Safeguarding in Education

Schools and education providers have a key role in promoting the welfare and safeguarding of children and young people. Safeguarding children requires a whole setting approach, with all staff and volunteers having a role to play. Governors, Headteachers, Principals, Designated Safeguarding Leads, staff and volunteers all have specific duties and responsibilities which will be outlined in the school’s or college’s safeguarding/child protection policy

The Safeguarding in Education service is able to provide you with:

  • guidance on specific safeguarding issues
  • termly DSL forums to share training and guidance
  • example safeguarding policies for adapting for your setting
  • updates about local and national Serious Case Reviews
  • advice and guidance about safeguarding training and audit
  • safeguarding information through the Friday Email

Report a safeguarding concern

If you are worried about the safety or welfare of a child and are satisfied there is no immediate danger, please report it using the Thresholds and Pathways process.

Report a concern

 

If a child is in immediate danger you should contact the police directly and / or an ambulance using 999.

Safeguarding support for schools

​Advice and information for schools on online safety and digital technologies.

Sexting

The UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) Education Group has published non-statutory advice for schools and colleges​ on responding to incidents of sexting. This includes responding to disclosures, handling devices and imagery, risk assessing situations, involving other agencies, information about preventative education, working with parents, reporting imagery to providers.​

Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment in schools

Each education establishment should have a safeguarding and child protection policy which is reviewed on an annual basis as a minimum. The requirements in relation to this are outlined in 'Keeping Children Safe in Education: for schools and colleges (2019)'.

The Safeguarding in Education Service has developed a child protection and safeguarding children policy template which settings must adapt to suit their needs. Schools can use this template to inform staff, parents and carers, volunteers and governors about the school's responsibilities for safeguarding children.

Information governance is a legal framework which is made up of a set of requirements, standards and best practices to keep compliance with the law when handling and sharing information.

The framework involves legislation and guidance including:

Information governance is designed to deal with issues such as confidentiality, privacy, data security, consent, disclosure and access to records. It is everybody's business and responsibility to know how information governance affects their role and to put this into practice.

​Providing early help is more effective in promoting the welfare of children than reacting later. Early help means providing support as soon as a problem emerges, at any point in a child’s life, from the foundation years through to the teenage years.

Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a form of child abuse, which can happen to boys and girls from any background or community. In Northamptonshire, the definition of CSE from the Department of Education (DfE, 2017) has been adopted:

 

Child sexual exploitation is a form of child sexual abuse. It occurs when an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity (a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and / or (b) for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator. The victim may have been sexually exploited even if the sexual activity appears consensual. Child sexual exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology."

For further information about CSE in Northamptonshire, please visit the NSCP website.

  • Safeguarding training requirements for staff working in education establishments are set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education (2019).
  • The NSCP provide a range of training options including a multi-agency safeguarding training programme . Multi agency training courses are an excellent opportunity to discuss safeguarding dilemmas and issues with other professionals. Information about courses and how to request a training place via e-booking system are on the training page of the NSCP website.
  • The NSCP online learning page provides access to a free e-learning course ‘An Introduction to Safeguarding Children’.
  • Useful free e-learning packages from national providers include:
  • All staff, including the Designated Safeguarding Lead, should receive safeguarding and child protection updates as required and appropriate to their role at least annually. Options to support the on-going development of safeguarding knowledge and practice in your setting could include:
    • Circulating safeguarding leaflets, posters, resources and briefing papers i.e. from the DSCB Safeguarding Update service or the NSPCC who have a range of resources, briefing notes and factsheets about child abuse and neglect.
    • Showing film clips about key safeguarding issues from the NSPCC, NHS and YouTube e.g. FGM - NHS short films for staff, Seen and Heard (film aimed at training health professionals about the signs of child sexual abuse and exploitation), Making a Noise (film animation to help practitioners gain insight into the feelings and perspective of children affected by child sexual abuse), films and digital resource packs on self-harm and young people involved in gangs.
    • Use staff meetings to share and discuss relevant safeguarding issues and topics and to regularly review issues about private fostering. The Triennial analysis of serious case reviews (2011 to 2014): practice briefing for education practitioners (one of five briefings on the findings of the Triennial analysis of serious case reviews 2011 to 2014, Sidebotham et al., 2016) is a useful document to highlight safeguarding issues which are pertinent to education providers.
    • Invite external speakers to staff meetings, inset days, etc.
  • The NSPCC is a key source of safeguarding information and resources. Anyone can subscribe to their current awareness service for practice, policy and research CASPAR for free weekly email alerts to keep you up-to-date with all the latest safeguarding and child protection news.
  • The NSPCC also have a range of services to help schools protect children from abuse and neglect. This includes a Safeguarding in Education Self-Assessment Tool, ESAT a free online tool for schools in England. Individuals will need to register to access the tool which contains a range of useful safeguarding in education resources.
  • There is also a Safeguarding in Education Update where you can subscribe to receive monthly education practice, policy and research updates.
  • NSPCC also have a helpline which you can ring if you're worried about a child or need advice or information about child protection, telephone 0808 800 5000.
  • ICAN – this website supports school and college staff in understanding abuse and neglect from the child or young person’s point of view. It includes free training materials and resources for settings and a framework to help staff be alert to children and young people who may be experiencing abuse or neglect.

​Information on local and national serious case reviews and other learning reviews published by Safeguarding Partnerships (previously Safeguarding Boards):

This guidance is intended to help schools manage visitors in a way that ensures the safety of children and adults on the school site. The responsibility for this lies with the Headteacher, senior leadership team and the governing body.

  • NCC safer Recruitment Confirmation letter can be found here  
  • Guidance on Visitors to schools can be found here
  • Hosting Speakers advice can be found here
  • Prevent e-learning package - To assist implementation of the duty in section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, a Prevent e-learning updated is now available. This is introductory training. It provides a foundation on which to develop further knowledge around the risks of radicalisation and the roles involved in supporting those at risk.
  • Prevent awareness - This offers an introduction to the Prevent duty, and explains how it aims to safeguard vulnerable people from being radicalised to supporting terrorism or becoming terrorists themselves.
  • Prevent referral - This package builds on the Prevent awareness e-learning training. It is designed to make sure that when we share a concern that a vulnerable individual may be being radicalised, that the referral is robust, informed and with good intention, and that the response to that concern is considered, and proportionate.
  • Channel awareness - This training package is for anyone who may be asked to contribute to, sit on, or even run a Channel Panel. It is aimed at all levels, from a professional asked to input and attend for the first time, to a member of staff new to their role and organising a panel meeting.

The Designated Officer (formerly known as the Local Authority Designated Officer or LADO) should be informed of all cases in which it is alleged that a person who works with children has:

  • Behaved in a way that has harmed, or may have harmed, a child.
  • Possibly committed a criminal offence against children, or related to a child.
  • Behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children, for example if their conduct falls within any of these categories of abuse:
    • physical
    • emotional
    • sexual
    • neglect

Allegations made against workers who are paid, unpaid, volunteer, agency, casual and self-employed as well as foster carers, and adoptive parents of children on Placement Orders should all be reported to the Designated Officer. This should be done within 24 hours of the incident.

Contact the LADO