Amendments

2025

August 2025

Holidays and School Trips In and Outside the UK	This chapter was updated in August 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.
Leaving Care and Transition	In August 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.
Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Child Victims of Trafficking and Modern Slavery	In August 2025, links to sources of further information were updated.
Allegations Against Foster Carers	This chapter was updated in August 2025, to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets - GOV.UK. in Section 4.5, Concluding the Investigation.
Assessment and Approvals of Foster Carers	This chapter was updated in August 2025, to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets - GOV.UK. in the Related Guidance Section.
Health and Safety	In August 2025, information was added into Section 9, Accommodation, Bedroom Space and Sharing in relation to bunk beds.
Placing and Visiting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities or Health Conditions in Long-Term Residential Settings	In August 2025, information was added in relation to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance: Children's Homes and Health Care.
Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities	In August 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.
Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance	In August 2025, links were added to additional sources of guidance.
Allegations Against Prospective Adopters and in Relation to Children Placed for Adoption or Already Adopted	This chapter was updated in August 2025, with a link to DBS guidance leaflets - GOV.UK in Section 4.4, Concluding the Investigation.
Ofsted Inspection Framework	In August 2025, a link was added to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance: Children's Homes and Health Care.
Local Authority's Sufficiency Duty - Accommodation for Looked After Children	This chapter was refreshed in August 2025.
Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters	This chapter was updated in August 2025, with a link to DBS guidance leaflets - GOV.UK in the Related Guidance Section.
Placement for Adoption	In August 2025, Section 4.2, Procedural Fairness was updated in line with case-law.
Local Contacts	This chapter was updated in August 2025.