England Children
Legislation, Statutory Guidance, Good Practice Guidance, Action Plans
Bills
New
The Voyeurism (Offences) (No. 2) Bill
Charity Trustees (Time Off for Duties) Bill 2017-19 England, Wales and Scotland
The draft International Development (Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups) Bill
Human Trafficking (Child Protection) Bill 2017
Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (Legal Advice and Appeals) Bill (HL Bill 53)
Schools (Mental Health and Wellbeing) Bill (HL Bill 40)
Digital Economy Act 2017 (Amendment) (Definition of Extreme Pornography) Bill [HL] 2017-19
Home Education (Duty of Local Authorities) Bill (HL Bill 11)
Age of Criminal Responsibility Bill (HL Bill 3)
Modern Slavery (Victim Support) Bill [HL] 2017-19
Legislation
New
Children Act 1989 (Amendment) (Female Genital Mutilation) Act[HL] 2019
The Child Safeguarding Practice Review and Relevant Agency (England) Regulations 2018
The Adoption and Children Act Register (Search and Inspection) Regulations 2017
Children and Social Work Act 2017
Education and Adoption Act 2016
Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016
Part 5 of this Act is about Protection of Children etc
The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014
Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014
Children and Families Act 2014
An Act to make provision about children, families, and people with special educational needs or disabilities; to make provision about the right to request flexible working; and for connected purposes. And strengthens the role of the Children's Commissioner
Main
Prevention of Cruelty to, and Protection of, Children Act 1889
An Act for the Prevention of Cruelty to, and better Protection of, Children. ..... Section thirty-seven of the Poor Law Amendment Act, 1868
The Children and Young Persons Act of 1933
Provides for the punishment of a person who treats a child "in a manner likely to cause him unnecessary suffering or injury to health (including injury to or loss of sight, or hearing, or limb, or organ of the body, and any mental derangement)".
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
Brought many different laws together and is now the law on which the current child protection system is based
The Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999
Special measures directions in case of vulnerable and intimidated witnesses
Includes trustees duty of care
127 Improper use of public electronic communications network
(1) A person is guilty of an offence if he—
(a) sends by means of a public electronic communications network a message or other matter that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character; or
(b) causes any such message or matter to be so sent.
(2) A person is guilty of an offence if, for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety to another, he—
(a) sends by means of a public electronic communications network, a message that he knows to be false,
(b) causes such a message to be sent; or
(c) persistently makes use of a public electronic communications network.
(3) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable, on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or to both.
(4) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to anything done in the course of providing a programme service (within the meaning of the Broadcasting Act 1990 (c. 42)).
A legislative framework for cooperation between agencies working to safeguard children and includes the role of Commissioner for children in England
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
An Act to make provision in connection with the protection of children and vulnerable adults.
An Act to make provision about the powers and duties of local authorities and other bodies in England in relation to the improvement of the well-being of young children; to make provision about the powers and duties of local authorities in England and Wales in relation to the provision of childcare and the provision of information to parents and other persons; to make provision about the regulation and inspection of childcare provision in England; to amend Part 10A of the Children Act 1989 in relation to Wales; and for connected purposes.
The following in date order early to latest dates
Section 213A (inserted by section 12 of the Homelessness Act 2002) housing authorities are required to refer to adult social services homeless persons with dependant children who are ineligible for homelessness assistance, or are intentionally homeless, as long as the person consents. If homelessness persists, any child in the family could be in need.
Family Law Act 1996 (the 1996 Act)
Sex Offenders Act 1997 see also 2003
An Act to require the notification of information to the police by persons who have committed certain sexual offences; to make provision with respect to the commission of certain sexual acts outside the United Kingdom; and for connected purposes.
Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998
An Act to protect individuals who make certain disclosures of information in the public interest; to allow such individuals to bring action in respect of victimisation; and for connected purposes.
Section 38 require local authorities, within the delivery of youth justice services., to ensure the provision of person to act as appropriate adults to safeguard the interests of children and young persons detained or questioned by police officers.
The Care Standards Act 2000 and the Regulations and National Minimum Standards made under it, contain provisions in relation to the welfare, health and illnesses of children who are looked after in establishments regulated by the Act.
Freedom of Information Act 2000
Gives the right to request any recorded information we hold that isn’t about you personally.
Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002
To make provision about nationality, immigration and asylum; to create offences in connection with international traffic in prostitution; to make provision about international projects connected with migration; and for connected purposes.
Adoption and Children Act 2002
Section 120 amends the Children Act 1989 by expanding the definition of "harm" to include witnessing domestic violence.
Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003
Extends the existing legislation criminalising female genital mutilation in the UK, by making it an offence for UK nationals or permanent UK residents to take a girl abroad, or to help others to take a girl abroad, to carry out female genital mutilation, even in countries where the practice is legal.
