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Child Protection Authority: Your Views and the Government’s Response
- Flick Learning
- Aug 27
- 4 min read
The Child Protection Authority (CPA) is a proposed national body intended to strengthen leadership, learning, and accountability across England’s child protection system. It was first proposed as part of the recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
The CPA is not yet a statutory or operational body. Between 11 December 2025 and 5 March 2026, the government ran an open public consultation asking for opinions on how the organisation should operate, what it should focus on, and other aspects of its creation. The results were published on 7 July 2026.
Below, we summarise who responded, what they said, and how the government has responded to the feedback, including:
Why the Government Sought Your Views
The proposed CPA is intended to address three persistent problems:
Fragmented leadership and coordination
Inconsistent sharing and adoption of good practice
Lessons from reviews not being translated into lasting improvements
The consultation aimed to gather views from the relevant parties, including frontline practitioners, families, regulatory bodies, safeguarding partnerships, and any other relevant organisations.
It was hoped that the feedback received could help strengthen the CPA’s proposed remit, outlining the functions, governance, and relationship with existing organisations.
What Questions Did the Consultation Include?
The consultation was extremely comprehensive. It asked wide-ranging questions, including:
How broad the CPA’s remit should be
Whether it should provide national leadership and oversight
How it should identify emerging risks
What information and data it should monitor
How it could address gaps in evidence
How research and good practice should be shared
How it could support workforce development and consistent training
How it should track recommendations from safeguarding reviews
Other topics were also considered, including consequences for organisations that repeatedly fail to act, how the CPA should work with existing safeguarding bodies, and how survivors and families affected by abuse should influence its work.
The consultation combined a mix of closed questions measuring agreement with open questions, giving respondents a chance to explain their views fully.
Who Responded to the Consultation?
During the consultation, 379 responses were received: 299 via the online consultation, 16 email responses following the questionnaire, 17 other emailed responses, and 47 campaign responses.
Of those answering the relevant question, 54% responded as individuals and 44% on behalf of organisations. Here’s a breakdown of the responses:
Third-sector organisations: 22%
Education: 17%
Local authorities: 16%
Health: 9%
Parents and carers: 5%
Other respondents included people with lived experience, police and criminal justice organisations, out-of-school settings, regulators, academics, and professional bodies.
Summary of Your Views on the Child Protection Authority
The overall message was clear: there is broad support for a national body that can bring greater coherence and strengthen leadership. Respondents broadly agreed on the need for real and lasting change. The current system was felt to be complex and fragmented, with many noting the CPA could help provide a clearer direction, stronger coordination, and a more consistent application.
The strongest findings included:
63% agreed with the proposed scope
71% supported a national leadership and oversight role
91% agreed that a national body should monitor diverse information sources for emerging threats
89% supported consistent training standards across safeguarding partners
90% believed their sector would benefit from additional support in implementing recommendations
One common theme was a desire for practical improvements. Some members noted a worry that the CPA would generate only more reports rather than focusing on the most vulnerable.
Concerns Raised by Respondents
Not all the responses were positive. There was concern that focusing solely on “significant harm” could overlook children who need earlier support but have not reached the statutory intervention threshold. Many responses called for prevention and earlier identification to remain part of the CPA’s approach.
Other broader concerns included duplicating existing organisations, excessive centralisation with weak connections to local communities, too much emphasis on purely collecting data, and additional work for an already stretched safeguarding system.
A few responses also mentioned data quality, privacy, transparency, and the ethical use of AI as areas for consideration.
The Child Protection Authority’s Three Core Functions
The CPA’s proposed role centres on three functions:
System leadership and national oversight: Identify emerging risks, bring together data and frontline evidence, and advise the government.
System learning and support: Turn research into practical guidance, promote good practice, and support consistent training.
Driving system improvement: Track recommendations, coordinate agencies, address persistent failings, and escalate concerns where necessary.
The Government’s Response
The government has confirmed that the CPA will be established as an arm’s-length body, focusing on children who are suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. It will primarily concern under-18s, though it may extend to care leavers up to 25 (depending on the circumstances).
Much of the government’s response agreed with the respondents. It accepted the importance of strong national leadership and the earlier identification of emerging risks. The CPA is not intended to duplicate existing inspectorates but to complement local safeguarding arrangements.
The final structure, detailed powers, and accountability arrangements are still being developed.
What’s Next for the Child Protection Authority?
The Child Protection Authority will not be created this year. The government intends to legislate when parliamentary time allows, but no firm launch date has been announced. Work will continue throughout 2027 to develop the CPA’s functions and capabilities.
Until then, the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel will continue to review serious incidents. However, this will pass to the CPA once established, and the panel will be dissolved.
How to Stay Compliant While the Child Protection Authority Is Established
The proposed CPA does not replace existing safeguarding duties or reporting procedures. The current legislation, statutory guidance, and local safeguarding rules still apply.
For schools and colleges, Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 comes into force on 1st September 2026. It’s crucial to stay up to date on the latest developments, train staff, and adjust policies to maintain compliance.
There’s no reason to wait for the CPA before strengthening safeguarding practice. flick's childcare and education courses and safeguarding training can help your team understand its responsibilities and respond confidently.
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