Amendments

In January 2026, information was added in Section 6.5, Moving and Handling and Postural Care on the importance for some children of good postural care to reduces their health risks and improve their quality of life.

This chapter was updated in January 2026 to reflect Granting Leaves of Absence in Working Together to Improve School Attendance statutory guidance, which states that generally, the Department for Education does not consider a need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure and recreation to be an exceptional circumstance for leave of absence.

In January 2026, this chapter was refreshed.

In January 2026, information was added into Section 2, What is County Lines Offending? Additional guidance was also added in Further Information.

This chapter was updated in January 2026 to include information for the Restraint and restrictive practices: positive environments for children - Ofsted: social care.

In January 2026, this chapter was updated with information from the Youth Justice Charter - know your rights in the youth justice system. The Youth Justice Charter sets out what children can expect at each stage of the youth justice system - helping them understand who does what, what their rights are, and what to do if the standards are not met.

This chapter was updated in July 2025 to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets (GOV.UK) in Related Guidance.

This chapter was updated in July 2025 to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets (GOV.UK).

In July 2025, this chapter was refreshed and a link was added to Guidance: Being an Appropriate Adult - guidance for those who perform the role of ‘appropriate adult’ and for the person benefiting from the appropriate adult's support.

In July 2025, information about Pre-application advice on caring for children with complex needs (Ofsted) was added in Section 6.1, Who the Children’s Home Needs to be Registered With.

In July 2025, a new Section 3, Child Financial Exploitation was added.

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.

This chapter was refreshed in July 2025.

In July 2025, this chapter was refreshed to add additional information in relation to Regulation 45 reviews and reports.

This chapter was updated in July 2025.

This chapter was refreshed in July 2025.

This chapter was updated in January 2025.

This chapter was updated in January 2025 and includes information on Vaping.

This chapter was significantly updated in January 2025.

This chapter was updated in January 2025.

This chapter was updated in January due to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance.

This chapter was updated in January due to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance.

In January 2025, this chapter was updated in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children.