Discussion from learning around National analysis of CSE/A, guidance, updates and future plans on extra-familial harms.

The NWG Network are delighted to be hosting an engagement session, providing a platform to share the learning and findings from recent national publications. We are privileged to be joined by the Department for Education (DfE) and Professor Michelle McManus.

From the Department for Education, Lucy Heyes, assistant director for safeguarding and children protection and Gabrielle Bush Team Leader for CIN and CLA Analysis will speak about recent child sexual exploitation and abuse analysis, recently published guidance updates, and future plans on extra-familial harms.

From Manchester Metropolitan University, Michelle McManus – Professor in Safeguarding and Violence Prevention and Co-Director of the Institute for Children’s Futures (ICF);

New research gives fresh insight into how safeguarding systems can better respond to child exploitation and abuse

Two Government-commissioned studies highlight how safeguarding systems are evolving – and where further change is needed to respond to the realities of child exploitation.

ResearchSupporting this Event:

The latest DfE-commissioned study, Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation: Recording Practices in Children’s Social Care and Serious Incident Reporting – Qualitative Insights for Policy and Practice was led by Manchester Met researchers including Professor Michelle McManus and Emma Ball, and was commissioned in direct response to recommendations in the National Casey Audit into group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation (‘grooming gangs’).

Drawing on interviews with practitioners across six local authorities, the study finds that children affected by exploitation are often known to services and can be receiving support, but their experiences are not always consistently reflected in extractable national datasets. The research highlights key developments locally in responding to safeguarding children from abuse and exploitation, focusing on capturing complex, cumulative and relational forms of harm.

Child sexual abuse andexploitation:DFE Research

The National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse recommended that DfE should urgently interrogate child protection data to identify the causes of the decline in child sexual abuse and exploitation representation in child in need assessment data; examine the reasons for variations across local authorities; and review the effectiveness of Serious Incident Notifications in relation to child sexual abuse and exploitation.

In response, DfE conducted new statistical analysis and commissioned research on recording practices in children’s social care and serious incident reporting and on 11 December 2025, published Children in need: A focus on sexual abuse and exploitation.

• This analysis assesses trends over time and characteristics of children who have been assessed by social workers as being affected by child sexual abuse or exploitation.
• It also includes some analysis to understand the reasons for the decline in Child Protection Plans under the initial category of sexual abuse, and decisions on whether to submit Serious Incident Notifications.

The research Child sexual abuse and exploitation: recording practices in children’s social care and serious incident reporting was undertaken by colleagues at Manchester Met University and highlights qualitative findings from interviews with practitioners in six local authorities about how child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE) is identified, understood and recorded in children’s social care, and how serious incident notifications are applied in CSAE cases. The qualitative insights provide contextual understandings from social care practitioners, and findings are aimed at policymakers, analysts and safeguarding professionals who use CSAE data or oversee statutory safeguarding processes. Findings include:

• factors that shape visibility of CSAE in statutory datasets
• explanations of variation in recording practices
• sets out learning that may support more consistent identification, recording and reporting of CSAE across local systems

Report available at: Child sexual abuse and exploitation: recording practices in children’s social care and serious incident reporting – GOV.UK)

If you would like to undertake some pre reading prior to this event, please look at these reports:

Children in need: A focus on sexual abuse and exploitation

New research gives fresh insight into how safeguarding systems can better respond to child exploitation and abuse | Manchester Metropolitan University

AGENDA:

Welcome and Introductions, NWG Network
• Welcome and housekeeping
• Purpose and aims of the event
• The importance of strengthening understanding and response to child sexual abuse and exploitation through data and learning

Setting the Context – Lucy Heyes – DfE
• Statistics and research within the wider children’s social care system
• Current reforms and activity in progress
• Why improving our understanding of child sexual abuse and exploitation matters

Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Analysis – Gabrielle Bush and Ella DERMOTT-BANAHAN – DfE

Gabrielle
• Main findings from the analysis undertaken in response to Baroness Casey’s National Audit on Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Recommendation 9:
o Factors and trends
o Local variation
o Child and school characteristics
o Re-referrals and plans
o Comparison with crime data

Ella
• Serious Incident Notification analysis
• Key findings relating to child sexual abuse and exploitation

Panel Discussion and Audience Q&A – Facilitated by NWG
• Reflections on the findings
• Implications for policy and practice
• Questions from delegates

Comfort Break

Qualitative Findings Relating to the Identification and Recording of CSAE: Insights for Policy and Practice

Emma Ball and Michelle McManus – MMU
• How CSAE is identified and recorded in social care practice
• Distinctions and overlaps between CSA and CSE and how these shape thresholds and recording
• How statutory systems and local safeguarding structures can influence the visibility of data
• How Serious Incident Notification processes are applied in CSAE contexts and factors influencing under-reporting
• Practitioners’ learning points on improving the identification and recording of CSAE

Other Reports and Emerging Actions
Lucy Heyes
• Key findings from other recent reports
• Areas for consideration to improve:
o Data quality
o Monitoring and oversight
o Practice and multi-agency responses

Expert Panel Discussion and Audience Q&A
Chaired by NWG
Discussion themes:
• What do these findings tell us about the current picture of CSAE?
• How can local safeguarding systems improve identification and recording?
• What barriers exist to obtaining better intelligence and data?
• What changes are needed nationally and locally?
• Audience questions and reflections
Looking Forward: Priorities for Policy and Practice
• Key messages emerging from the event
• Opportunities for improving data, monitoring and practice
• Recommendations for local and national systems

Closing Remarks
NWG Network
• Summary of key themes and learning
• Next steps
• Thanks and close