The Child Protection Conference: A Practical Guide for Schools — What to Expect, How to Prepare, and What Happens Next

What Is a Child Protection Conference?

A child protection conference is a formal multi-agency meeting convened by a local authority's children's social care team following a Section 47 enquiry (also known as a child protection investigation) under the Children Act 1989. The conference brings together all the professionals involved with a child and their family — and, wherever possible, the child and their parents — to share information, assess risk, and decide whether the child should be made the subject of a Child Protection Plan (CPP).

Under Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023, an Initial Child Protection Conference (ICPC) must be convened within 15 working days of the S47 enquiry being initiated.^[1] This is a statutory timescale — any failure to meet it must be recorded and justified. Schools are one of the key agencies routinely invited, and the DSL's attendance and written report are essential parts of the conference process.

Key Statistics: Child Protection in England (DfE 2024)

Approximately 42,500 children in England are on a Child Protection Plan at any given time^[2]
Neglect is the most common category of registration (49%), followed by emotional abuse (34%)^[2]
Children aged under 1 have the highest rate of registration — a critical safeguarding concern for health and social care^[2]
Only around 60% of Child Protection Plan reviews happen within the statutory timescales (NSPCC, 2022)^[3]

Types of Child Protection Conference

Initial Child Protection Conference (ICPC): The first conference following a Section 47 enquiry. It determines whether a CPP is required and, if so, sets out the plan's objectives and lead worker responsibilities.
Child Protection Review Conference (CPRC): A review held at intervals (initially after 3 months, then every 6 months) to assess whether the child's situation has improved, whether the plan is working, and whether the child remains at risk of significant harm. The school report is equally important at reviews as at the ICPC.
Child Protection Conference (Transfer): Held when a child on a CPP moves into a new local authority area. The new authority must convene a conference within 15 working days of the transfer.

How to Prepare the School's Report

The school report to a child protection conference is a formal document shared with all conference participants, including the child's parents. It must be factual, professional, and evidence-based. It should never contain speculation, hearsay, or the personal opinions of staff. The DSL is typically responsible for compiling the report, drawing on information from class teachers, pastoral staff, SEND records, and the school's safeguarding concern log.

A strong school report typically includes:

Attendance and punctuality: Term-by-term attendance figures, patterns of absence, and any relevant context (e.g. persistent absences following weekends, frequent illness presentations).
Academic performance: A brief summary of the child's attainment and progress — noting any significant deterioration, whether the child is engaged and motivated, and any SEND needs.
Behaviour and emotional wellbeing: Observed changes in behaviour, emotional presentation, or social relationships. Include specific, dated examples rather than generalisations.
Safeguarding history: A chronological summary of all concerns logged at the school — dated, factual, and including what action was taken at each point. Include any previous referrals to social care.
Views of the child: Where the school has spoken with the child about their experiences or concerns, include what they said — with context about how and when it was said.
Relationships with parents/carers: The school's experience of engagement with the child's parents or carers, including any concerns about parental behaviour at school meetings, home visits, or communications.

What Happens at the Conference

The conference is chaired by an independent conference chair (ICC) — usually an experienced social worker who has no direct involvement in the case. The chair is responsible for ensuring all voices are heard, managing disagreements, and enabling the group to reach a decision about the child's safety.

The typical structure of an ICPC is:

Introductions and agreement about how information will be shared with the family present
Each agency shares its written report and responds to questions
The family (and where appropriate, the child) are invited to share their perspective
Agencies discuss risk factors and protective factors in a structured way
The chair invites agencies to make a recommendation about whether a CPP is required
The group reaches a decision — usually by consensus, with the chair having the final decision
If a CPP is agreed: the category of registration (neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse) and lead worker are confirmed; a core group is set up; initial objectives are agreed

The School's Ongoing Role in the Child Protection Plan

Once a Child Protection Plan is in place, the school becomes a key member of the Core Group — the small team of professionals who meet regularly (typically every 6–8 weeks) to monitor the plan's implementation. The DSL should attend core group meetings, continue to maintain chronological records of the child's welfare at school, and alert social care immediately if there is any deterioration in the child's circumstances. Under Working Together 2023, all agencies have an equal responsibility to implement and monitor the plan — school attendance at core group meetings is not optional.

Sources: [1] HM Government (2023). Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023. gov.uk. [2] DfE (2024). Characteristics of children in need: 2023 to 2024. explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk. [3] NSPCC (2022). Child Protection Plan and Register Statistics 2022. nspcc.org.uk. [4] DfE (2024). Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024. gov.uk. [5] Children Act 1989, Section 47. legislation.gov.uk.