Policy papers and consultations

Information about the 2023 Spring Budget announcement on early years entitlements and associated funding.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 19 April 2024

• Childminder start-up grants scheme update: September 2023

  Applications for the childminder start-up grants scheme are now open.…

• Childminder start-up grants scheme update: April 2023

  Following the announcement of the new start-up grant for childminders at…

• Early education entitlements and funding update: March 2023

  In the government’s spring budget, the Chancellor announced transformative…

Information about the FFC pathfinder and family networks pilot (FNP) that will work with local authorities to deliver children’s social care reform.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 10 April 2024

• Families first for children (FFC) pathfinder programme and family networks pilot (FNP)

  Background The FFC pathfinder was announced in February 2023 as part of…

We are seeking views on child safeguarding practice in schools and colleges to inform the Department for Education’s safeguarding in schools and colleges policy.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 28 March 2024

We're seeking views on changes to Ofsted fees for children's social care providers.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 19 March 2024

We are seeking views on Department for Education proposals to support childminders and childminder agencies (CMAs) and future policy development.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 15 March 2024

Find out more about changes to the High Income Child Benefit Charge that were announced at Spring Budget 2024, and what this means for Child Benefit payments​.

• From: HM Revenue & Customs
• Updated: 8 March 2024

This consultation seeks views on Ofsted’s proposals for the inspections of supported accommodation (SA) for looked after children and care leavers aged 16 and 17.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 29 February 2024

This consultation asks children and young people for their views on Ofsted’s proposals on inspecting supported accommodation for looked after children and care leavers aged 16 and 17.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 29 February 2024

We are seeking views on the draft statutory guidance for local authorities on the use of agency child and family social workers.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 31 January 2024

The Department for Education’s strategy for sustainability and climate change for the education and children’s services systems.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 20 December 2023

Seeks views on the proposal to remove the statutory requirement for a full employment history when appointing volunteers in health and care settings.

• From: Department of Health and Social Care
• Updated: 18 December 2023

Government response to the review into safeguarding children with disabilities and complex health needs in residential settings by the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 18 December 2023

The Department for Education's long-term plan to transform data in children's social care.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 15 December 2023

We are seeking views on our revisions to the Working together to safeguard children statutory guidance.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 15 December 2023

This strategy will enable more children who cannot live with their parents to stay with people who are known to them and love them.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 15 December 2023

Our plan to transform children's social care.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 15 December 2023

The Department for Education's plans for the children's social care dashboard.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 15 December 2023

We are seeking views on proposals regarding our approach to funding for early years entitlements for 2-year-olds and under from April 2024.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 29 November 2023

We’re seeking views on proposed changes to requirements in the early years foundation stage (EYFS).

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 27 October 2023

We’d like your views on proposals to introduce national rules on the use of agency child and family social workers in local authority children’s social care.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 25 October 2023