Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill Report Stage: Amendment 171

Parliament voted on 17 March 2025 on Amendment 171 to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill at Report Stage. The amendment, tabled by the Liberal Democrats, proposed extending the profit-capping powers contained in Clause 15 of the Bill to independent special schools. Clause 15 creates a reserve power for the Secretary of State to cap profits made by registered children's home and fostering agency providers; the amendment sought to bring independent special schools serving pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) within the same framework. The amendment was defeated by 317 votes to 65. The vote matters because independent special schools occupy a significant role in SEND provision in England. Local authorities are often legally required to place children with complex needs in these settings when no suitable state alternative exists, and campaigners and MPs have argued this creates a captive market in which providers can charge very high fees. The amendment's supporters argued that extending the profit cap would relieve pressure on local authority budgets and protect children with SEND from a market they say is not functioning properly. By defeating the amendment, Parliament left independent special schools outside the profit-regulation framework for now. The Liberal Democrats led the Aye side, providing 55 of the 65 votes in favour. The Greens contributed 3 votes, Reform UK 2, and 2 independents voted Aye. Labour, including its Co-operative members, voted entirely against, providing all 317 Noes between them, joined by 2 independents and 1 SDLP member. There were no Conservative votes recorded on either side. The government's position was that SEND reform should be comprehensive, whole-system and expert-led rather than addressed through individual amendments, and the minister said plans would be set out in due course.