Relating to offences against children. It includes the offences of grooming, abuse of position of trust, trafficking, and covers offences committed by UK citizens whilst abroad. It also updates the Sex Offenders Act 1997 by strengthening the monitoring of sex offenders.
Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004
Closes a legal loophole, (whereby defendants in murder and manslaughter cases could escape conviction by claiming each other had killed the child), by creating a new offence of causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable adult. The offence establishes a new criminal responsibility for members of a household where they know that a child or vulnerable adult is at significant risk of serious harm.
Section 131A Accommodation etc. for children
Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007
The Serious Crime Act (2007) section 44
Intentionally encouraging or assisting an offence (For England Wales and Northern Ireland)
Children and Young Persons Act 2008
Legislates for the recommendations in the Care matters white paper(DfES, 2007) to provide high quality care and services for children in care. It also places a duty on registrars to notify the Local Safeguarding Children Board of all child deaths.
The Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults and Care Standards Tribunal (Children’s and Adults’ Barred Lists) (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2008
Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009
Places a duty on the UK Border Agency to safeguard and promote children's welfare (section 55), bringing them in line with other public bodies that have contact with children.
Care Planning, Placement and Case Review(England) Regulations 2010
Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011
Section 1 (8) (h) requires the police and crime commissioner to hold the chief constable to account for the exercise the latter’s duties in relation to safeguarding children under section 10 and 11 of the Children Act 2004
Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims (Amendment) Act 2012
Extends the 2004 offence to include “causing or allowing child or vulnerable adult to suffer serious physical harm”.
Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012
Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
An Act to provide for the destruction, retention, use and other regulation of certain evidential material; to impose consent and other requirements in relation to certain processing of biometric information relating to children; to provide for a code of practice about surveillance camera systems and for the appointment and role of the Surveillance Camera Commissioner; to provide for judicial approval in relation to certain authorisations and notices under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000; to provide for the repeal or rewriting of powers of entry and associated powers and for codes of practice and other safeguards in relation to such powers; to make provision about vehicles left on land; to amend the maximum detention period for terrorist suspects; to replace certain stop and search powers and to provide for a related code of practice; to make provision about the safeguarding of vulnerable groups and about criminal records including provision for the establishment of the Disclosure and Barring Service and the dissolution of the Independent Safeguarding Authority; to disregard convictions and cautions for certain abolished offences; to make provision about the release and publication of datasets held by public authorities and to make other provision about freedom of information and the Information Commissioner; to make provision about the trafficking of people for exploitation and about stalking; to repeal certain enactments; and for connected purposes.
Education in date order early to latest
School Standards and Framework Act 1998
The 1998 School Standards and Framework Act contains provisions for schools and nursery education. This covers further education for young people at school, and in FE institutions across the UK
The Non-Maintained Special Schools Regulations 1999
Requirements in relation to staff
Includes a provision (section 175) requiring school governing bodies, local education authorities and further education institutions to make arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
And regulations made under s157 state that proprietors of independent schools (which include Academies and Free schools) must make arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils and in doing so must have regard to any statutory guidance issued by the Secretary of State.
Education and Inspections Act 2006
Special Educational Needs (Information) Act 2008
The School Staffing (England) Regulations 2009
Details of what needs to be included in the “register”
The Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2010.
Details of what needs to be included in the “register”
Children, Schools and Families Act 2010
An Act to make provision about children with disabilities or special educational needs, school and other education, and governing bodies' powers; to make provision amending the Education Acts; to make provision about Local Safeguarding Children Boards; and to make provision about publication of information relating to family proceedings.
The Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2010
Makes changes to provisions on school discipline and will place restrictions on the public reporting of allegations made against teachers.
The Education (Non-Maintained Special Schools) (England) Regulations 2011
2011 require non-maintained special schools to have arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the health, safety and welfare of the registered pupils at the school, and to have regard to the guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education now published 3 April 2014.
The Residential Holiday Schemes for Disabled Children (England) Regulations 2013
Holiday schemes for disabled children (“schemes”) are currently subject to the same degree of regulation as children’s homes, which are regulated under the Children’s Homes Regulations 20011 (“the 2001 Regulations”). In order to achieve the policy objectives of enabling multiple sites to be registered as one scheme, application regulations have been made allowing Part 2 of the Care Standards Act 2000 (“the Act”) to be applied to proprietors of the schemes, so that they can be regulated through separate regulations which can apply to more than one site, rather than regulating them as previously as a type of children’s home.
These substantive regulations therefore set out the requirements for the registration and conduct of schemes. They are based largely on the 2001 Regulations, but include the provision that enables schemes to operate across a number of sites under one registration.
