Open consultation

Information sharing duty statutory guidance

• From: Department for Education
• Published: 2 June 2026

Applies to England

Summary

We would like your views on draft statutory guidance on the information sharing duty introduced in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act.

This consultation is being held on another website.

This consultation closes at
11:59pm on 14 July 2026

Consultation description

We are seeking views on draft statutory guidance, including a data sharing agreement template. These are designed to:

• set out the new information sharing duty, and who it’s for
• help organisations and practitioners to interpret and apply the legislation in practice

The duty will apply from September 2026.

The statutory guidance is intended to:

• promote consistent implementation
• support a cultural shift in how information sharing is understood and practised across sectors

It will replace the Department for Education’s existing guidance on information sharing.

The statutory guidance on working together to safeguard children will still apply.

We are seeking responses from safeguarding organisations and their practitioners.

Published 2 June 2026