Consultation: The Future Child Protection Authority
The government is consulting on the Child Protection Authority (CPA), a national body to improve child protection. The CPA is envisaged as an expert, accurate and decisive body that makes the multi-agency child protection system clearer, more unified and ensure there is ongoing improvements through effective evidence-based support.
The CPA is a key recommendation of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), published in October 2022. The Inquiry highlighted major gaps in the current child protection system and called for a new body to drive improvement, promote best practice, and ensure children are better protected from harm.
The Department for Education is currently running a public consultation on the CPA, which allows you to provide detailed feedback on early proposals. This consultation seeks views on the CPA’s proposed functions, governance, and interaction with existing bodies. The consultation seeks responses from children and families, frontline practitioners, local authorities, inspectorates, professional bodies, and voluntary, community and statutory organisations involved in safeguarding. Your feedback will help shape the future of child protection in England.
There is also an ‘online debate’, this a complementary process designed to:
- Understand areas of agreement and disagreement within the child protection system
- Gather ideas on what the CPA should do and what matters most
- Explore key functions, values, and priorities
The debate will take place on a secure online platform from Monday 19 January to Friday 23 January 2026. You can log in and contribute at any time during the week at a time that suits you. Once you have signed up, before the debate starts Policy Lab will provide unique log in details and joining instructions. You can take part in both the public consultation and the online debate.
To sign up for the Online Debate
- Read the information sheet and privacy notice [link to Privacy Notice].
- Complete the consent form (takes about 2 minutes).
