The government has unveiled proposals for a new child protection body as part of a national strategy to strengthen safeguards for children and prevent abuse and exploitation.

The Child Protection Authority (CPA) will provide “national leadership on child protection, set clear standards and hold agencies to account,” marking what ministers describe as a major shift in how child protection is delivered in England.

The Department for Education – which has launched a 12-week consultation on the proposals today – says it aims to address longstanding systemic failures identified in a series of high-profile reviews, including the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) and the Casey Audit on grooming gangs.