Safeguarding children – Guidance for schools

Working with children and young people offers many rewarding opportunities, and with the many benefits and privileges this brings, it also brings responsibility!

To adequately fulfill your school's safeguarding duties, it is crucial to understand your responsibilities as a school and stay current with any revisions or updates to local laws and best practices or guidance to continually strengthen safeguarding procedures.

In this article, we will provide a summary of how schools can strengthen safeguarding procedures and help to keep their community safe from harm using UK guidance as best practice; however, we recommend that schools also reference their local laws and guidance when creating or updating policies and procedures.

Zenub Khan Professional Development & Education Services (Zen PD) supports the schools with professional development; none are as important however as Safeguarding.

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the student is everyone’s responsibility! Safeguarding children against harm and ensuring their well-being and welfare is paramount for all professionals, particularly those working in schools. All educational settings should be committed to providing an environment where children feel safe and are protected from harm. This is not limited to school leadership; all staff form part of the wider safeguarding system for each student.

Everyone who comes into contact with a child, their family, and caregivers has a role in safeguarding the student. To fulfill this responsibility effectively, all staff should make sure their approach is child-centered and leadership must ensure that the appropriate level of training has been provided. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child. No single professional can have a full picture of a child’s needs and circumstances. If children and families are to receive the right help at the right time, everyone who comes into contact with them has a role to play in identifying concerns, sharing information, and taking prompt action.

Key legislation in schools (UK)

There are several key pieces of legislation and guidelines in place to guide schools and educators.

One of the significant legal guidelines for schools, known as "Working Together to Safeguard Children," describes safeguarding and promoting children's well-being as: