Safeguarding is a fundamental priority in schools, ensuring that students, staff, and stakeholders are protected from harm. These enhanced safeguarding questions help assess a school’s policies, procedures, and culture of safety.
1. Overview of School Safety Policies and Procedures
- Can you provide an overview of the school’s safeguarding policies and procedures?
- How frequently are these policies reviewed and updated to reflect legislative changes and best practices?
- How does the school ensure compliance with statutory safeguarding guidance, such as the current edition of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE)?
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2. Communication of Safeguarding Policy
- How is the safeguarding policy communicated to students, staff, parents, and other stakeholders?
- What measures are in place to ensure everyone understands their role and responsibilities in safeguarding?
- How does the school reinforce safeguarding awareness throughout the academic year?
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3. Training and Professional Development
- What training and CPD opportunities are provided to staff to ensure they can identify and respond to safeguarding concerns?
- How often is safeguarding training refreshed, and how do you ensure all staff, including non-teaching staff, receive regular updates?
- Do staff receive specialist safeguarding training, such as Prevent Duty, online safety, and mental health awareness?
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4. Pre-employment Screening and Safer Recruitment
- How does the school establish the checks required for each employee, volunteer and contractor role, including eligibility for DBS and barred-list checks, and record that they are complete?
- What procedures are in place to assess staff suitability and ensure ongoing monitoring beyond initial recruitment?
- How does the school ensure compliance with Safer Recruitment in Education guidance?
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5. Reporting and Responding to Safeguarding Concerns
- What are the school’s procedures for reporting safeguarding concerns?
- How is it ensured that all concerns are taken seriously, recorded properly, and acted upon appropriately?
- How does the school protect whistleblowers and ensure a culture of openness and accountability in safeguarding matters?
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6. Collaboration with External Agencies
- How does the school work with external safeguarding agencies, such as social services, police, and mental health professionals?
- Can you provide examples of effective multi-agency collaboration in safeguarding cases?
- What processes are in place for early intervention and referral to ensure vulnerable children receive support promptly?
7. Student Safety and Addressing Inappropriate Behaviour
- How does the school ensure that students feel safe and secure?
- What systems are in place for monitoring, recording, and addressing bullying, harassment, and child-on-child abuse?
- How is safeguarding integrated into the PSHE, RSHE, and pastoral curriculum to empower students to recognise and report concerns?
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8. Parental Communication and Involvement
- How does the school keep parents and carers informed about safeguarding policies, concerns, and updates?
- What mechanisms are in place to involve parents in promoting a safe environment at home and school?
- How does the school work with parents to address concerns about online safety, mental health, and well-being?
9. Regular Review and Updates of Safety Policies
- How does the school ensure that its safeguarding policies remain up to date with legal changes and best practices?
- What role does the governing board or trust play in reviewing safeguarding policies?
- How does the school ensure that all stakeholders, including students, staff, and parents, contribute to policy reviews?
10. Examples of Addressing Past Safeguarding Concerns
- Without identifying children or families, what has the school learned from its response to safeguarding concerns, and what practice changed?
- How have past experiences informed policy improvements and staff training?
- How does the school use data and feedback to enhance its safeguarding measures?
Resources for School Leaders on Safeguarding
Safeguarding Compliance and Best Practices
- Current safeguarding guidance and leadership checks
- Policy Tracker for School Leaders
- Current safeguarding guidance and leadership checks
Training and Recruitment
- Current safeguarding guidance and leadership checks
- Understanding Statutory Guidance for Safeguarding in Education
Student Safety and Digital Safeguarding
For more guidance, training, and professional development, visit:
Ensuring a strong safeguarding culture in schools is essential to protect students and staff. These questions provide a robust framework for reviewing safeguarding procedures and identifying areas for improvement.
