Information sharing, says the government, is essential for early intervention and preventative work, for safeguarding and promoting welfare and for wider public protection. Jenni Whitehead adds some advice specific to child protection in schools to the government's 'golden rules' on information sharing

Since April 1 2008, local authorities are no longer obliged to place children's names on a child protection register that they deem to be at risk of harm. This article explores the reasons behind this change as well as the potential consequences

Data protection law sets firm boundaries around what information you can collect. Educators retain excessive data at their peril, writes Simon White