Child Safeguarding: Education Secretary responds to the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson writes to the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel following their review into the issues raised by the death of baby Victoria Marten.

Secretary of State for Education letter to the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel: 12 February 2026

Details

A letter from Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson to Sir David Holmes, Chair of the Child Safeguarding Review Panel, following their review ‘Protecting all vulnerable babies better: national review into the broader safeguarding issues raised by the death of baby Victoria Marten'.

The letter thanks the panel for their work and acknowledges the key issues raised including:

• concealed pregnancy
• non-engagement with services
• domestic abuse
• risks involving serious offenders
• challenges when families move frequently

The government will consider the panel's recommendations, and a full response will be published in the summer.