Devon Safeguarding Digest: May 2026

Welcome to the Devon Safeguarding Digest. This regular update will help you stay up to speed with safeguarding news and local policy changes.

Children’s Wellbeing and School Act passes into law

The long-awaited Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill has now passed into legislation. Some of the measures include action against illegal children’s homes, anew duty to share information regarding the safety and welfare of children, the creation of a single unique identifier for children to social services, Children Not in School registers, and the extension of corporate parenting duties to public bodies.

Crime and Policing Act passes into law

Among other measures, the Crime and Policing Act creates new criminal offences related to adults who engage in child criminal exploitation.

Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel publishes annual report

Of the serious safeguarding incidents notified to the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025, the most affected age groups were babies under 1 and children aged 11-15, 60% recording neglect and 51% recorded domestic abuse.

Children’s Commissioner research on children growing up in B&Bs

Thousands of children in England are spending months living in unsuitable B&Bs or hostels with shared bathrooms and kitchens, despite the six‑week legal limit.