Ofsted, the Care Quality Commission, HMICFRS and HMIP published guidance on 4 September 2026 for a new round of joint targeted area inspections, planned to begin in autumn 2026. The inspections would examine how children's social care, police, probation and relevant health services in a local area work together on children at risk of, or living with, neglect — from identification and referral decisions through assessment, protection and support, and prevention.

Inspectors would also look at how local agencies work with education and early years providers and the voluntary and community sector, and how family networks are involved and supported to help protect children safely. The round would focus on unborn children and children aged 0 to 11, reflecting what the release describes as neglect's profound and life-lasting impact in the earliest years.

Yvette Stanley, Ofsted's National Director, Social Care, said previous work showed neglect can go unseen and cited a 2018 report on older children. HM Inspector of Constabulary Kathryn Stone OBE and Chief Inspector of Probation Martin Jones each commented on multi-agency safeguarding of young children experiencing neglect.