Safeguarding Children in Education Governors Responsibilities Training for School Governors
Aim To explore the role and responsibilities of Governors in relation to safeguarding children in Worcestershire schools
Safeguarding is: Safeguarding and Child Protection Protecting children from maltreatment Preventing impairment of health or development Ensuring children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care Taking action to enable all children to have the best life chances Child Protection is: A part of safeguarding and promoting welfare Refers to the activity that is undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering, or are likely to suffer, significant harm
Education Act 2002 Section 175 requires school governing bodies, local education authorities and further education institutions to make arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Such arrangements will have to have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State. The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 apply the same duty to proprietors of Independent Schools (which include Academies/free schools).
Keeping Children Safe in Education September 2016 Statutory Guidance from the Department of Education Replaces Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education 2006 and Keeping Children Safe in Education 2014/15 Guidance applies to: Maintained schools (including maintained Nurseries) Academies Free schools Non-maintained special schools Further education (FE) and sixth-form colleges Independent schools Alternative provision academies Pupil referral units
Keeping Children Safe in Education September 2016 Part one: Safeguarding information for all staff Part two: The management of safeguarding The responsibility of governing bodies and proprietors Part three: Safer Recruitment Part four: Allegations of abuse made against teachers and other staff
Governing Body s Responsibilities The Governing Body must ensure that they: Comply with statutory safeguarding procedures; Have regard to the DfE statutory guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education to ensure that the policies, procedures and training in their schools and colleges are effective and comply with the law at all times. Appoint a senior board level (or equivalent) lead to take leadership responsibility for the organisation s safeguarding arrangements.
Governing Body s Responsibilities The Governing Body should ensure that: All staff have read Part One and Annex A of Keeping Children Safe in Education; There is a mechanism in place to assist staff to understand and discharge their role and responsibilities as set out in Part One; The school contributes to inter-agency working in line with statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015; Their safeguarding arrangements take into account the procedures and practice of the local authority and LSCB; The school has a child protection policy and procedures and a staff code of conduct which are given to all staff on induction, along with information on the role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead. The child protection policy is reviewed annually and available publicly e.g. on the school website.
Governing Body s Responsibilities The Governing Body should ensure that: They put in place appropriate safeguarding responses to children who go missing from education, particularly on repeat occasions; They appoint a member of the school s leadership team to take lead responsibility for dealing with child protection issues and that this is explicit in their job description; DSL to have appropriate authority and be given time, funding, training, resources, support etc. to fulfil role; The DSL undertakes formal training as recommended by the LSCB, updated every 2 years and additionally updates their skills and knowledge regularly, at least annually.
Governing Body s Responsibilities The Governing Body should ensure that: The DSL does not delegate responsibility for safeguarding and child protection activities can be delegated to other appropriately trained deputies. Any deputy DSLs are trained to the same standard as the DSL. The DSL or deputy is always available during term time and makes appropriate arrangements for any out of hours/out of term time activities. The Headteacher and all staff members undergo child protection training which is updated regularly, in line with advice from the LSCB (currently every 3 years); All staff members receive regular safeguarding and child protection updates as required, but at least annually.
Governing Body s Responsibilities The Governing Body should: Recognise the expertise that staff build in safeguarding children by providing opportunity for them to contribute to the development of safeguarding arrangements and child protection policy; Ensure that appropriate filters and monitoring systems are in place to protect children from potentially harmful and inappropriate online material. Ensure children are taught about safeguarding, including online, through teaching and learning opportunities e.g. through PSHE and SRE; Ensure their child protection policy reflects the fact that additional barriers can exist when dealing with children with special needs and disabilities;
Governing Body s Responsibilities The Governing Body should ensure that: There are procedures in place to minimise the risk of peer on peer abuse which set out how allegations of peer on peer abuse will be dealt with and investigated. The school s approach to sexting is reflected in its child protection policy and that the policy reflects the different gender issues that can be prevalent when dealing with peer on peer abuse. The child s wishes are taken into account when there is a safeguarding concern and there are systems in place for children to express their views and give feedback; Staff members do not promise confidentiality to a child and always act in the best interests of the child;
Governing Body s Responsibilities The Governing Body is required to: Appoint a designated teacher who will work with the Virtual Head to promote the educational achievement of children who are looked after (maintained schools and Academies); Prevent people who pose a risk of harm from working with children by adhering to statutory responsibilities to check staff who work with children and ensuring volunteers are appropriately supervised. Ensure that at least one person on any appointment panel has undertaken safer recruitment training under the school staffing regulations; schools may choose appropriate training, taking advice from LSCBs (maintained schools).