The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2013
Statutory Guidance
New
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 updated 21st February 2019
Care and support statutory guidance updated October 1st 2018
Changes to Care and support statutory guidance updated October 1st 2018
Detention Services Order 19/2012 Safeguarding Children Policy August 2018
Keeping children safe in education updated 19th September 2018
Working Together: transitional guidance July 2018
Statutory guidance for Local Safeguarding Children Boards, local authorities, safeguarding partners, child death review partners, and the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel
Early years foundation stage statutory framework (EYFS) updated 2018
FGM mandatory reporting duty: guidance for healthcare professionals update January 2017
Children missing education Statutory guidance for local authorities September 2016
Early years childcare: registering with Ofsted updated 8th July 2016
Multi-agency statutory guidance on female genital mutilation 2016
Female Genital Mutilation Risk and Safeguarding Guidance for professionals May 2016
Revised Prevent Duty Guidance: for England and Wales July 2015
Guidance on Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 March 2015
Safeguarding Policy 2015: Office of the Public Guardian
Behaviour and discipline in schools updated September 2015
SEND: managing changes to legislation from September 2014
This guidance has been updated to reflect a number of queries that have arisen during the first year of RPA and new arrangements for young people with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities in the Children and Families Act 2014.
Special educational needs and disability code of practice: 0 to 25 years
Statutory guidance for organisations who work with and support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities 2014
Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions: Statutory guidance for governing bodies of maintained schools and proprietors of academies in England September 2014
Promoting the education of looked after children Statutory guidance for local authorities July 2014
Multi-agency practice guidelines: Handling cases of Forced Marriage 2010 updated 2014
Main
Listening to and involving children and young people January 2014
Statutory guidance on children who run away or go missing from home or care January 2014
Simple Cautions for Adult Offenders Ministry of Justice November 2013
Statutory Guidance, Guidance under Section 7 of the local authority social services act 1970 and Factual notes by HM Government
Regulated Activity in relation to Children: scope (Factual note by HM Government) 2012
General in date order latest to earliest
Children Act 1989 guidance and regs vol 5: Children's homes update 2013
1989 Children Act guidance, Volume 1 Court Orders update 2012
Tackling child sexual exploitation - Action plan November 2011 (Statutory)
The Children Act 1989: Care planning, placement, case review Guidance 2010 updated 2013
The Right to Choose: Multi-agency statutory guidance for dealing with forced marriage 2010
Safeguarding children and young people from sexual exploitation: supplementary guidance 2009
Education date order latest to earliest
Teacher misconduct: the prohibition of teachers January 2014
Departmental advice on how professional conduct hearing panels review teacher misconduct.
Guidance for governing bodies on behaviour and discipline: The power to discipline beyond the school gate 2012
Health order latest to earliest
This guidance is intended to assist those involved in information sharing between agencies about Domestic Violence to make decisions. It identifies the underlying ethical considerations so that tensions between confidentiality and information sharing may be resolved
National action plan to tackle child abuse linked to faith or belief 2012/Page2/DFE-00094-2012
Tackling child sexual exploitation - Action plan November 2011 (Statutory)
Good Practice Guidance, Standards Advice and Policy
NEW
Safeguarding children affected by parental alcohol and drug use Guidance December 2018
Parental responsibility: guide for schools and local authorities updated September 2018
Staffing and employment: advice for schools May 2018
Indecent images of children: guidance for young people March 2018
Ofsted Safeguarding Policy Guidance updated March 2018
Ofsted Safeguarding concerns: guidance for inspectors March 2018
ID checking guidelines for DBS check applications October 2017
Strategy for dealing with safeguarding issues in charities updated December 2017
Child abuse and neglect: NICE guideline [NG76] Published date: October 2017
DBS guidlines for a criminal record check from October 2nd 2017
Criminal Exploitation of children and vulnerable adults: County Lines guidance 2017
Preventing and tackling bullying advice for headteachers, staff and governing bodies July 2017
Guidance for joint targeted area inspections on the theme: children living with neglect April 2017
Further education and skills inspection handbook for use from 20th April 2017
Indecent images of children: guidance for young people July 2017
Whistleblowing: Prescribed persons guidance 2017
National Referral Mechanism (NRM): guidance for child first responders 2016
Guidance on how to identify and refer children who may have been the victim of trafficking and provide a cohesive response for appropriate agencies
Victims of modern slavery – Competent Authority guidance 2016
Victims of modern slavery – frontline staff guidance 2016
Sexting in schools and colleges: 2016 Responding to incidents and safeguarding young people
Inspecting schools: guidance for parents September 2016
Harmful sexual behaviour among children and young people NICE September 2016
Inspecting safeguarding in early years, education and skills from September 2015 updated August 2016
How to report female genital mutilation: guidance for health professionals Updated 25 May 2016
Child Safety Online: A Practical Guide for Providers of Social Media and Interactive Services 2016
Blowing the whistle to a Prescribed Person 2016
Whistleblowing about children's social care services to Ofsted
Inspecting childminding agencies: guidance for inspectors 2016:
Guidance to assist social workers and their managers in undertaking age assessments in England
Helping children to be safer, healthier and free of crime 2015
Helping school nurses to tackle child sexual exploitation: pathway 2015
Safeguarding children and young people and young vulnerable adults policy updated July 2015
Protecting children from radicalisation: the prevent duty: Updated August 2015
The use of social media for online radicalisation July 2015
Information sharing protocol for Inspectorates: Ofsted May 2015
What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused Advice for practitioners March 2015
Supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities
Working with foreign authorities: child protection cases and care orders 2014
Early years: guide to the 0 to 25 SEND code of practice
Advice for early years providers that are funded by the local authority September 2014
SEND: guide for further education providers
Advice for further education colleges, sixth form colleges, 16 to 19 academies, and independent specialist colleges approved under section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014
SEND: guide for social care professionals
A guide for social care professionals on the support system for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
SEND: guide for schools and alternative provision settings
A guide for schools on the support system for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
Mental health and behaviour in schools Departmental advice for school staff June 2014
Closing the Gap: Priorities for essential change in mental health 2014
Sets out 25 priorities for change in how children and adults with mental health problems are supported and cared for.
