Amendments

In September 2025, information was added to Section 1, Prevention of Homelessness and Provision of Accommodation for 16 and 17-Year-Old Young People who may be Homeless and/or Require Accommodation from Good decisions: supporting children aged 16 and 17 who need help when they are homeless - GOV.UK, and Section 3.1, Domestic Abuse and Homelessness was added.

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 DfE 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. 

In September 2025, in Section 2.1, Additional Considerations Where a Child Has Multiple Needs, information was added about how to access Pre-application advice on caring for children with complex needs (Ofsted) if you are thinking about opening a children's social care service for children with complex needs.

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 DfE 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.

This chapter was revised in September 2025.

This chapter was revised in September 2025. The Government guidance 'Report the death or serious harm of a child or care leaver' was updated to provide what information is needed when reporting incidents involving children who have died or been seriously harmed, and abuse or neglect is known or suspected, looked after children and care leavers. The Serious Incident Notification Guide for local authorities was added to this chapter.

In September 2025, information was added in Section 3, Examples of Adoption Support, to highlight that the DfE has extended the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund initially until March 2026, with a new fair access limit of £3000.

In September 2025, this chapter was added to the manual.

In September 2025, information was added in Section 6.3, Placement before a Special Guardianship Order (SGO) is Granted to highlight that the DfE has extended the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund initially until March 2026, with a new fair access limit of £3000.

In September 2025, this chapter was updated with guidance from the Youth Remand Concordat, which provides principles and guidance for Local Authorities and key agencies in working with children through the remand process.

In September 2025, information was added from How Local Authorities Can Help Young Carers (Ofsted Blog), and additional resources were added to Further Information.