Working Together 2026 says one task of the initial child protection conference is to identify the members of the core group of practitioners and family members who will develop and carry out the child protection plan, and to set timescales for its meetings (section 4, Initial child protection conferences).
The core group should meet within 10 working days of the initial conference if the child is the subject of a child protection plan. It develops the outline plan into a detailed one, setting out what needs to change, by how much and by when; decides who will complete the in-depth assessment; agrees what services will be provided; and takes joint responsibility for carrying out the plan and monitoring progress (section 4, The child protection plan). The lead practitioner, a social worker, leads core group activity and records decisions and actions.
The child's school is usually part of the core group, often represented by the DSL or another member of staff who knows the child well. KCSIE 2026 expects schools to contribute to inter-agency plans for children on child protection plans (paragraph 138). Core group meetings happen between child protection conferences, so the school's attendance, behaviour and wellbeing information is used to track progress.
A core group is not the same as a TAC or TAF meeting, which supports families in early help or Family Help.