Liberal Reforms – Children By Callum Morrison

Background  A study of poverty in 1901 by Seebohm Rowntree found that in a society where those who didn't work didn't eat, there were three times in people's lives when they were especially vulnerable:  as a young child  when they were old  when they were sick or unemployed

Provision of school meals act 1906  It was argued by Margaret McMillan that if the state insists on compulsory education, it must take responsibility for the proper nourishment of school children  Fred Jowett made a speech in Parliament convincing the MP’s that hungry children had trouble learning  In 1906 parliament passed the Provision of School Meals Act.  However, local authorities were slow to respond to this legislation and in 1914 it was made compulsory to provide meals.

School Medical Inspections 1907  Doctors and nurses were sent into schools to provide free medical checks on children  They would recommend necessary treatment which would have to be paid for by the child’s parents  However a few Local authorities covered the costs for the poorest children free medical treatment wasn’t available for children until 1912 and the free medical clinics.

Children’s Act 1908  Children were now protected, by law, against cruelty from their parents  Poor law authorities were responsible for visiting and supervising children who had suffered cruelty or neglect  Children’s homes to be registered and inspected  Children under 14 who committed crimes were now not to be sent to adult prisons rather the newly constructed borstals.  Special juvenile courts to be set up to try children accused of crimes  Children under 14 not to be allowed into pubs  Cigarettes or alcohol not to be sold to children under 16