Safeguarding and child protection in schools September 2018 Key information for head teachers and governing bodies The information below identifies what you must have in school to comply with current statutory guidance and local best practice. is essential guidance for head teachers and governing bodies. Acronyms CP: Child Protection KCSiE: Keeping Children Safe in Education (2018) CSE: Child Sexual Exploitation LA: Local Authority D/DSL: Deputy/Designated Safeguarding Lead NG: Nominated Governor for safeguarding FGM: Female Genital Mutilation SEND: Special Educational Needs and Disabilities HBV: Honour based violence WSCB: Wiltshire Safeguarding Children Board Role of the governing body Statutory requirement Wiltshire Council recommendations Governing Bodies should assign the lead responsibility for Safeguarding and Child Protection to a nominated governor. Governing bodies and proprietors must make sure that the school: has policies, procedures and training in their schools that are effective and comply with statutory requirements including: a school Child Protection policy. a Staff Behaviour Policy (sometimes called the code of conduct). safeguarding responses to children who go missing from education. written (safer) recruitment and selection procedures. a whole school approach to online safety. completes and submits a safeguarding audit return to the LA (on behalf of the WSCB) annually. has appropriate safeguarding responses to children who go missing from education, particularly on repeat occasions, to help identify the risk of abuse and neglect, including sexual abuse or exploitation, and to help prevent the risks of them going missing. appoints an appropriate senior member of staff, to the role of DSL. provides staff with regularly updated safeguarding training, at least annually (including online safety). provides staff with the opportunity to contribute to and shape the CP policy. staff read at least Part1 of KCSiE plus (plus Annex A of KCSiE for all staff working directly with children) provide staff with an opportunity to contribute to and shape safeguarding arrangements and child protection policy To create a culture of safety in the school, schools should ensure that safeguarding is a standing item on all full governor meetings’ agendas. DfE Governance handbook 2017 describes how effective boards hold their executive leaders to account for improving pupil and staff performance by asking the right questions. DfE Clerking Competency Framework describes clerking skills and behaviours including makes good judgements about which discussion points to capture in the minutes. Governing bodies of maintained schools may choose appropriate safer recruitment training which should cover, as a minimum, the content of KCSiE (see Training below).
Managing allegations against adults All adults working or volunteering at the school must know that concerns about another staff member should be referred to the head teacher. concerns about the head teacher should be referred to the Chair of Governors (or equivalent). Where the headteacher or principal is also the sole proprietor of an Independent school, allegations should be made directly to the Designated Officer at the LA (KCSiE Part 4) Schools should visit the WSCB website for the most up-to-date version of these documents WSCB Allegations against adults - flowchart WSCB Allegation Management Policy (June 15) Procedures cont’d Statutory requirements Wiltshire Council WSCB recommended documents Complaints All schools must have and make available a procedure to deal with complaints relating to their school The DfE has guidance for maintained schools and academies Best Practice Advice for School Complaints Procedures 2016 Creating an academy complaints procedure 2015 Pupils and parents should be encouraged to report any concerns or complaints including concerns about poor or abusive practices by providing: Clear messages (both verbal and visual) for children about who they might talk to if they are upset or worried. Information routinely provided to all parents (eg through school website, newsletters, prospectus, Wiltshire Council’s ‘Safeguarding leaflet for parents’) on Right Choice Childline posters and wallet cards from NSPCC.org.uk Record keeping The school must have a clear procedure for accurately recording child welfare or child protection concerns about pupils. All concerns, discussions and decisions made and the reasons for those decisions should be recorded in writing and shared appropriately. The Wiltshire Council Concern Record contains the elements required by KSCiE. All adults working and volunteering in the school should know how to access and use the recording form. Schools should visit the WSCB website for the most up-to-date version of these documents Wiltshire CP Concern Record (June 18) Information Sharing Right Choice Wiltshire Council Record Keeping guidance (Sept 18) Safer Recruitment Schools and colleges must adopt recruitment procedures that help deter, reject or identify people who might abuse children. See Part 3 of KCSiE ensure at least one person on appointment panels has undertaken safer recruitment training. ensure that adults working or volunteering on site are appropriately recruited and vetted: maintain an up to date Single Central Record (SCR) of recruitment and vetting checks. The school’s HR Service will advise about the format and mandatory elements of the Single Central Record. The following document is available on Right Choice Disqualification under the Childcare Act 2006, (June 16)