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What should a school include in a safeguarding referral about a child to children's social care or the MASH?

A school's referral about a child to children's social care or the MASH should include the child's details, the concern as facts with dates, the child's own words, the relevant history, what the school has already done, who else is involved, whether parents know, and the referrer's name and contact details. The DSL should refer immediately if a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm, and call 999 first if the child is in immediate danger. You don't need consent to share information to keep a child safe, but you should usually tell parents unless that would put the child at greater risk.

Updated . Checked against the official guidance. Sources

When to refer

Keeping children safe in education (KCSIE) 2026 says that where a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, harm, a referral to local authority children’s social care, and to the police if appropriate, should be made immediately, following the local referral process (paragraph 65). Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026 says the same: anyone with concerns about a child’s welfare should consider whether to refer, and should do so immediately if there is a concern about significant harm (paragraph 164).

In a school, the designated safeguarding lead (DSL) or a deputy usually makes the referral. Annex B of KCSIE says the DSL is expected to refer suspected abuse and neglect to children’s social care and to support staff who make referrals. Anyone can refer, though. If the DSL or a deputy isn’t available, KCSIE says that shouldn’t delay action (paragraph 61).

If a child is in immediate danger, call 999 first. GOV.UK’s guidance on reporting child abuse says to call 999 if the child is at immediate risk. The National Police Chiefs’ Council’s guidance When to call the police, which KCSIE points schools to, helps decide when to involve the police in other cases.

This guide is about referrals about a child under the Children Act 1989. Adult safeguarding works differently, under the Care Act 2014, so guidance from NHS bodies, adult safeguarding boards or charities about adults may not apply.

Local procedures vary

Every local area sets its own referral route, forms and thresholds. Working Together 2026 says the local authority is responsible for making clear how referrals work in its area (paragraph 163), and that the safeguarding partners should publish a threshold document setting out the criteria for each level of help (paragraph 125). Your area might call its referral point the front door, the multi-agency safeguarding hub (MASH) or something else, and might use an online form, a phone line or both.

KCSIE expects governing bodies and DSLs to know and follow their local arrangements (paragraphs 136 and 137). Before you need it, check your local partnership’s website for the current form, the threshold document and the escalation procedure. This guide sets out the national framework that every local process sits within.

What to include

Working Together 2026 says a referral should include what you know about the child’s developmental needs, the capacity of their parents, carers or family network to meet those needs, and any outside factors affecting that capacity (paragraph 164). KCSIE asks schools to give as much information as possible, so the assessment can consider harm outside the home too (paragraph 66).

A clear referral from a school usually covers:

  1. The child. Full name, date of birth, address, year group, and any special educational needs, disability or communication needs.
  2. The concern, as facts. What was seen, heard or said, when and where, and who by. Keep fact separate from opinion.
  3. The child’s own words. Quote them exactly, in quotation marks.
  4. The history. A short chronology of relevant earlier concerns, attendance and anything that shows a pattern.
  5. What the school has done. Support already in place, any Family Help assessment or plan, and what has changed.
  6. The family. Who lives with the child, siblings and their schools, and anything known about the adults around them.
  7. Other agencies. Who else is involved, such as health, a Family Help lead practitioner or the police.
  8. Parents’ knowledge. Whether parents have been told, and if not, why not.
  9. Your view of the risk. What you are worried will happen, and what you are asking for.
  10. Your details. Your name, role, school and a direct phone number, and when you’re available. Working Together says the practitioner who picks up the referral should clarify the concern with the referrer (paragraph 175), so make sure they can reach you.

If the referral comes from a concern a member of staff wrote down, the original record stays on the child protection file. See how to record a safeguarding concern for what that first record should contain.

Working Together says a Family Help assessment is not a prerequisite for a referral, but if one exists it should be used to support it (paragraph 164).

You do not need consent to share information to keep a child safe. Working Together 2026 says it is not necessary to seek consent where there is a lawful basis to share, such as “legal obligation” or “public task” (paragraph 32). KCSIE says data protection law doesn’t prevent sharing for safeguarding, and that fears about sharing must not get in the way (paragraph 63).

Since 30 September 2026, the information sharing duty in section 16LA of the Children Act 2004 has strengthened this. DfE’s guidance on the duty says it covers designated childcare and education agencies, which it defines by reference to the 2018 relevant agency regulations; KCSIE confirms those regulations include schools and colleges. The statutory guidance on the duty says information must still be shared even if the only concern is not having consent, or a parent being unhappy about it (paragraph 11).

