Guidance

Children in need census 2025 to 2026: guide

Guide for local authorities submitting children in need census 2025 to 2026 returns.

Applies to England

Documents

Details

This guide is for local authorities preparing a children in need census 2025 to 2026 return.

It includes information on:

  • submission deadlines
  • validation checks
  • year-on-year checks
  • data modules

Updates to this page

Published 22 October 2024
Last updated 22 October 2025 show all updates
  1. We have updated the children in need census 2025 to 2026 guide with the following information: - updated links to Working Together to Safeguard Children throughout the document - a wording change to the Primary Need code N1 from ‘Abuse or neglect’ to ‘Abuse, neglect and exploitation’. - updated wording for Neglect and Sexual Abuse categories of abuse - updated wording for guide for inclusion/exclusion for Socially Unacceptable Behaviour - addition of Factors at end of assessment guidance at Appendix B, rather than as a separate document - updated additional information for Domestic Abuse factor in Appendix B

  2. First published.

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