Updated Schools Safeguarding Guidance From September 2018

New statutory guidance on "Keeping Children Safe in Education" is expected to be in place for 3 September 2018.

A copy of the new, and current, guidance is available here. All schools and academies are required to have regard to this advice.

Key changes within the new guidance are listed below:

General

The document now refers throughout to the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA), which assumed the professional misconduct functions of the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) on 1 April 2018. The TRA also supports schools with safeguarding responsibilities, including via its teacher database pre-recruitment checks. Further information on the TRA can be found here.

Part 1 - Guidance to be read and understood by all staff

There is an increased focus on the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and their deputies having a complete safeguarding picture. All staff must be aware of school systems which support safeguarding, including the school's behaviour policy and safeguarding response to children who go missing from education. There is additional detail on the potential need of a child for early help. Concerns about a child's welfare should be acted on immediately and that staff should follow the school's child protection policy and speak to the DSL or their deputy. Staff must not assume that someone else will take action. There is a reminder of the importance of sharing information at an early stage. The role of the local authority is set out in more detail, including that the local authority should make a decision where a case is referred to them within one day of the referral and should let the referrer know the outcome. Every teacher is under a duty to report female genital mutilation to the police. Staff should also speak to their DSL about such cases. A new section on "contextual safeguarding" has been added. This means that the environment outside the school should be considered when making safeguarding decisions and referrals. Staff are advised that as much information as possible should be passed on as part of the referral process, including any external factors which may be a threat to children's safety or welfare. Parts 2 - 5

Governing bodies and proprietors should have a senior board level lead to take overall responsibility for safeguarding arrangements. Each school within a trust must have its own child protection policy reflecting local circumstances. There may be an over-riding child protection policy for the trust, but...