Staying Safe was launched for consultation in July 2007, and during that period, parents, children and young people, members of the general public and practitioners were consulted about their concerns in relation to children’s safety.

This action plan sets out the work which the Government will take forward over the next three years to drive improvements in children and young people’s safety, which will be measured by the new Public Service Agreement to improve children and young people’s safety.

The Staying Safe Action Plan covers three main areas: universal safeguarding, involving work to keep all children and young people safe and to create safe environments for them; targeted safeguarding to reduce the risks of harm for vulnerable groups of children and young people; and responsive safeguarding, involving responding effectively when children are harmed.

The action plan sets out new commitments on children’s safety, including a new £18m home safety equipment scheme targeted at vulnerable areas, a Child Safety Education Coalition and a new National Safeguarding Unit for the Third Sector.