Amendments

2025

Child Criminal Exploitation and County Lines	In September 2025, a new Section 3, Child Financial Exploitation was added.
Holidays and School Trips	This chapter was updated in September 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.
Role of Appropriate Adults	In September 2025, this chapter was refreshed and a link was added to Guidance: Being an Appropriate Adult - guidance for those who perform the role of ‘appropriate adult’ and for the person benefiting from the appropriate adult's support.
First Aid, Home Remedies and Medication	Section 3, Home Remedies was amended in September 2025 to include the increasing advisory role pharmacists play re over the counter medication.

Alcohol	This chapter was added in March 2025.
Smoking	This chapter was updated in March 2025.
Child Criminal Exploitation and County Lines	This chapter was refreshed in March 2025.
Safeguarding Children and Young People and Referring Safeguarding Concerns	In March 2025, amendments were made to the definition of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in line with further revisions to Working Together to Safeguard Children.
Safe Use of the Internet, Social Media and Photographs	In March 2025, information was added into Section 1, Risks in relation to sexually coerced extortion.
Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation	This chapter was refreshed in March 2025.
Allegations Against Staff	This chapter was updated in March 2025, to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets - GOV.UK.
Recognising Abuse and Neglect	In March 2025. amendments were made to the definition of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in line with further revisions to Working Together to Safeguard Children.
Notification of Serious Events	In March 2025, information was added in relation to Ofsted and CQC Joint Registration Guidance: Children’s Homes and Health Care.
Monitoring Quality	This chapter was updated in March 2025.

Preparation for Leaving Care	In September 2024, a link to Ofsted Guidance Children's Homes that Provide Care and Accommodation for Adults was added in Further Information.
Safe Use of the Internet, Social Media and Photographs	In September 2024, this chapter was updated in line with the Online Safety Act 2023.
Smoking	This chapter was refreshed in September 2024.
Recognising Abuse and Neglect	In September 2024, definitions were updated in line with revised Working Together to Safeguard Children.
Drugs and Substance Misuse	In September 2024, information was added to reflect the reclassification of nitrous oxide as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (as amended).
Child Criminal Exploitation and County Lines	In September 2024, minor amendments were made to definitions in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children.