New safeguarding guidance and consultation

Would your staff know how to spot the signs of FGM, honour related abuse, forced marriage and abuse linked to faith or belief? Would they know how, when and to whom they should report concerns? Would new guidance help? Did you know that revisions for ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education is out for consultation?

The Metropolitan Police has published new guidance for schools and colleges to help them safeguard young people from sexual violence, child sexual exploitation and harmful practices.

The aim of this guidance is to assist governing bodies, senior leaders, designated safeguarding leads and teaching staff to understand the range of harms related to sexual violence, sexual abuse and harmful practices. It will support front-line professionals in situations or incidents that require a safeguarding response. The guidance aims to improve the identification of vulnerability and enhance information-sharing to improve the safeguarding response young people receive.

The guidance contains:

• Guidance on a range of safeguarding concerns including: FGM, breast flattening, honour related abuse, forced marriage and child abuse linked to faith or belief
• A Charter that providers can sign up to
• Considerations for schools and colleges
• Further information and guidance
• General information on harmful practices and useful links

In a forward to the guidance, former police officer and National Leader of Governance Advocate, Matt Miller MBE says,

'Safeguarding is never far from our thoughts whether we are paid professionals working in schools and colleges, or serving there as volunteers, like governors. It is not simply enough to provide a safe learning environment; we must also consider the risks that extend beyond the school gate and after the school bell. We must be vigilant to the signs and indicators which suggest a pupil might be at risk of radicalisation, or child sexual exploitation, or modern-day slavery, or female genital mutilation, or forced marriage or witchcraft. The list seems endless, but above all, we must never take our eye off the ball.'

The Metropolitan Police guidance 'Safeguarding children from sexual violence, child sexual exploitation and harmful practices' can be downloaded here

Keeping Children Safe in Education: proposed revisions 2020

The consultation draft for Keeping Children Safe in Education (2020) has been published. There are six recurring themes:

• mental health
• whole school safeguarding culture
• emphasising the important role of governors in robust safeguarding
• children who have a social worker
• safer recruitment (including supply teachers)
• role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead

Whole school culture of safeguarding

There are a number of important inclusions and revisions. For example, paragraph 69 which says, 'Governing bodies and proprietors should ensure they facilitate a whole school or college approach to safeguarding.' This means governors must know how they ensure safeguarding is effective and know what good practice would look like. Linked to this is paragraph 106, 'Governors and proprietors should ensure...that safeguarding training for staff...is integrated, aligned and considered as part of the whole school or college safeguarding approach.'

There are other sections of the consultation draft which should be read, particularly by safeguarding leads, including:

• Safer recruitment and managing allegations against staff
• Overseas Checks
• Supply Teachers
• Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment
• The role of the DSL
• DMB/PMR Radios ('walkie/talkies')

You can download the consultation here

You can download the draft KCSIE here

When schools should call the police

One document that is available now, and is referenced in this draft KCSIE, is 'When to call the police' produced by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC).

(This NPCC advice does not cover safeguarding incidents. Where a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer from harm, it is important that a referral to children’s social care (and if appropriate the police) is made immediately. Referrals should follow the local referral process.)

When to call the police (NPCC) can be downloaded here