CASPAR briefings
Summaries for key reports, statutory and non-statutory guidance
CASPAR briefings help people working or volunteering with babies, children and young people understand changes to safeguarding and child protection policy and guidance.
They also summarise key research and reports from independent bodies such as Ofsted or the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel.
Each briefing outlines the key findings, guidance or updates to guidance to help you comply with the latest statutory requirements or apply new insight to your safeguarding practice.
Read the latest briefing
Summary of the National audit on group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse (Casey review)
A summary of Baroness Casey’s report on group-based child sexual exploitation by ‘grooming gangs’
Race, racism and safeguarding children - “It’s silent”
A summary of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel’s thematic review examining the impact of race, ethnicity and culture on multi-agency practice.
Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel annual report 2023/24
A summary of the Panel’s fifth annual report looking at serious incidents, rapid reviews, local child safeguarding practice reviews and a thematic analysis in 2023/24.
National review into child sexual abuse within the family environment
A summary of the review investigating the experiences of children who were sexually abused by a family member.
Keeping children safe in education (KCSIE) 2024
A summary of changes introduced by Department for Education (DfE) in England.
Early years foundation stage statutory framework
A summary of the DfE’s guidance on safeguarding requirements for early years settings in England.
Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel annual report 2022/23
A summary of the Panel’s annual report looking at learning from serious incidents, rapid reviews, local child safeguarding practice reviews, national reviews and thematic analysis in 2022/23.
Safeguarding children with disabilities and complex health needs in residential settings
A summary of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel’s reports into safeguarding children with disabilities in residential care and the government response to the panel’s recommendations.
Working together to safeguard children 2023: summary of changes
A summary of the updates and changes made to the statutory safeguarding guidance for England in December 2023.
Risk, response and review: multi-agency safeguarding
A summary of the thematic analysis of multi-agency safeguarding in Wales, commissioned by the National Independent Safeguarding Board.
After-school clubs, community activities and tuition: safeguarding for providers
A summary of the DfE’s non-statutory guidance for providers running out-of-school settings in England.
Independent review into children’s social care in Northern Ireland
Summary of reflections and recommendations from a review of children’s social care in Northern Ireland.
Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) final report: summary and government response
A summary of IICSA’s final report into child sexual abuse and exploitation in England and Wales, with evidence from public hearings, submissions to the ‘Truth Project’, IICSA’s research programme, and government responses to the recommendations made.
Government plans to reform children's social care in England
Summary of multiple reports setting out the Department for Education’s (DfE's) plans to reform children's social care in England in 2023.
Briefings from 2022
Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel annual report 2021
Annual overview of learning for practice based on analysis of serious incidents in England in 2021.
Serious case reviews 1998 to 2019
Summary of the Department for Education’s (DfE's) report covering the history and learning from the periodic overview reviews of serious case reviews (SCRs) from 1998 to 2019.
Learning for the future: analysis of serious case reviews 2017 to 2019
An overview of key messages from the Department for Education’s (DfE's) analysis of serious case reviews (SCRs) in England between April 2017 and September 2019.
Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse’s (IICSA’s) final report
This CASPAR briefing was updated with the government's response in May 2023.
Multi-agency safeguarding and domestic abuse
A summary of the Children Safeguarding Practice Review Panel briefing that sets out key findings and recommendations for practice from a literature review and a thematic analysis of case reviews where domestic abuse featured.
The national review into the murders of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson
Summarises the findings and recommendations from the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel's review into the circumstances leading up to the deaths of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson in 2020.
The independent review of children’s social care final report
Summarises findings from the independent review of children's social care's final report on the children's social care system in England.
Child sexual exploitation by organised networks investigation report
Summary of the Independent Inquiry Child Sexual Abuse’s (IICSA) investigative report on the sexual exploitation of children by networks in England and Wales.
Briefings from 2021
Updates to sexual violence and harassment between children in schools and colleges guidance
The Department for Education (DfE) incorporated their advice on Sexual violence and sexual harassment between children in schools and colleges into Keeping children safe in education (KCSIE) in June 2022.
Child sexual exploitation statutory guidance
Find out what the Welsh government’s guidance around child sexual exploitation entails in volume 7 of Working together to safeguard people. Includes information on identifying, reporting, preventing and responding to sexual exploitation.
National guidance for child protection in Scotland
Summary of the revised child protection guidance for people working with children in Scotland.
Sexual abuse in schools and colleges
Summarises Ofsted’s findings and recommendations from their rapid review of sexual abuse in schools and colleges in England.
Safeguarding children under one from non-accidental injury caused by male carers: "The myth of invisible men"
Summary of the findings from the third national review by the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel for England, on babies harmed by fathers and stepfathers.
Annual review of LCSPRs and rapid reviews
An overview of the key messages and learning from rapid reviews and Local Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews (LCSPRs) produced in 2020 and 2021.
Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel annual report
An overview of the key messages and learning from the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel’s annual report for 2020.
Review of children’s social care: "The case for change"
Summarises findings from the independent review of children’s social care, The case for change, and looks at the needs, experiences and outcomes of children supported by social care in England.
Triennial review of initial case reviews and significant case reviews
Looks at findings from reviews of serious child protection incidents in Scotland, and examines evidence of the impact of reviews on child protection practice.
Briefings from 2020
Working together to safeguard children - key provisions introduced in 2018 and updates added in 2020
Summary of key changes in the government's 2018 statutory guidance on safeguarding children and young people for England. Includes summary of further updates made in December 2020.
Triennial analysis of serious case reviews 2014-17: "Complexity and challenge"
Key messages from the DfE's analysis of serious case reviews (SCRs) conducted in England.
Sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI)
Briefing on SUDI in England from June 2018 to August 2019. Key findings are taken from the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel’s review and includes key learning and recommendations.
Safeguarding children at risk from criminal exploitation
Key messages about the criminal exploitation of children and young people in England based on rapid reviews received by the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel between July 2018 and March 2019.
National child protection inspections thematic report
Summary of findings from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services' report looking at how the police service protects children and young people in England and Wales.
Child sexual abuse in the family environment
A briefing summarising the findings from inspections of how agencies in England respond to child sexual abuse in the family.
Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel annual report 2018-19
Summarises key messages from the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel's first annual review about serious safeguarding incidents in England.
