1. The Liberal Reforms – Children
Today we will learn about the social reforms of the Liberal government which benefited children
Lesson starter:
Give three reasons why attitudes to the poor had changed by 1906

2. Success criteria
Identify and describe the reforms of the Liberal government for children
Successfully answer a HOW FULLY question

3. Between 1906 and 1914 the Liberal government passed a series of Acts of Parliament (Laws) which aimed to deal with the social problems affecting Britain

4. Free school meals (1906)
‘The Provision of School Meals Act (1906) said councils could provide free meals by raising local taxes.
This was inspired by Fred Jowett, Labour MP for Bradford, whose municipal council been feeding poor children with taxpayers money (illegally!)
Therefore, not all children were covered

5. School Medical Inspections (1907)
Doctors and nurses went into schools to provide free compulsory medical checks for children e.g. head lice
They could recommend any treatment that was necessary
This identified problems and recommended treatment
But any treatment required by the children had to be paid for by the parents. A pair of glasses cost a quarter of a working family’s wage

6. Children’s Charter (1908)
Children were protected by law against cruelty
Children under 14 who committed crimes were now not to be sent to adult prisons. Special juvenile courts were set up which were more concerned with the welfare of the child
Criminal children were to be sent to borstals, especially built to cope with young offenders. But these were tough places
Children under 14 not to be allowed into pubs and cigarettes or alcohol not to be sold to children under 16. This was difficult to enforce !

7. SOURCE A describes the Liberal reforms for children
In 1906, one of the first reforms of the Liberal government was to introduce free school meals for children. However, not every council made this happen. A year later, medical inspections were brought in for children in school. Problems were identified and treatment could be recommended but was not paid for. In 1908, the Children’s Charter was introduced to give children more protection such as protection from cruelty and they were not to be sent to adult prisons.
Task 1
Write the passage above in your own words

8. SOURCE B is by Herbert Smith who was a member of the Liberal Government 1906-1914
Under the Children’s Charter of 1908 we introduced laws to prevent the cruelty and neglect from which many children suffered. We set up a completely new system of Juvenile Courts for dealing with delinquent children, and ended the practice of sending children to adult prisons.
Task 2
How fully does SOURCE B describe the reforms of the Liberal government for children? (4)

9. The source gives a partial description of some of the Liberal reforms for children. For example, it tells us about the Children’s Charter which the Liberals set up in It also tells us about Juvenile Courts system that was introduced. However, it does not mention Free School Meals which were introduced for poor children in It also fails to mention that the Liberals introduced medical inspections for children in 1907.