Modern slavery covers exploitation including sexual exploitation, criminal and financial exploitation, human trafficking, slavery, servitude and forced labour (KCSIE 2026 Annex A). Whatever form it takes, exploitation of a child is child abuse, and child protection procedures apply.
The NRM is how potential victims are identified and supported. The Home Office's modern slavery statutory guidance (version 4.9, 15 October 2026) says:
- Only First Responders can make an NRM referral. Local authorities are First Responder Organisations; schools are not.
- Children do not need to consent to enter the NRM, unlike adults (paragraph 5.37).
- When a child potential victim is found, children's services must be contacted straight away.
- Children referred may also get an Independent Child Trafficking Guardian (ICTG), where the service is available, to advocate for them.
For a school, the route is the usual one: the DSL refers to children's social care (and the police where needed), and the local authority makes the NRM referral. KCSIE 2026 paragraph 38, new this year, says a child protection and modern slavery referral should be completed where a potential victim of criminal or sexual exploitation is identified. County lines cases need both referrals too.
An NRM referral sits alongside child protection. It doesn't replace a referral to children's social care.