GOV.UK – Information Sharing Duty

We wanted to share key information following a recent letter to safeguarding partners regarding the introduction of a new statutory Information Sharing Duty, coming into force on 30 September 2026.

The new duty (under the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act) will place a clear legal obligation on relevant organisations to share information where it is necessary to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. This includes sharing information at earlier stages (e.g. emerging needs and prevention) and clarifies that consent is not required where information sharing is lawful and proportionate.

A six-week public consultation on the draft statutory guidance and data sharing agreement is now open, closing 14 July 2026. This is an important opportunity to help shape how the duty is implemented in practice.

You can access and respond to the consultation here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/information-sharing-duty-statutory-guidance

There is an expectation that local areas begin preparing for implementation, including reviewing local arrangements, workforce development, and information governance.