UK Act of Parliament 2014 United Kingdom

Children and Families Act 2014

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At a glance

Enforced by

Ofsted, Ofqual

What's here

33 compliance obligations, 5 practical guides across 2 topics · 5 journeys

Penalty landscape

2 of 33 obligations carry a fine up to £2,500. 2 carry different penalties and 29 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.

Who this Act binds

Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.

  • Any Person 10
  • Employer 1

Plus 22 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.

Step-by-step journeys using this legislation

Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.

Relevant guidance

Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.

Direct — cites this Act

2 guides

Supporting — topic alignment

2 guides

Mentioned in related content

1 guides

Other Acts binding the same actors

For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.

Any Person also bound by 749 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Employers also bound by 171 other Acts (top 5 shown)

What this Act requires

Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.

Part 1 — Adoption and contact

Browse 9 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 2 — Family justice

Browse 9 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 3 — Children and young people in England with special educational needs or disabilities

s.025

Promoting integration

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Local authorities must integrate education, health, and social care services Local authority
s.030

SEN and disability local offer

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Local authorities must publish and review a 'local offer' for SEN and disability Local authority
s.044

Reviews and re-assessments

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Local authorities must review and re-assess EHC plans Local authority
s.051

Appeals

Fine up to £1,000
  • Fail to provide evidence or attend a Tribunal hearing Any Person
s.052

Right to mediation

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Local authorities must notify parents and young people of mediation rights Local authority
s.067

SEN co-ordinators

  • Designate a qualified Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) Employer
s.069

SEN information report

  • Prepare and publish a Special Educational Needs (SEN) information report Any Person
Browse 37 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 4 — Childcare etc

Browse 6 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 5 — Welfare of children

s.096

Young carers

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Local authorities must identify and assess the needs of young carers Local authority
s.097

Parent carers

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Local authorities must assess the needs of parent carers Local authority
Browse 10 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 6 — The Children's Commissioner

Browse 10 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 7 — Statutory rights to leave and pay

Part 8 — Time off work: ante-natal care etc

Part 9 — Right to request flexible working

Part 10 — General provisions

Browse 6 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Schedules

Browse 7 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Read the full Act on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)

Official guidance

Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.

Enforcement and responsible bodies

The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.

Ofsted

Primary

Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills

Inspects and regulates services providing education, training, and childcare in England. Inspects schools, colleges, initial teacher training, and children's social care. Registers …

Ofqual

Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation

Regulates qualifications, examinations, and assessments in England. Approves and monitors awarding organisations. Maintains the Register of Regulated Qualifications.

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Browse legislation

Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.

Regulators

Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.