Amendments

This chapter was refreshed in January 2026.

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

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

In January 2026, information was added from Good decisions: supporting children aged 16 and 17 who need help when they are homeless (GOV.UK) into 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. A new Section 3.1, Domestic Abuse and Homelessness was added.

In January 2026, this chapter was refreshed throughout.

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, a new Section 8.6, Where the Advice from the Guardian and the Local Authority assessment are fundamentally different in relation to the safety and best interests of a child was added in line with practice guidance issued jointly by Cafcass and the ADCS.

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 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.

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 refreshed in January 2026.
The Government guidance ‘Report the death or serious harm of a child or care leaver’ has been 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 added.

Section 3, Security, Retention and Sharing of Records was updated in January 2026 in the light of the Records of Adopted and Care-experienced People – Good Practice Guidance for Record-keepers and Care Professionals (England and Wales) Guidance - published February 2024 which recommends that Adoption records where an Adoption Order is made should now have for "good practice" minimum retention of 125 years (date of birth + 125 years this was previously 100 years) or for "exemplary practice" for 150 years, or best practice would be permanent preservation/retention.

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

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

This chapter was refreshed in July 2025, in line with How Local Authorities and Children’s Homes Can Achieve Stability and Permanence for Children with Complex Needs (Ofsted).

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

In January 2025, this chapter was refreshed.

This chapter was updated in January 2025.

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.

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

In January 2025, information on Ofsted checks was added in to Section 5.1, Checks and a link was added in related guidance to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets - GOV.UK.

In January 2025, this chapter was refreshed.

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, links to sources of further information were updated.

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

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