Keeping Children Safe in Education for September 2021 Published

The government has published the ‘for information’ version of the 'Keeping children safe in education' (KCSIE) that comes into force in September 2021. Some of the changes include more detail and guidance on peer-on-peer abuse, not unexpected in light of the recent Ofsted review.

The latest document strengthens the former guidance in KCSIE 2020 and provides more detail on the day-to-day implications in terms of both actions and expectations. Further additions include the expectation that each setting has a culture of safeguarding that should operate with the best interests of the child at heart. It also addresses the misconception that the real world and online world are separate spaces for children and young people as they do not make that separation and therefore the role of technology is increasingly relevant with regards to safeguarding and wellbeing issues.

Part four of the guidance, concerning allegations made/concerns raised in relation to staff, has been updated to include recommendations from the significant case review following child abuse involving a teacher. The update references what it terms ‘low-level’ concerns that should be identified and acted upon. There is further guidance on information sharing, with the emphasis being on proactive approaches.

There is also increased guidance on the requirements for elective home education to involve all parties to ensure the best interests of the child, and states that it ‘is particularly important where a child has SEND, is vulnerable and/or has a social worker’. This could be important given the large number of pupils who are still currently out of education for reasons other than coronavirus. There is guidance for child protection policies to ensure they reflect the fact that additional barriers can exist to recognising abuse and neglect for learners with SEND and that ensuring support for communication is in place.

There are several new sections and additions to the role of Designated Safeguarding Lead that will be important to consider for CPDL for staff in September.

In addition, a new version of ‘Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment’ has also been published ahead of implementation in September 2021.