https://www.safestepacademy.co.uk/updates/Changes to the law and Ofsted guidance for children's homes in England.en-gbhttps://www.safestepacademy.co.uk/updates/dbs-fees-cut-october-2026/https://www.safestepacademy.co.uk/updates/dbs-fees-cut-october-2026/Mon, 05 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0000The fee for an enhanced DBS check fell from £49.50 to £41, and the DBS Update Service fell from £16 to £15 a year.https://www.safestepacademy.co.uk/updates/information-sharing-duty-in-force/https://www.safestepacademy.co.uk/updates/information-sharing-duty-in-force/Wed, 30 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +0000Information 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.https://www.safestepacademy.co.uk/updates/ofsted-consultation-childrens-social-care-inspection/https://www.safestepacademy.co.uk/updates/ofsted-consultation-childrens-social-care-inspection/Mon, 28 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +0000Ofsted 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.https://www.safestepacademy.co.uk/updates/barred-list-checks-supervised-volunteers/https://www.safestepacademy.co.uk/updates/barred-list-checks-supervised-volunteers/Tue, 01 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +0000From 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.https://www.safestepacademy.co.uk/updates/kcsie-2026-in-force/https://www.safestepacademy.co.uk/updates/kcsie-2026-in-force/Tue, 01 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +0000The 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.https://www.safestepacademy.co.uk/updates/ofsted-notices-by-email/https://www.safestepacademy.co.uk/updates/ofsted-notices-by-email/Wed, 15 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000Section 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.https://www.safestepacademy.co.uk/updates/sccif-childrens-homes-revised-april-2026/https://www.safestepacademy.co.uk/updates/sccif-childrens-homes-revised-april-2026/Wed, 01 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000Ofsted 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.https://www.safestepacademy.co.uk/updates/working-together-2026/https://www.safestepacademy.co.uk/updates/working-together-2026/Wed, 18 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000Working 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.