Route map: Legislation

This route map was last updated in December 2025 with all information that is known about work underway and still required. It is not yet fully populated and work continues to identify what still needs to happen. Route maps are shared planning tools to support delivery of the promise and as progress is made and the rest of the route becomes clearer, this route map will continue to be updated.

Where is Scotland now?

Key activity includes the passage and implementation of the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill, alongside ongoing work to ensure legislation and policy better support children, young people and families. There is increasing focus on developing a coherent, rights-based framework that enables good practice rather than creating unnecessary complexity. Next steps include continued scrutiny of new legislation and a planned review of the wider legislative and policy landscape to assess alignment with the promise. Ongoing collaboration across government, local authorities and partners is essential to ensure legislation remains proportionate, enabling and focused on improving experiences and outcomes.

Where does Scotland need to be by 2030?

All of the promise's calls to action have been grouped into delivery-focused outcomes that make clear what Scotland must deliver to keep the promise. The route map then identifies who must take responsibility for action by when for each outcome. This means the outcomes are fully aligned to what children, young people, and care experienced adults said must happen and the actions required are in a format that supports delivery, accountability, and monitoring.

The outcome in Legislation is:

Scotland has a clear legislative, enabling environment that keeps the promise.

The route map to get there

The Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill and the Restraint and Seclusion in Schools (Scotland) Bill have been laid.

The Promise Scotland commissioned and published initial scoping work on options to review the legislative framework relating to the 'care system' with a view to making it clearer to children, their families and the workforce that support them. The Promise Scotland subsequently commissioned further work, which will be published in 2026.

Consideration and scrutiny of the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill will continue in line with standard Parliamentary procedures and will progress through Parliament (subject to parliamentary approval).

Consideration and scrutiny of the Restraint and Seclusion in Schools (Scotland) Bill will continue in line with standard Parliamentary procedures and will progress through Parliament (subject to parliamentary approval).

The Promise Scotland has commissioned work to carry out a review of the legislative landscape in respect of the children’s 'care system' in Scotland. The relevant findings will be published by The Promise Scotland and the Scottish Government will be asked to consider them.

As part of their consideration of the issues raised during the review of the legislative landscape, the Scottish Government will consider whether engagement with the sector and key stakeholders might be appropriate. Core stakeholders are likely to include COSLA, Social Work Scotland, Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, The Promise Scotland, Law Society of Scotland, Faculty of Advocates and the Equality Commission. The Scottish Government will also consider whether a more formal publication with the public might be appropriate.

Following the conclusion of Parliamentary scrutiny of the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill, the Scottish Government will consider whether there continues to be any tensions or gaps across the existing legislative framework, which might be detrimental to the delivery of the promise. The Scottish Government will aim to set out their position in the first year of the 7th session of the Scottish Parliament and their considerations should include:

Work around the 'language of care' to understand what policy, practice and legislative changes are required and any potential impact on case law;
Child protection and decision making provisions;
Whether the existing legislation around brothers and sisters is sufficient or needs strengthening;
Provisions around early help and support; and
Provisions for children and young people leaving care.
Secure care.
Potential changes to data gathering and reporting.

The Scottish Government will be encouraged to consider whether any steps taken with a view to reviewing the existing legislative framework should be included in the Programme for Government.

There are no milestones identified for this year yet. Once progress is made in earlier years, the work required in this year will be clearer and milestones will be added here.

The review of the legislative and policy framework in Scotland surrounding the children's 'care system' will be completed, with a view to making it clearer for children, their families, care experienced adults and the workforce working alongside them.

There are no milestones identified for this year yet. Once progress is made in earlier years, the work required in this year will be clearer and milestones will be added here.

Who needs to work on this:

Scottish Government, local authorities, Health Boards, education