As you know Keeping Children Safe in Education is statutory guidance around safeguarding for schools and colleges. Each year it is reviewed and if necessary updated.
Keeping Children Safe in Education 2019 will be published on the 2nd September 2019. The government has already published a draft version of the guidance to allow schools to properly amend their child protection and safeguarding policies.
To make sure you are aware of the updates and are implementing any necessary changes, our HR Consultants have summarised the key points that you will need to be aware of going into the next academic year.
Timings and arrangements
The reference to the multi-agency transitional arrangement has been removed from the summary of KCSiE 2019. Details of the new local arrangement should have been published by the three safeguarding partners no later than the 29 June 2019, the arrangement must be implemented no later than the 29 September 2019. It is vital for Governing bodies, proprietors, management committees, senior leadership and the safeguarding lead be aware of their local arrangements and the transition timeline.
Main Changes to Part 1
Under ‘What school and college staff should look out for’, a number of paragraphs have been moved up within the guidance to assist with the flow of the document and to clearly highlight the indicators of different types of abuse (abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, safeguarding issues, peer on peer abuse, serious violence, female genital mutilation, contextual safeguarding) that staff should look out for.
Point 27 on Peer-on-peer abuse has also been extended to include ‘upskirting’ and clearly set out the difference between sexual violence and sexual harassment, when identifying abuse between peers.
Point 29 and 30 on serious violence has been added to the guidance identifying the signal to signpost that children are at risk from or are involved with serious violent crime. Staff are also provided guidance on how to be aware of the associated risks of serious violence and the measure in place to manage these.
The link for the NSPCC’s ‘what can you do to report abuse dedicated helpline’ has also been updated so employees who feel they are not able to raise concerns regarding child protection failures or concerns of the schools handling of the situation, can still be reported and dealt with my the relevant bodies.
Main Changes to Part 2
The guidance has been updated to reflect the new requirements for Religious Education (all students in primary education), Relationships and Sex Education (all students in secondary education) and Health Education (all students in state funded school). It is a mandatory requirement from September 2020 for all school to teach these subjects as part of the curriculum.
Multi-agency working has been updated to reflect the new safeguarding partner arrangement. The document also reflects the new Ofsted Framework, removing the reference to the School Inspection Service for Independent Schools as the no longer inspect these establishments.
Main Changes to Part 3
There are changes in relation to overseas trained teachers providing a link to .GOV.UK for further information on how to apply for QTS through the TRA.
Further clarity has been provided in respect of Section 128 checks for governors. We have received questions from clients regarding the requirement for Section 128 checks to be carried out on TLR holder. KCSiE 2019 has not changed in relation to the guidance for who else should be checked under Section 128, stating “management may include individuals who are… staff positions as follows; headteachers, any teaching positions on the senior leadership team, and any teaching positions which carry a departmental headship”. For further advice and guidance regarding Section 128 checks for your TLR holders, please contact your HR Consultant.
Associate members appointed by governing bodies are not subject to mandatory enhanced DBS checks under the School Governance Regulation 2016.
And finally the reference to section 167A of the Education Act 2002 has been removed as this section is to be repealed from the legislation.
Changes to Annex A
The number of children with a family member in prison has been clarified to show the number across England and Wales. Female Genital Mutilation and Forced Marriage has been added to the so called ‘honour-based’ violence, clearly defining what is included under these paragraphs. A new paragraph has also been added to confirm upskirting as a criminal offence.
Changes to Annex C
The link to departmental guidance: Teaching Online safety in schools, has been added to ensure pupils are being taught to understand how to stay safe and behave online as part of the existing curriculum.
All other sections within the guidance remain the same.
It is a requirement for all staff to read, at least, Part 1 of the guidance. Due to the number of changes to the guidance, especially in Part 1, therefore it is vital your school ensures all have been given a copy of the guidance and sign to confirm they have read and understood the document.
Our model Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy can be accessed via the Document Downloads portal. If you need help with safeguarding, safer recruitment training, DBS checks or any policy changes, please do get in touch with one of our team on 01924 827869.
