Effective safeguarding depends on continuous learning, reflection, and improvement. National Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews provide valuable insights into the experiences of children and families where serious harm or abuse has occurred, helping organisations understand what happened, why it happened, and how practice can be strengthened to better protect children.
This page brings together National Safeguarding Children Reviews, local learning reviews, and associated resources to support a culture of learning across our services. The findings from these reviews highlight recurring themes, examples of effective practice, and opportunities for improvement in areas such as professional curiosity, information sharing, multi-agency working, and recognising the lived experiences of children.
Learning from reviews is not about attributing blame; it is about understanding the complex circumstances that can affect decision-making and service delivery. By examining these cases, practitioners and managers can reflect on their own practice, identify areas for development, and strengthen the quality of support provided to children and their families.
Alongside the published reviews, you will find local learning summaries and 7-Minute Briefings designed to make key messages accessible and easy to apply in day-to-day practice. These resources provide concise guidance on critical learning points, helping teams to discuss, reflect, and embed improvements within their services.
We encourage all staff to regularly engage with these resources, consider how the learning relates to their role, and contribute to creating a safer environment where children are listened to, supported, and protected. Through collective learning and professional reflection, we can continually improve outcomes for children and families.
Protecting All Vulnerable Babies Better
Published: July 2026
Focus: Learning from the death of Baby Victoria Marten and wider national safeguarding arrangements for vulnerable babies and unborn children.
Southport Public Inquiry (Phase 1 Report)
Published: April 2026
Focus: Examines the circumstances leading up to the Southport attack of July 2024 and identifies lessons for safeguarding, public protection and multi-agency working. The inquiry found significant failings in risk ownership, information sharing, oversight of online activity, understanding of autism in risk assessment, and parental responsibility.
Child Safeguarding Practice Review: Sara Sharif
Published: November 2025
Focus: Reviews the life and death of 10-year-old Sara Sharif and examines the involvement of safeguarding agencies from before her birth until her murder in August 2023. The review identifies multiple missed opportunities to protect Sara, including weaknesses in responses to domestic abuse, information sharing, family court processes, front-door decision making, and oversight of elective home education. The review concludes that Sara's death was preventable.
Race, Racism and Safeguarding Children
Published: March 2025
Focus: Examines the impact of race and racism on safeguarding practice and outcomes for children, and supports practitioners to develop culturally competent and anti-racist practice.
National Review into Child Sexual Abuse within the Family Environment- “I wanted them to notice”
Published: November 2024
Focus: National learning about identifying, responding to and protecting children experiencing child sexual abuse within the family environment.
Safeguarding Children in Elective Home Education
Published: October 2024
Focus: Explores safeguarding risks, protective factors and opportunities for practitioners when working with children educated at home.
Safeguarding Children with Disabilities in Residential Settings
Published: April 2023
Focus: Learning from safeguarding incidents involving children with disabilities living in residential schools and care settings, highlighting the need for robust oversight, listening to children and effective multi-agency working.
National Review into the Murders of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson
Published: May 2022
Focus: National learning following the murders of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson, highlighting the importance of seeing and hearing the child, professional curiosity, information sharing and effective safeguarding practice.
Multi-Agency Safeguarding and Domestic Abuse
Published: September 2022
Focus: Highlights learning about the impact of domestic abuse on children and the need for coordinated multi-agency safeguarding responses.
The Management of Bruising in Non-Mobile Infants
Published: September 2022
Focus: Provides safeguarding guidance and learning relating to bruising in non-mobile babies, supporting effective assessment and decision-making.