You will see NFA used by several agencies, and it means something slightly different in each.
- Children's social care. After a referral, the decision may be that no statutory action is needed. Working Together 2026 says the reasons for a no further action decision should be recorded and shared with the child, family and practitioners involved (paragraph 252), and that feedback to the referrer should include why the case may not meet the threshold and suggest other support (paragraph 165).
- Police and the Crown Prosecution Service. NFA means no charge or prosecution. Working Together expects local guidance on how the police share these decisions (paragraph 32).
- Allegations against staff. Where the initial discussion with the LADO leads to no further action, KCSIE 2026 sets out what the case manager and LADO should still do, including recording the decision (paragraph 450).
The common mistake is to treat NFA as "unfounded". KCSIE says that if a police case about sexual violence ends with no further action, the school should keep supporting both the victim and the alleged perpetrator, and that an allegation that cannot be substantiated is not necessarily unfounded (paragraph 618).
If you disagree with a children's social care NFA, Working Together says you should follow up and escalate under local procedures (paragraph 165). Record the decision and your reasons on the child's file.