Statutory guidance for information sharing duty
Overview
We're seeking views on our statutory guidance on the information sharing duty introduced in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act.
Why your views matter
We are seeking views on draft statutory guidance, including a data sharing agreement template. These are designed to:
- set out the new information sharing duty, and who it’s for
- help organisations and practitioners to interpret and apply the legislation in practice
The duty will apply from September 2026.
The statutory guidance is intended to:
- promote consistent implementation
- support a cultural shift in how information sharing is understood and practised across sectors
It will replace the Department for Education’s existing guidance on information sharing. The statutory guidance on working together to safeguard children will still apply.
We are seeking responses from safeguarding organisations and their practitioners.
If for exceptional reasons, you are unable to use the online system, for example because you use specialist accessibility software that is not compatible with the system, you may request an alternative format of the form. You may also arrange to respond via email or post. Please contact us at: ISD.CONSULTATION@education.gov.uk
To support your response to this consultation, we are hosting a number of national webinars on the information sharing duty to provide more information, foster discussion and answer any questions. Please find the links below.
Events
-
DfE Information Sharing Duty Consultation General Webinar
From 8 Jun 2026 at 11:00 to 8 Jun 2026 at 12:00Location Online - Microsoft TeamsTo accompany the consultation, we are hosting a number of national webinars on the information sharing duty to support understanding, answer any questions and promote our consultation. These webinars will likely be of particular interest to organisations and practitioners covered by the Information Sharing Duty, but they are open to all. You'll only need to attend one webinar, each will cover the same content with a tailored focus.
This is the first of two general webinars for those who cannot attend their sector specific session, or those who don't consider the sector categories to apply to them, including members of the public.
Click the link to join, or alternatively use the following joining instructions:
Meeting ID: 359 906 933 475 951
Passcode: cr9Cs3MRIf you have any questions, please contact ISD.CONSULTATION@education.gov.uk
-
DfE Information Sharing Duty Consultation Health Webinar
From 8 Jun 2026 at 14:30 to 8 Jun 2026 at 15:30Location Online - Microsoft TeamsTo accompany the consultation, we are hosting a number of national webinars on the information sharing duty to support understanding, answer any questions and promote our consultation. These webinars will likely be of particular interest to organisations and practitioners covered by the Information Sharing Duty, but they are open to all. You'll only need to attend one webinar, each will cover the same content with a tailored focus.
This is webinar is tailored for those working within, or with a particular interest in, the health sector.
Click the link to join, or alternatively use the following joining instructions:
Meeting ID: 382 598 288 471 530
Passcode: FD9vm9LjIf you have any questions, please contact ISD.CONSULTATION@education.gov.uk
-
DfE Information Sharing Duty Consultation Education and Early Years Webinar
From 11 Jun 2026 at 12:00 to 11 Jun 2026 at 13:00Location Online - Microsoft TeamsTo accompany the consultation, we are hosting a number of national webinars on the information sharing duty to support understanding, answer any questions and promote our consultation. These webinars will likely be of particular interest to organisations and practitioners covered by the Information Sharing Duty, but they are open to all. You'll only need to attend one webinar, each will cover the same content with a tailored focus.
This is webinar is tailored for those working within, or with a particular interest in, the education and early years sectors.
Click the link to join, or alternatively use the following joining instructions:
Meeting ID: 382 434 176 556 555
Passcode: Zq2xr7WrIf you have any questions, please contact ISD.CONSULTATION@education.gov.uk
-
DfE Information Sharing Duty Consultation Policing and Justice Webinar
From 22 Jun 2026 at 11:00 to 22 Jun 2026 at 12:00Location Online - Microsoft TeamsTo accompany the consultation, we are hosting a number of national webinars on the information sharing duty to support understanding, answer any questions and promote our consultation. These webinars will likely be of particular interest to organisations and practitioners covered by the Information Sharing Duty, but they are open to all. You'll only need to attend one webinar, each will cover the same content with a tailored focus.
This is webinar is tailored for those working within, or with a particular interest in, the policing and justice sectors.
Click the link to join, or alternatively use the following joining instructions:
Meeting ID: 335 317 715 461 981
Passcode: BR62zD9fIf you have any questions, please contact ISD.CONSULTATION@education.gov.uk
-
DfE Information Sharing Duty Consultation LA Webinar
From 22 Jun 2026 at 14:00 to 22 Jun 2026 at 15:00Location Online - Microsoft TeamsTo accompany the consultation, we are hosting a number of national webinars on the information sharing duty to support understanding, answer any questions and promote our consultation. These webinars will likely be of particular interest to organisations and practitioners covered by the Information Sharing Duty, but they are open to all. You'll only need to attend one webinar, each will cover the same content with a tailored focus.
This is webinar is tailored for those working within, or with a particular interest in, Local Authorities.
Click the link to join, or alternatively use the following joining instructions:
Meeting ID: 311 967 000 432 936
Passcode: qR7mx9twIf you have any questions, please contact ISD.CONSULTATION@education.gov.uk
-
DfE Information Sharing Duty Consultation General Webinar
From 23 Jun 2026 at 10:30 to 23 Jun 2026 at 11:30Location Online - Microsoft TeamsTo accompany the consultation, we are hosting a number of national webinars on the information sharing duty to support understanding, answer any questions and promote our consultation. These webinars will likely be of particular interest to organisations and practitioners covered by the Information Sharing Duty, but they are open to all. You'll only need to attend one webinar, each will cover the same content with a tailored focus.
This is the second of two general webinars for those who cannot attend their sector specific session, or those who don't consider the sector categories to apply to them, including members of the public.
Click the link to join, or alternatively use the following joining instructions:
Meeting ID: 361 911 721 003 966
Passcode: 2QV6sE2XIf you have any questions, please contact ISD.CONSULTATION@education.gov.uk
Audiences
- 16-18 year old students resident at these institutions
- Adoptive parents
- Adult and mental health practitioners
- Adult education providers
- Awarding organisations
- Bodies representing schools and local authorities
- CAMHS
- Clinical commissioning groups
- Designated institutions and 16-19 academies
- Designated safeguarding leads
- Directors of children's services
- Early learning and childcare providers
- Educational Psychologists
- Faith bodies
- Further education colleges
- Governing bodies and academy trusts
- Government bodies and departments
- Governors
- Head teachers and proprietors of private schools
- Headteachers
- Health visitors
- Independent school associations
- Independent specialist colleges
- Local authorities
- Ofsted
- Parents
- Principle social workers
- School business managers
- School nurses
- School support staff
- SENCOs
- Service managers
- Sixth form colleges
- Social workers
- Social workers
- Teachers
- Team managers
- Training providers
- Unions and representative organisations
- Virtual school heads
Interests
- Adult social care
- Adult social work
- Alternative provision
- Disabled children
- Early learning and childcare
- Early years foundation stage
- Health and wellbeing
- Health and wellbeing (Looked after children)
- Keeping children safe in education and other settings
- Preventing neglect, abuse and exploitation
- Safeguarding disabled children
- Social care standards and guidance
- Social workers' standards
- Statutory policies and guidance
Share
Share on Twitter Share on Facebook