Safeguarding

December 2017 saw the DfE publish a consultation on proposed changes to its statutory safeguarding guidance, Keeping Children Safe in Education (“KCSIE”). The consultation closed at the end of February 2018.

A draft of the revised KCSIE guidance has also now been published so that schools and colleges can plan for the commencement of the new guidance on the 3rd September 2018.

This draft is for guidance purposes only and until the 3rd September 2018, the existing statutory guidance, Keeping Children Safe In Education, 2016 is still in force and is what schools and colleges must continue to have regard to.

When the revised KCSIE is published and comes into force on 3rd September 2018 it will be fully reflective of schools’ and colleges’ role in the new safeguarding partner arrangements. The updated KCSIE 2018 will also include updated guidance on information sharing practice under the new GDPR regulations and the Data Protection Act.

The draft KCSIE 2018 guidance can be accessed here. Part Two of the draft statutory guidance looks at the management of safeguarding and the responsibility of Governing Bodies, proprietors and Management Committees, with specific regards to:

• Legislation and the law;
• Safeguarding policies and procedures;
• The designated safeguarding lead;
• Multi-agency working;
• Information sharing;
• Staff training;
• Online safety;
• Opportunities to teach safeguarding; and
• Safer recruitment.

The DfE has also published revised Child on Child Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment advice.

This follows an inquiry by the House of Commons’ Women and Equalities Committee which in 2014 found that 59% of girls and young women aged between 13 and 21 said they had faced some form of sexual harassment at school or college in the previous year. The advice covers schools’ legal responsibilities, a whole school approach to prevention, and responding to a report of sexual violence or harassment.