Governing Body s Responsibilities The Governing Body should ensure that: There are procedures in place for handling allegations of abuse against teachers, headteachers, principals, volunteers and other staff, and that all allegations of abuse are reported to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) immediately; There are procedures in place to make referrals to the DBS if a person in regulated activity has been dismissed or removed due to safeguarding concerns. This is a legal duty and failure to refer when the criteria are met is a criminal offence.
Governing Body s Responsibilities The Governing Body does not: Have a role in dealing with individual cases Have a right to know the details of individual cases (unless it is in relation to an allegation against the Headteacher, in which case the Chair of Governors should lead on this matter)
Annual Governors Safeguarding Report Purpose of annual report: 1. To enable the governing body to monitor compliance with the requirements of Keeping Children Safe in Education 2. To identify areas for improvement 3. To contribute to the WSCB section 11 Audit Annual report constitutes: Key Personnel Summary of Safeguarding Training Policies and other documents relating to safeguarding Quantitative data Return to LA & WSCB requested following presentation to GB by end of September
Safeguarding Audit Safeguarding Children in Education annual checklist for Maintained and Independent Schools, Academies, Pupil Referral Units, Sixth Form and FE Colleges to support arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people up to the age of 18.
Ofsted Common Inspection Framework September 2015 The Ofsted Inspection Framework (September 2015) identifies how safeguarding will be inspected: Inspectors will always have regard to how well children and learners are helped and protected so that they are kept safe. Key document: Inspecting safeguarding in early years, education and skills settings guidance for inspectors undertaking inspection under the common inspection framework
Ofsted Common Inspection Framework September 2015 Areas under which safeguarding will be inspected: The effectiveness of leadership and management - promotion of fundamental British values - equality of opportunity and diversity - safeguarding is effective - protection of pupils from radicalisation and extremism The quality of teaching, learning and assessment - challenge stereotypes and the use of derogatory language Personal development, behaviour and welfare - prevention of all forms of bullying - pupils are safe and feel safe at all times - pupils can explain how to keep themselves healthy - pupils have an excellent understanding of how to stay safe online
Ofsted Common Inspection Framework September 2015 Inspectors will request the following information at the start of an inspection: The single central record of recruitment checks Records and analysis of bullying, discriminatory and prejudicial behaviour A list of referrals made to the DSL and those that were referred on to the LA + brief details of the resolution A list of all pupils who are open cases and for whom there is a multi-agency plan Up-to-date attendance analysis for all groups of pupils
Inspecting Safeguarding - September Timeliness: 2016 Written records are made in a timely way Any child protection and/or safeguarding concerns are shared immediately with the LA or other relevant agency There is evidence that any agreed action following the referral has been taken promptly to protect the child Evidence of the timeliness of response to any safeguarding concerns that are raised A culture of vigilance where timely and appropriate safeguarding action is taken Concerns may include delay or negligence in passing on concerns about a child to the relevant agencies
Inspecting Safeguarding - September 2016 Radicalisation and Extremism: To have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism Staff have an understanding of when to make referrals when there are issues concerning radicalisation and/or extremism Any risks associated with children being vulnerable to radicalisation are known by the adults who care for them There is a clear approach to implementing the Prevent duty and keeping children and learners safe from the dangers of radicalisation and extremism. Children are able to understand, respond to and calculate risk effectively, for example risks associated with radicalisation and extremism
Essential Publications Working Together to Safeguard Children www.education.gov.uk/publications Keeping Children Safe in Education www.education.gov.uk/publications What to do if you re worried a child is being abused www.education.gov.uk/publications
Important Contacts The Family Front Door: 01905 822666 - to report a concern of child abuse or seek targeted Early Help Police: 999 to report a child at risk of immediate significant harm 101 - to report a crime or a non-urgent safeguarding concern Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO): 01905 843311/07809 586225 To report an allegation of abuse against staff NSPCC: 0808 800 5000 This is a free 24 hour service which provides counselling, information and advice to anyone concerned about a child at risk of abuse