Proposals for a Child Protection Authority in England were published in December 2025 by the Department for Education.
The proposals outlined the scope of the Authority, its role in leadership and oversight, how it should promote system learning and support, and how it can best engage with other bodies and individuals.
Our response
Our response highlighted the important role that the Authority should have in providing oversight and leadership. The Authority should ensure that review and report recommendations are acted on by relevant stakeholders in the child protection system, and it should have either the statutory powers or the relationships to compel action as required. It should listen to frontline practitioners and individuals with lived experience, so that emerging risks can be identified and addressed before they exacerbate over time.
The Authority must recognise that the child protection system is under immense pressure, and should strive to foster the conditions that allow improvement and best practice to flourish.
It is very important that the Authority does not duplicate the work of others in the child protection system and that its scope, role and responsibilities are well-defined.