Consultation on updated rules for ContactPoint

The government has launched a consultation to update some of the technical rules relating to the controversial children’s database ContactPoint.

The proposed changes will see children who go to school in England, but whose parents live overseas, included on the system. It will also replace the definition of parental responsibility with the more commonly used term parent and change the term ‘targeted and specialist services’ to additional services.

When a decision is made to shield a child’s record, the name of their parent or carer will also be hidden, making it clear that, where relevant, more than one address for an individual child can be held on the system.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families has yet to comment on the reasons for the changes.

Children’s minister Delyth Morgan confirmed the national rollout of ContactPoint is on track. ‘We have received early feedback from the patfinder areas which demonstrates the positive ways that ContactPoint is helping practitioners in their day to day work to intervene earlier and prevent problems escalating,’ she said.

Practitioner in England will be able to access the system from late October

Access the consultation