Amendments

This chapter was updated in July 2025 to bring it into line with Children Missing Education (August 2024). The changes are technical updates only to bring the guidance in line with the Working together to improve attendance statutory guidance and the School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024. It also highlights pending legislation: The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill and brings to the attention of readers Ofsted and Care Quality Commission (CQC) Thematic Reviews of Children Not in School in Local Areas which will be undertaken in 2025

This chapter was updated in July 2025 to include a link to Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets (GOV.UK) in Section 9, Further Information.

In July 2025, information in relation to sexually coerced extortion was added into Section 1, Definition.

In July 2025, this chapter was revised throughout.

In July 2025, amendments were made to the definition of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in line with further revisions to Working Together to Safeguard Children.

In January 2025, this chapter was revised throughout.

In January 2025, this chapter was updated to reflect updated Prevent Duty Statutory Guidance.

In January 2025, links to sources of further information were updated.

In January 2025, the links to Further Information were revised and updated.

In January 2025, the links in the Further Information section were revised and updated.

This chapter was revised with several minor changes to improve clarity and update links in January 2025.

This chapter was updated in January 2025 to include information on Stalking Protection Orders.

This chapter was revised in January 2025 and additional links were added into Further Information.

In July 2024, a link was added in Section 1.2.1, Age Assessment to BASW Age Assessment Practice Guidance. In Further Information, a link was added to Operation Innerste Process: Caseworker Guidance.

This chapter was revised in July 2024, with further clarification on the legal duty under the Equalities Act 2010.

In July 2024, this chapter was revised in line with updated government guidance.

This chapter was updated in July 2024, a new Section 6, Non- Fatal Strangulation was added. Definitions were also updated in line with revised Working Together to Safeguard Children which now uses the statutory definition of domestic abuse in Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

In July 2024, minor amendments were made to definitions in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children.

In July 2024, a link was added to Education Supply Chains - A Better Hiring Toolkit.

In July 2024, definitions were updated in line with revised Working Together to Safeguard Children.

This chapter was updated in July 2024, with new guidance from Working Together to Safeguard Children around purpose and function of Child Protection Conferences and the role of the Lead Practitioner.

In July 2024, this chapter was updated in line with the Online Safety Act 2023. 

This chapter was updated in July 2024, in line with the revised Working Together to Safeguard Children December 2023.

In July 2024, this chapter was updated in line with the revised Working Together to Safeguard Children December 2023.

In July 2024, this chapter was updated in line with the revised Working Together to Safeguard Children December 2023.

This chapter was revised in July 2024.

This chapter was updated in May 2024.

In March 2024, this chapter was updated throughout.

In January 2024, this chapter was amended to include information on Identifying Suspected Perpetrators of Modern Slavery into Section 2.3, Indicators.

This new chapter was added in January 2024, which defines adolescent to parent violence and abuse, describes the risk factors and indicators and suggests the protective action that should be taken.

This procedure was added in January 2024 and sets out, in brief form, the key matters dealt with in Keeping Children Safe In Education (KCSIE) and refers readers to the more detailed information in the guidance itself.

This chapter was revised in January 2024 and additional links were added into Further Information.

This chapter was revised in January 2024 and additional links were added into Further Information.

This chapter was revised in January 2024 and additional links were added into Further Information.

This chapter was revised in January 2024 and additional links were added into Further Information.

In January 2024, a new subsection 'Principles' was added into Section 2, Serious Violence Duty, to include information from the Ofsted Framework Joint Targeted Area Inspections of the Multi-agency Response to Serious Youth Violence.