Source: Department for Education published on this website Monday 14 September 2026 by Jill Powell
Statutory information sharing duty guidance 2026 for practitioners and organisations providing safeguarding and welfare services for children and young people.
Summary of Guidance
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 introduced an information sharing duty to provide clarity for practitioners on what and when they should share information for the purposes of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Local safeguarding arrangements, practices and procedures, alongside pre-existing statutory responsibilities, then determine how this information should be shared, and with whom. As with all processing of personal data, data protection law determines how to do so appropriately. This guidance explains what organisations and practitioners must do to comply with the information sharing duty under section 16LA (s16LA) of the Children Act 2004, and what they should do to ensure consistent and effective information sharing to safeguard children and promote their welfare. Organisations to whom the information sharing duty applies must have regard to this guidance in accordance with s16LA(6) of the Children Act 20041. This document should be complied with, unless exceptional circumstances arise. Regulators and inspectorates may consider compliance when assessing effectiveness. Legislation this publication refers to This guidance refers to section 16LA of the Children Act 2004 (s16LA), as amended by the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act.
This guidance applies to organisations in England, within s16LA(4), including:
- Section 11(1) Children Act 2004 organisations (e.g. local authorities, Integrated Care Boards, NHS Trusts, the police, prison and probation services, youth justice services, and youth custody services)2. • Designated childcare or education agencies for the purposes of section 16E3.
- Providers delivering services pursuant to arrangements made by the above for functions relating to safeguarding and promoting welfare. This includes GPs, dentists, and other primary care providers.
- Organisations and practitioners to whom the information sharing duty does not apply may find this guidance helpful for best practice, and for understanding how the statutory safeguarding framework, which they contribute information to, operates.
