Upholding children’s rights in court: roles and responsibilities

Date: 1st May 2026
Category: Children in conflict with the law
Author: Children and Young People's Centre for Justice

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A new Guidance Toolkit has been launched to help ensure that children’s rights are upheld at every stage of their journey through the justice system. Developed to support a children’s human‑rights‑respecting approach, the toolkit sets out what good practice should look like, why it matters, and how agencies can work together to remove barriers that prevent children from receiving the support they are entitled to.

At its core, the toolkit highlights the legislative and policy frameworks that should guide all decision‑making involving children. It emphasises that when local practice falls short, multi‑agency partners have a responsibility to identify the gaps and take action. The resource is also designed to spark local conversations about how children are treated when they appear in court and what improvements can be made.

One of the key tools highlighted in the guidance is a new education information‑request proforma, hosted on the CYCJ, Education Scotland and CELCIS websites. This proforma enables social work services to request essential education details when preparing investigations and assessments for court. Education Scotland is distributing the resource across all schools to ensure consistent understanding and use.

The toolkit aims to embed a rights‑respecting culture across all agencies involved with children in conflict with the law, reinforcing that every child, regardless of circumstance, is entitled to dignity, fairness and support.

Access the full guidance toolkit

Access the summary version of the toolkit

Watch the recorded launch webinar.