Being open with the family is still expected. Working Together asks practitioners to tell families what they are sharing and with whom, where it is safe to do so (paragraph 33). In its section on child-on-child sexual violence and harassment, KCSIE says schools will generally inform parents at the point of referral, unless doing so would put the child at more risk, and that such a decision should be made with the support of children’s social care (paragraph 589).

After you’ve sent it

Working Together 2026 says children’s social care should acknowledge the referral within one working day and decide what happens next (paragraph 167), and should give the referrer feedback on the decision, including why a case doesn’t meet the threshold where that’s the case (paragraph 165). KCSIE says the referrer should follow up if they don’t hear back (paragraph 71).

Record the referral, the time it was sent, who you spoke to and any reference number on the child protection file. KCSIE expects every concern, discussion and decision, and the reasons for them, to be written down, ideally in a separate child protection file. Records should include a clear summary of the concern, how it was followed up and resolved, and any action, decision and outcome (paragraph 74).

If you disagree with the decision

If you are not satisfied with the response, Working Together says you should follow up and, if you are still dissatisfied, escalate in line with local procedures (paragraph 165). KCSIE says the same if, after a referral, the child’s situation doesn’t seem to be improving (paragraph 73). Each local partnership publishes its own escalation or resolution process, so check yours.

You can refer again if circumstances change or new concerns arise.

Common questions

What should be included in a safeguarding referral?

For a referral about a child, Working Together 2026 says to include what you know about the child's developmental needs, the capacity of their parents, carers or family network to meet those needs, and any outside factors affecting that. In practice, a school's referral covers the child's details, the concern as facts with dates, the child's own words, relevant history, what the school has already done, other professionals involved, whether parents know, and the referrer's name, role and contact details.

What information should be recorded when making a safeguarding referral?

KCSIE 2026 says all concerns, discussions and decisions, and the reasons for them, should be recorded in writing, ideally in a separate child protection file. Records should include a clear summary of the concern, how it was followed up and resolved, and any action taken, decisions reached and the outcome. For a referral, that means noting when it was sent, who you spoke to, any reference number, whether parents were told, and the feedback you received.

What should be included in a safeguarding concern?

A concern written by a member of staff should record what was seen or heard, when and where, the child's own words exactly, who was present, and the name and role of the person writing it, signed and dated. It goes to the DSL straight away. Our guide on how to record a safeguarding concern covers this in detail.

Can I make a safeguarding referral without consent?

Yes. Working Together 2026 says you don't need consent to share information to safeguard a child if there is a lawful basis, such as public task or legal obligation. The information sharing duty, in force since 30 September 2026, says that not having consent is not a reason to withhold relevant information. It is still good practice to tell the family what you are sharing and why, where it is safe to do so.

How quickly should a safeguarding referral be made?

Immediately, if a child is suffering or is likely to suffer harm. KCSIE 2026 says the referral to children's social care, and to the police if appropriate, should be made straight away using the local referral process. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999 first.

What are the 5 R's of safeguarding?

The 5 R's are a training mnemonic, not part of statutory guidance. Neither KCSIE 2026 nor Working Together 2026 uses them. A common version is Recognise, Respond, Record, Report and Refer, used informally to help staff remember the steps. What staff must actually do is set out in KCSIE Part one and your school's child protection policy: act on a concern straight away and speak to the DSL.

What is the 3 point test for safeguarding referral?

The three-point test is from adult safeguarding, not children's. It comes from section 42 of the Care Act 2014: the adult has needs for care and support, is experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect, and because of those needs can't protect themselves. It doesn't apply to referrals about children. For a child, the question is whether they are suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm, or may be a child in need.

Sources

  1. Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026, chapter 1 (information sharing, paragraphs 29 to 34) and chapter 3 (paragraphs 124, 125 and 163 to 175). Last checked .
  2. Keeping children safe in education 2026, Part one, paragraphs 57 to 75, and Part five, paragraph 589 (DfE, in force from 1 September 2026). Last checked .
  3. Information Sharing Duty: statutory guidance under section 16LA of the Children Act 2004 (DfE, September 2026). Last checked .
  4. Information sharing to safeguard children and young people (GOV.UK). Last checked .
  5. Report child abuse to your local council (GOV.UK). Last checked .
  6. Report child abuse (GOV.UK): call 999 if the child is at immediate risk. Last checked .
  7. When to call the police: guidance for schools and colleges (National Police Chiefs' Council). Last checked .
  8. Care Act 2014, section 42: enquiry by local authority, adult safeguarding (legislation.gov.uk). Last checked .

This guide explains the official guidance in plain words. It isn’t legal advice. Your local safeguarding partnership’s procedures and your own policies also apply. If anything here is wrong or out of date, email support@pupilprotect.co.uk.

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