Safeguarding Update

As we are sure most of you will be aware, on the 26th May 2016 the DfE published the updated ‘Keeping children safe in education’ guidance ready for implementation in September 2016. ‘Keeping children safe in education’ is statutory guidance from the Department for Education issued under Section 175 of the Education Act 2002, the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 and the Non-Maintained Special Schools (England) Regulations 2015. All schools and colleges must have regard to ‘Keeping children safe in education’ when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and schools and colleges should comply with the guidance unless exceptional circumstances arise. The glossary contains details regarding the changes from 2015.

‘Keeping children safe in education’ contains information on what schools and colleges should do and sets out the legal duties with which schools and colleges must comply in order to keep children safe. It should be read alongside statutory guidance ‘Working together to safeguard children’ and the DfE departmental advice ‘What to do if you are worried a child is being abused - Advice for practitioners’

The Education Safeguarding Team are currently updating the KCC template policies and other related guidance and will be uploading them to Kelsi over the Summer ready for implementation in September. Please contact your Area Safeguarding Adviser if you have any queries regarding the updated guidance. You can access our content, including contact details, on Kelsi

The Education Safeguarding Adviser (Online Protection) has put together a summary of the points relevant to online safety for Designated Safeguarding Leads and school/college leaders which can be accessed on the e-Safety blog

Many schools have also reported concerns that the Central Duty Team is no longer responding to requests for consultations without parental consent. It is evident that a letter from KSCB was sent to board members but this has not yet been cascaded to schools because we are challenging such a major change in procedure without consultation with partner agencies. We will update DSLs when we have further information but in the meantime please do not hesitate to contact the Education Safeguarding Team if you have a welfare concern about a child.

Contact Details

Claire Ray
Principal Officer, Education Safeguarding Team
Telephone: 03000 41 57 88
Email: claire.ray@kent.gov.uk