Report the death or serious harm of a child or care leaver
Source: gov.uk (2025-09-30)

How local authorities should report incidents to the Department for Education, Ofsted and Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel.

What you need to report

Local authorities must notify the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel within 5 working days of becoming aware that an incident has occurred. You need to submit the notification through the child safeguarding incident notification system (https://childsafeguarding.education.gov.uk/).

Children who have died or been seriously harmed and abuse or neglect is known or suspected

Where it is known or suspected that a child has been abused or neglected you must notify the panel if:
- a child dies or is seriously harmed in your area
- a child is a resident of your area but dies or is seriously harmed outside England
You should refer to the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel guidance (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-safeguarding-practice-review-panel-practice-guidance) for further information on the criteria for a serious child safeguarding case.

Looked after children who have died

You must notify the Secretary of State for Education and Ofsted where a looked after child has died. To do so, complete the child safeguarding incident report. You must do this whether or not abuse or neglect is known or suspected.

A child is anyone under the age of 18 and can include unborn children.

Care leavers who have died

You should notify the Secretary of State for Education and Ofsted of the death of a care leaver up to and including the age of 24. To do so, complete the child safeguarding incident report.

Information needed to complete a report

You need to submit different information if a serious incident notification is for:
- children (0 to 17 years of age)
- care leavers (18 to 24 years of age)
Reporting an incident for a child (0 to 17 years of age)

You need to provide details for all questions, including information about:
- if the child is a looked after child, a care leaver or neither
- what scope the notification will be submitted under
- local authority where the incident took place
- responsible local authority
- incident date
- date of death
- incident details of what happened
- actions taken
- characteristics of the incident (for example alcohol misuse or if the child is a carer)
- name
- date of birth
- sex
- gender
- ethnicity
- disability
- if they were an unaccompanied asylum-seeking child
- legal status
- children’s social care details, including their child in need plan and child protection plan
- if the child was known to other agencies, such as police and health
- details about where the child was living, including the town or city and postcode
- type of provision
- name and address of establishment
- if the child is on an education, health and care plan
Reporting an incident for a care leaver (18 to 24 years of age)

You need to provide details for all questions, including information about:
- the date of death
- incident details of what happened
- if any other person is at risk
- characteristics of the incident (for example alcohol or drug misuse)
- name
- date of birth
- sex
- gender
- ethnicity
- disability
- if they were previously an unaccompanied asylum-seeking child
- which agencies, such as police and health
- their last contact date with social care
You can find more specific information about the data needed to prepare your report in the serious incident notification guide (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68d6b455c487360cc70c9e35/Serious_incident__notification_guide.pdf) (PDF, 528 KB, 31 pages).

Submitting your incident report

When you have all your data to hand, submit the report through the child safeguarding incident notification system (https://childsafeguarding.education.gov.uk/).

Make sure you have prepared all the data you need before you start filling out the reporting form. The child safeguarding incident notification system times out after 20 minutes of inactivity.

Using the incident notification system for the first time

To register and use the child safeguarding incident notification system you need to:
- register for a DfE Sign-in account (https://profile.signin.education.gov.uk/register)
- request role permissions and request access to the child safeguarding incident notification system
- wait for an approver within your local authority to approve or reject your permissions
Email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) if you have any queries.

Next steps

Once your incident is submitted you can view your answers and download them as a PDF. DfE will only get in contact with you if the data submitted is inaccurate.

The panel, DfE and Ofsted have joint access to the information submitted to the child safeguarding incident notification system.

The panel only have access to the information submitted in respect of notifications of children who have died or been seriously harmed and abuse or neglect is known or suspected.

The panel will not have access to information submitted in reports relating to:
- looked after children who died where abuse or neglect was not known or suspected
- care leaver death notifications
No further action will be taken with these notifications.