13 January 2025

VCF calls for meaningful measures in Children Wellbeing and Schools Bill 

We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Sara Sharif. As the organisation entrusted by Victoria Climbie’s parents to hold the child protection system to account it is always painful to learn that a child has been killed, and that the “never again”s said after the failings around Victoria are to be repeated yet again.

Our duty to Victoria’s family, and in honour of her memory, is to continue to speak up for children and for the truth. What that means now is we must speak up about the measures and legislation being called for in Sara’s name which would not have protected her, but which risk harm of other children and their families.

VCF, along with academics and other organisations, raised serious concerns when the last government put forward similar measures and we are disappointed that these have not been listened to.

Sara, like Victoria, was not hidden. Indeed for Sara the ongoing violence of her family was known to authorities from before she was born and throughout her life.

Sara would not have been helped by measures to place restrictions on children in child protection plans or under s47 investigations being withdrawn from school as the local authority had decided she was not in need of protection. If they had recognised her plight, then even without this bill the local authority has these existing powers. The local authority will also have known that she had been withdrawn from school, given the existing robust requirements on schools to inform them.

This is not the ‘gap’ through which children fall and this is not how we shall help them. We have to ask ourselves why children who are known to children’s services are not able to be helped.

We know that years of cuts have resulted in dangerous circumstances and desperation for many children and families. At the same time support and help has been cut and instead often the only option provided involves assessment or investigation by children’s services. Not only is this process well-evidenced as intrusive and often traumatic for children and their families but it also drives up higher caseloads for social workers. At the same time there are high numbers of unfilled positions. This means unsafe practices including inexperienced staff having to make critical decisions without adequate support are far too common.

For “never again” to have any meaning it is here that we must look, these gaping gaps that we must fix. Measures in line with children’s rights and with the UNCRC. Measures to meaningfully address child poverty and unsafe housing and the lack of provision and support for children who need it within the school system. This is what we, at The Victoria Climbié Foundation UK, call for in their names.