Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill Report Stage: New Clause 36

What happened: On 17 March 2025, MPs voted on New Clause 36, a proposed addition to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill during its Report Stage (the stage at which the full House of Commons debates and votes on amendments to a bill). The clause would have expanded provisions for children's welfare or educational support beyond what the government had already included in the bill. The motion was defeated by 317 votes to 159.

Why it matters: The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill is a significant piece of legislation affecting the education and welfare of children in England. New Clause 36 sought to go further than the government's existing reforms, and its defeat means those additional measures will not be added to the bill. The government's approach to children's wellbeing policy therefore remains as originally drafted, without the expanded provisions the clause would have introduced.

The politics: The vote divided sharply along government-versus-opposition lines. Every Labour and Labour and Co-operative MP who voted did so against the clause, providing the Noes with their majority. All 91 voting Conservatives and all 59 voting Liberal Democrats supported the clause, joined by small numbers from Reform UK, the Green Party, the DUP, and independents. There were no Labour rebels. The vote reflects a pattern seen in related divisions during this period, in which opposition parties have united to push for broader measures on education policy while the government has held firm on limiting bills to its own agenda.