This is what I put, hope it helps.
Some children live with both of their natural parents, some may live with one. Many children live with a carer who is not their natural parent, this may mean a step parent or grandparent, a foster parent or anyone who has parental responsibility for them. Under the Children Act 1989 (revised in 2004) The importance of parents or other carers in children’s lives, it states that parents and others who have parental responsibility have the right to make decisions for and about their children in the following areas:
• The name of the child.
• The child’s religion.
• The child’s education.
• The child’s medical treatment.
• Where and with whom the child should live.
• Money and property belonging to the child.
Even though parents and carers have the right to make decisions when it comes to their children, if their decisions are not in the interests of the child, for example refusing medical treatment on their behalf, these rights can be suspended. This is because the Children Act’s guiding principal is that the welfare of the child is paramount and when the child’s welfare is compromised, parents/carers wishes can be overruled.
It is expected that children are protected by parents/carers and kept safe and healthy. Parents/carers need to ensure that their child receives education from the age of 5 years up until the end of statutory schooling. If parents do not do this then they may face prosecution or lose their powers of parental responsibility.
|