Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026

2 Inclusion of childcare and education agencies in safeguarding arrangements

(1) Section 16E of the Children Act 2004 (local arrangements for safeguarding and promoting welfare of children) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1)—

(a) omit the “and” after paragraph (a);

(b) after that paragraph insert—

“(aa) those relevant agencies which are designated childcare or education agencies, and”;

(c) for paragraph (b) substitute—

“(b) any other relevant agencies that the safeguarding partners consider appropriate,”.

(3) In subsection (2), after “partners” insert “and the relevant agencies mentioned in subsection (1)(aa)”.

(4) After subsection (2) insert—

“(2A) For the purposes of this section, a relevant agency is a “designated childcare or education agency” if it—

(a) has functions relating to the provision of childcare or education (or both), and

(b) is designated as such by regulations made by the Secretary of State.”

(5) In section 66(3) of that Act (instruments subject to affirmative procedure), for “16E(3)” substitute “16E(2A)(b) or (3)”.