Safeguarding Children in Education Governance of Safeguarding Kel Arthur Principal Officer (Safeguarding in Education) Kent County Council Sessions House
Education Safeguarding Team Purpose & Functions To provide support, guidance and challenge to schools, settings and education services where appropriate. Core Service: Consultation Service (3500 last year) Policy and Procedure Safeguarding Newsletter (3 per year) Care Standards Monitoring (Residential) Collation and response to Ofsted complaints County lead for e-safety
Education Safeguarding Team (core service cont d) To fulfill the Directorates statutory functions in all aspects of the work of KSCB including, Serious Case Reviews Child Death Overview Panel Policy and Procedure Learning and Development Quality and Effectiveness
Education Safeguarding Team Traded elements of the service (as commissioned by schools) Centralised and bespoke CP training Safeguarding Reviews Management Investigations Young Abuser risk assessments e-safety training
Legal and Procedural Guidance Children Act 1989 & 2004 Care Standards Act 2000 (NMS re Boarding) Education Act (2002) - Ref Sections 157,175 & 176 Working Together to Safeguard Children (2013) Assessment Framework, Eligibility Criteria & Early Help KSCB Safeguarding Children Procedures (now on-line) Child Care Act 2006 Disqualification Regulations Procedures for Dealing with Allegations Against Staff Safeguarding Self Review Tool What To Do If You Are Worried a Child is Being Abused Safeguarding Children & Safer Recruitment in Education now Keeping Children Safe in Education (2014)
Anti Bullying/esafety Policies Admissions Attendance Behaviour Management Health and Safety Child Protection Policy Safeguarding Whistle Blowing Safe Recruitment and Selection Staff Conduct Curriculum Managing Allegations Against Staff Building Design
Governing Body Responsibilities Governing Bodies and proprietors must ensure that they comply with their duties under legislation. They must also have regard to this guidance to ensure that the policies, procedures and training in their schools or colleges are effective and comply with the law at all times Keeping Children Safe in Education 2014
Head Teachers of schools to ensure that: Policies adopted by governing bodies are implemented Designated person and staff are allocated sufficient resources and time to discharge their responsibilities All Staff and volunteers can raise concerns (whistleblow)
Responsibility for arrangements Lies with governing bodies LEAS and Proprietors. It is a duty No direct liability on individuals (unless proprietor is an individual) Heads and staff not liable for failure to have regard to the guidance - failure to comply is a matter for employer under disciplinary procedures
Responsibilities of Governors (Cont) Remedy any weakness or deficiency brought to its attention without delay Member of the Governing body (usually chair) nominated to liaise with LEA and/or other agencies for allegations against the head Review policies and procedures annually and informs LEA about discharge of duties
Behaviour and safety: Respect, bullying and discrimination, helping pupils manage risk, e-safety, attendance, pupils views, recording, educated off site, responding to additional needs and managing risk No longer a limiting judgement Section 5 briefing for inspectors revised January 2015. Ofsted Inspection Framework Leadership and management : Policies, training, partnership working, pupil/parent involvement, Safer recruitment, identifying vulnerable children, monitoring absence, safe culture of vigilance Effective use of governing body as critical friend
Key Features of Outstanding Practice Leadership prioritise safeguarding and training Stringent vetting all staff and other adults Clearly written policies, widely available, identifying who to talk to Good up to date communication systems Practical day to day systems that are secure Courteous and responsible behaviour by children Flexible curriculum encouraging children to keep themselves and others safe Rigorous monitoring of absence Effective risk assessments Robust site security understood by all.
Key weaknesses (Ofsted Summary) Failure to maintain a single central record Insufficient child protection training Failure to complete key risk assessments Poor governor monitoring and policy review Failure to store and transfer information securely (e-safety standards)
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