Amendments

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, in Section 2.1, Additional Considerations Where a Child Has Multiple Needs, information was included showing how to access pre-application advice on caring for children with complex needs (Ofsted) if you are thinking about opening a children’s social care service for children with complex needs.

This chapter was refreshed in January 2026. The Government guidance ‘Report the death or serious harm of a child or care leaver’ was updated to provide what information is needed when reporting incidents involving children who have died or been seriously harmed and abuse or neglect is known or suspected, looked after children and care leavers. The Serious Incident Notification Guide for local authorities was also added to this chapter.

This chapter was refreshed in January 2026.

In January 2026, information was added from How Local Authorities Can Help Young Carers (Ofsted Blog) and additional resources were added to Further Information.

In January 2026, information was added to Section 1, Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17-year-Old Young People who may be Homeless and/or Require Accommodation, from Good Ddecisions: supporting children aged 16 and 17 who need help when they are homeless - GOV.UK, and a section was added around Domestic Abuse and Homelessness.

This chapter was refreshed in January 2026 to include information from the Criminal Injuries Compensation: A Guide.

In January 2026, information was added in Section 3 ,Examples of Adoption Support to highlight that the DfE has extended the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund initially until March 2027, with a new fair access limit of £3000.

In January 2026, links were added to Youth Remand Concordat - Guidance and principles to follow a joint approach throughout the youth remand process for local and national partners and delivering the best for girls in custody - an independent review into placements and care for girls in the Children and Young People Secure Estate.

In January 2026, information was added in Section 6.3, Placement before a Special Guardianship Order (SGO) is Granted, to highlight that the DfE has extended the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund initially until March 2027, with a new fair access limit of £3000.

In January 2026, this chapter was updated with guidance from the Youth Remand Concordat which gives guidance and principles for Local Authorities and key agencies in working with children through the remand process. This chapter was also 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 January 2026 to include information from the Ministry of Justice Youth Remand Concordat. In addition, 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.

In July 2025, links were added to additional sources of guidance.

In July 2025, this chapter was revised in line with updated government guidance.

This chapter was updated in July 2025 to reflect Granting Leaves of Absence in Working Together to Improve School Attendance statutory guidance, which states that generally, the DfE 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.

This chapter was updated in January 2025, to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets - GOV.UK. in the Related Guidance Section. Information on Ofsted checks was also added in to Section 4.1, Checks.

This chapter was updated in January 2025.

In January 2025, information was added in relation to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance: Children's Homes and Health Care.

In January 2025, updates were made to reflect the Homelessness Code of Guidance - Chapter 22: Care Leavers (updated 3 May 2024) which sets out the expectation that authorities should have in place joint protocols which clearly outline jointly held corporate parenting responsibilities for care leavers. See Section 8, Joint Housing Protocols for Care Leavers.

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

This chapter was refreshed in January 2025.

In January 2025, Section 4.2, Procedural Fairness was updated in line with case-law.

In January 2025, information was added to Section 3, Stage One-The Pre-Assessment Process, with details on how to request information about an applicant from Ofsted and a link to DBS Guidance was also added.

This chapter was updated in January 2025, to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets - GOV.UK. in Section 4.5, Concluding the Investigation.

In January 2025, information was added into Section 9, Accommodation, Bedroom Space and Sharing in relation to bunk beds.

This chapter was refreshed in January 2025, in line with How Local Authorities and Children's Homes Can Achieve Stability and Permanence for Children with Complex Needs (Ofsted) and to include a link to Somersets Sufficiency Strategy 2023 to 2028.

In January 2025, Section 15.1, Registering an appeal with the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Disability) was updated in line with case law.

This chapter was updated in January 2025, with a link to DBS guidance leaflets - GOV.UK in Section 4.4, Concluding the Investigation.

In January 2025, a link was added to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance: Children's Homes and Health Care.