Progress report: Moving towards a child centred system 2012
Advice on child internet safety 1.0: Universal guidelines for providers 2012
Achieving Best Evidence in Criminal Proceedings 2011
Guidance on interviewing victims and witnesses, and guidance on using special measures
Guidance on interviewing victims and witnesses, and guidance on using special measures
ABE Special Measures - Crown Prosecution Service Legal Guidance 2011
Safeguarding children who may have been trafficked - Practice guidance 2011
Safeguarding Children and Young People who may be affected by Gang Activity 2010
Neglect matters: a multi-agency guide for professionals working together on behalf of teenagers 2010
Safeguarding disabled children: Practice guidance 2009
Safeguarding Children In Whom Illness Is Fabricated or Induced 200
Replacement Children Act 1989 Guidance on Private Fostering 2005
Education dated earliest
New
Sexual violence and sexual harassment between children in schools and colleges Dec 17
Sexting in schools and colleges: responding to incidents and safeguarding young people 2016
Behaviour and discipline in schools: Advice for headteachers and school staff Updated September 2015
Searching, screening and confiscation at school 2014
Data Protection Good Practice Note Taking Photographs in Schools
This Good Practice Guidance is aimed at Local Education Authorities and those working within schools, colleges and universities. It gives advice on taking photographs in educational institutions and whether doing so must comply with the Data Protection Act 2018.
Addressing youth violence and gangs Practical advice for schools and colleges March 2015
This advice is for leaders, their senior teams and staff that are in schools or colleges affected by gang or youth violence. When developing an approach, it is recommended that schools and colleges discuss ways to address youth violence with local police and community safety partners, as well as other local educational institutions.
Charities
Enhanced Due Diligence: Safeguarding for external partners published October 2018 (UK)
Safeguarding duties for charity trustees England and Wales updated July 2018
Automatic disqualification rules for charity trustees and charity senior positions 2018
The essential trustee: what you need to know, what you need to do (CC3) May 2018
Charities: how to protect children and adults at risk 2018
Actions to tackle exploitation and abuse agreed with UK charities 2018
Regulatory and risk framework 2018
How to report a serious incident in your charity updated 2017
Regulatory alert to charities - safeguarding 19 December 2017
Strategy for dealing with safeguarding issues in charities 2017
Charity fundraising: a guide to trustee duties 2016
Whistleblowing: guidance for charity employee 2015
Charity Commission’s Safeguarding children and young people 2014
All Health Professionals
New
Safeguarding Children and Young People: Roles and Competencies for Healthcare Staff 2019
When to suspect child maltreatment
General Practitioners and all Medical Practitioners
Raising and acting on concerns about patient safety 2012
GMC Confidentiality: good practice in handling patient information (2017)
Raising and acting on concerns about patient safety 2012
Protecting children and young people: The responsibilities of all doctors September 2012
Female Genital Mutilation: Caring for patients and safeguarding children 2011
0-18 years: guidance for all doctors 2007
Nurses and Midwives
Raising and escalating concerns: Guidance for nurses and midwives 2010
Record Keeping guidance for nurses and midwives 2015
Fact sheets, Frameworks, Action Plans and Papers
New
Best practice for PE changing rooms: NSPCC factsheet
Inspection framework (SCCIF): children’s homes, including secure children’s homes
FGM protection orders factsheet published December 2016
Serious Crime Act 2015 Fact sheet: Overview of the Act
A Call to End Violence against Women and Girls Action Plan March 2014
Safeguarding Vulnerable People in the Reformed NHS Accountability and Assurance Framework March 2013
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