Regulation updates
What changed for children's homes, and what to do
We check legislation.gov.uk, GOV.UK and Ofsted every month. Each change below links to the official source. Follow by RSS at /updates/feed.xml.
All updates
DBS check fees cut from 5 October 2026
The fee for an enhanced DBS check fell from £49.50 to £41, and the DBS Update Service fell from £16 to £15 a year.
What to doRegulation update · 30 September 2026Information sharing to safeguard children: new duty and statutory guidance
Information sharing guidance to safeguard children became statutory on 10 September 2026, and a new duty in section 16LA of the Children Act 2004 came into force on 30 September 2026.
What to doRegulation update · 28 September 2026Ofsted's consultation on inspecting children's social care has closed
Ofsted consulted on changes to how it inspects children's social care, including report cards and a five-point scale. The consultation closed on 28 September 2026, and Ofsted expects to respond in early 2027.
What to doRegulation update · 1 September 2026Supervised volunteers and students can now need barred list checks
From 1 September 2026, section 139 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 removed the supervision exemption for work with children. Anyone working closely and frequently with children can be in regulated activity, supervised or not.
What to doRegulation update · 1 September 2026Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 is in force
The 2026 edition of Keeping Children Safe in Education applies from 1 September 2026. It is schools' guidance, but it shapes how schools work with your home on safeguarding.
What to doRegulation update · 15 July 2026Ofsted can now serve notices by email
Section 14 of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 amended section 37 of the Care Standards Act 2000. Ofsted can serve notices by email, and an emailed notice is treated as served on the working day after it is sent.
What to doRegulation update · 1 April 2026Ofsted's inspection framework for children's homes revised
Ofsted updated the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) for children's homes on 1 April 2026, including the section on evaluating children's experiences and progress.
What to doRegulation update · 18 March 2026Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026 replaces the 2023 edition
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026 was published on 18 March 2026. It adds a paragraph on risks to looked-after children in residential settings. The rule that allegations against staff go to the LADO within one working day is unchanged.
What to doKeep your team up to date
Every licensed pack is updated when the law changes. Live sessions always use the current rules.