Amendments

2025

August 2025

Northamptonshire Joint Protocol for the Decriminalisation of Children In Care and Care Leavers	This chapter was added to the manual in August 2025.
Children and Young People Aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities	In August 2025 Section 15.1, Registering an appeal with the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Disability) was updated in line with case law.
Local Protocol for Assessment	This chapter was added to the manual in August 2025
Health and Safety	In August 2025 information was added into Section 9, Accommodation, Bedroom Space and Sharing in relation to bunk beds.
Provision of Accommodation to Homeless 16 and 17 year olds	This chapter was updated in August 2025.
Children Involved in the Youth Justice System: Additional National Guidance	In August 2025 links were added to additional sources of guidance.
Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation	This chapter was updated in August 2025 to include information from the MoJ Youth Remand Concordat.
Children's Consultation and Participation	This chapter was updated in August 2025.
Families with No Recourse to Public Funds	In August 2025, The NRPF Journey Flowchart was added to the ‘Note’ Section (see above).
Kinship Care	In August 2025 this chapter was revised in line with updated government guidance.
Holidays and School Trips in the UK	This chapter was updated in August 2025 to reflect Granting Leaves of Absence in Working Together to Improve School Attendance statutory guidance, which states that generally, the DfE does not consider a need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure and recreation to be an exceptional circumstance for leave of absence.
A Decision-Making Framework for providers carers and staff: Guidance on when to involve the police when incidents occur	This chapter was added to the manual in August 2025.
Child in Need Plans and Reviews	This chapter was refreshed in August 2025.
Advocacy and Independent Visitors	This chapter was reviewed and amended in August 2025 to include a link to the ‘Get Involved’ site in the ‘Local Information’ section.
Legal Planning Meetings & Gateway Panel	In August 2025, the following sections were updated to reflect changes in timescales: Section 3, Requesting a Legal Planning Meeting, and the Relevant Timings Section 7, Recording of Legal Planning Meetings Appendix 1: Pre-Proceedings; Appendix 3: Issue s31 Proceedings. All updated sections and appendices should be re-read.
Holidays and School Trips Outside the UK (When the Child is Looked After)	This chapter was updated in August 2025 to reflect Granting Leaves of Absence in Working Together to Improve School Attendance statutory guidance, which states that generally, the DfE does not consider a need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure and recreation to be an exceptional circumstance for leave of absence.