine up to £1,000
Practical guidance
Our guides explain how to comply with the requirements above.
Sections and provisions
147 classified provisions from this legislation.
Duties 27
- s.19 Local authority functions: supporting and involving children and young people
- s.22 Identifying children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities
- s.23 Duty of health bodies to bring certain children to local authority's attention
- s.25 Promoting integration
- s.28 Co-operating generally: local authority functions local partner
- s.29 Co-operating generally: governing body functions responsible local authority
- s.30 SEN and disability local offer
- s.31 Co-operating in specific cases: local authority functions The person or body
- s.34 Children and young people with special educational needs but no EHC plan
- s.35 Children with SEN in maintained nurseries and mainstream schools
- s.37 Education, health and care plans social care provision which
- s.38 Preparation of EHC plans: draft plan
- s.39 Finalising EHC plans: request for particular school or other institution
- s.40 Finalising EHC plans: no request for particular school or other institution
- s.42 Duty to secure special educational provision and health care provision in accordance with EHC Plan
- s.44 Reviews and re-assessments
- s.48 Release of child or young person for whom EHC plan previously maintained
- s.52 Right to mediation
- s.63 Fees for special educational provision at non-maintained schools and post-16 institutions
- s.66 Using best endeavours to secure special educational provision
- ... and 7 more duties
Offences and penalties 4
Powers 24
- s.10 Family mediation information and assessment meetings
- s.32 Advice and information
- s.41 Independent special schools and special post-16 institutions: approval
- s.43 Schools and other institutions named in EHC plan: duty to admit
- s.45 Ceasing to maintain an EHC plan
- s.46 Maintaining an EHC plan after young person's 25th birthday
- s.47 Transfer of EHC plans
- s.58 Appeals and claims by children: pilot schemes
- s.59 Appeals and claims by children: follow-up provision
- s.61 Special educational provision otherwise than in schools, post-16 institutions etc
- s.64 Supply of goods and services
- s.75 Supply of goods and services: detained persons
- s.76 Provision and publication of special needs information
- s.77 Code of practice
- s.78 Making and approval of code
- s.89 Childcare costs scheme: preparatory expenditure
- s.94 Regulation of retail packaging etc of tobacco products
- s.96 Young carers
- s.97 Parent carers
- s.106 Provision of free school lunches
- ... and 4 more powers
Definitions 15
- s.21 Special educational provision, health care provision and social care provision Health care provision Social care provision
- s.24 When a local authority is responsible for a child or young person
- s.26 Joint commissioning arrangements education, health and care provision
- s.27 Duty to keep education and care provision under review Children's centre
- s.36 Assessment of education, health and care needs
- s.53 Mediation: health care issues
- s.54 Mediation: educational and social care issues etc
- s.57 Resolution of disagreements relevant body relevant school or post-16 institution
- s.80 Parents and young people lacking capacity Statutory provision The relevant time
- s.83 Interpretation of Part 3 EA 1996 ESA 2008 SSFA 1998
- s.107 Primary function of the Children's Commissioner
- s.119 Statutory shared parental pay relevant week week
- s.127 Time off work to accompany to ante-natal appointments
- s.128 Time off work to attend adoption appointments adoption agency
- Schedule 6 Repeal of requirement to appoint Children's Rights Director: transfer schemes the Chief Inspector the Office
Exemptions 10
- s.5 Adoption support services: personal budgets
- s.33 Children and young people with EHC plans
- s.49 Personal budgets and direct payments
- s.55 Mediation
- s.56 Mediation: supplementary
- s.65 Access to schools, post-16 institutions and other institutions
- s.70 Application of Part to detained persons
- s.100 Duty to support pupils with medical conditions
- s.126 Further amendments
- s.135 Orders and regulations