Amendments

In May 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.

In May 2026, this chapter was updated to contain information from the Mental Health Foundation 2003, NICE guidance for Self-harm: assessment, management and preventing recurrence and the NHS England Staying safe from suicide guidance. Additional website links was added.

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

In May 2026, this chapter was updated to contain additional information on recruiting people who have lived overseas and on the DBS update service.

In November 2025, information was added about Pre-application advice on caring for children with complex needs (Ofsted). Information was added into 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.

Section 8, Home Remedies was amended in November 2025 to include the increasing advisory role pharmacists play re over the counter medication.

This chapter was updated in November 2025 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.

This chapter was updated in November 2025 to include information for the Restraint and restrictive practices: positive environments for children – Ofsted: social care.

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

This chapter was added in August 2025.

This chapter was updated in August 2025.

This chapter was added in June 2025.

This chapter was updated in May 2025.

This chapter was updated in May 2025.

This chapter was updated in May 2025.

This chapter was updated in May 2025.

This chapter was updated in May 2025.

This chapter was updated in May 2025.

This chapter was updated in May 2025.

This chapter was updated in May 2025.

This chapter was updated in May 2025.

This chapter was updated in May 2025.

This chapter was updated in May 2025.

This chapter was updated in May 2025.