{"id":83790,"date":"2026-10-14T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T08:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/?p=83790"},"modified":"2026-10-13T15:54:02","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T14:54:02","slug":"information-sharing-duty-guidance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/information-sharing-duty-guidance\/","title":{"rendered":"Information Sharing Duty Guidance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Children\u2019s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 introduced significant legislative changes that placed new responsibilities on those with safeguarding obligations. These responsibilities include new information sharing duties which place clear legal expectations on relevant organisations to share information pertaining to safeguarding. Those with a responsibility for safeguarding children must understand their new obligations in order to promote and support the wellbeing of the children in their care. In this article we will outline what the information sharing duty is and explore the main points of the statutory guidance.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To fully understand the scope of the new information sharing duty, it\u2019s advisable to read the Information Sharing Duty statutory guidance<\/a>. It may also be beneficial to read other key safeguarding documents including Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026<\/a>, the Children\u2019s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026<\/a> and Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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What is the Information Sharing Duty? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The information sharing duty is a legal requirement that mandates the sharing of information where it is relevant to safeguarding and promoting a child\u2019s welfare. It also includes sharing information where concerns relate to early help, prevention and unmet needs. Effective information sharing is vital to timely safeguarding. When information is not shared appropriately, practitioners cannot gain a full understanding of a child\u2019s circumstances, identity concerns before they escalate or accurately decide what action is needed to keep them safe. Information sharing enables organisations to holistically assess the needs of a child, including whether they pose a risk to other children. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Child<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Previous legislation surrounding information sharing was undeniably complex and the Department for Education (DfE) notes that this left practitioners unsure about when they should share information. This was particularly true where concerns relating to a child\u2019s emerging need rather than present harm was concerned. This led to confusion about whether a specific statutory threshold had to be met before information could be shared. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new information sharing duty makes it clear that there is no requirement for a child to meet a particular statutory threshold before information can be shared.<\/strong> By removing this threshold the duty seeks to stop children from falling through the cracks. Poor information sharing has been identified as a contributory factor in serious child safeguarding incidents. When there is a delay in information sharing opportunities are missed to identify needs early, provide support and prevent harm from escalating. Subsequently, the information sharing duty places a clear legal expectation on organisations to share information relevant to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The duty also improves clarity, confidence and consistency of information sharing across the system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The information sharing duty applies to organisations in England within section 16LA<\/a> of the Children Act 2004<\/a>, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n