11 Response Accepted in Part

Ban CSE-risk children from semi-independent placements

Recommendation

The Department for Education should ban the placement in semi-independent and independent settings of children aged 16 and 17 who have experienced, or are at heightened risk of experiencing, sexual exploitation. This should be implemented without delay.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
- In May 2023, the government stated that it was implementing reforms through the Stable Homes, Built on Love strategy, including changes to placement standards for children at risk of sexual exploitation (Government Response to IICSA Final Report, HM Government, May 2023).
- The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, introduced in the House of Lords in December 2024, includes provisions relating to children's home standards and regulation but does not specifically ban semi-independent placements for children at heightened risk of CSE aged 16-17 as specified in this recommendation.
- No published ban on the placement of children aged 16-17 at heightened risk of CSE in semi-independent or independent settings has been identified to March 2026.
Sources
How was this evidence gathered?
Evidence searched by claude-opus-4-6 on 10 Apr 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
Jurisdiction
England
Section Reference
C
Response
Accepted in Part
Accepted in Part UK Government
22 May 2023

On 30 June 2022, the UK government provided the Inquiry with its provisional response to this recommendation. The UK government stated its final response to this recommendation would be provided within six months of the report's publication date, by 1 August 2022, and it will then be available on the Inquiry's website.

Read Full Response
Progress Timeline
Official Report
09 Apr 2025

April 2025 government progress update: the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill places a duty on parents to get local authority consent to home educate their child if subject to a child protection plan or section 47 enquiries. The Bill also strengthens Ofsted's ability to hold provider group owners of residential care to account.

Source
Source
Inquiry IICSA
Report Child Sexual Exploitation by Organised Networks Investigation Report 01 Feb 2022
View Source
Responsible Bodies
Department for Education Primary
Themes & Tags
Vulnerable child care Children in Care Placements Child Sexual Exploitation
Recommendation age 4.2 yrs
Last formal update 366 days ago