What Does Safeguarding Mean in Schools?
17 Jul, 20251-2 minutes
In this blog, you will learn:
- How to report safeguarding concerns in school.
- Who is responsible for safeguarding.
- How often Teachers should have safeguarding training.
- If there are any school staff excluded from safeguarding training.
- Where the latest education jobs are and how to apply for them.
Safeguarding in schools isn’t just another box to tick, it’s an extremely important aspect of working in education, one that requires commitment. Whether you’re a Headteacher managing policies or a Teaching Assistant working directly with students, you have a legal duty to protect children from harm, abuse and neglect. This means that understanding exactly what safeguarding involves, how to report concerns and your responsibilities is of utmost importance to protect the children in your school.
A recent survey by TES found that 34% of educators have a new concern disclosed to them on a weekly basis. This shows that safeguarding is not an occasional responsibility and school staff must remain alert and confident in following correct procedures to protect children effectively.
In this guide, we explore everything you need to know about safeguarding, from how to report concerns to understanding who is responsible.
What does safeguarding mean in schools?
Safeguarding in schools means keeping children safe from harm, abuse and neglect, and protecting their physical and mental wellbeing. It means creating a safe and secure school environment where students feel supported and listened to so they can learn and grow safely. Showing children how to keep safe on the internet is also a key component of safeguarding.
Schools must have procedures and policies in place and train staff to spot the signs, recognise risks, know how to effectively report safeguarding concerns and support children who are facing abuse, neglect and harm. It is a legal responsibility for schools to ensure every child is safe, protected and cared for.
How to report safeguarding concerns in school
If you have a safeguarding concern about a child in your school you must report it to the Designated Safeguarding Lead immediately, in line with your schools safeguarding policy. It’s important that you do not investigate the concern further and leave it to the Designated Safeguarding Lead as they are trained to assess the situation and take appropriate action.
If a child comes to you and tells you directly about a concern they are experiencing, it’s important to first of all reassure them and tell them they have done the right thing coming to tell you.
It’s essential that you let the child speak and don’t interrupt them by asking questions, wait until they have finished telling you everything. You should then repeat back to the child what they have told you to ensure the information you have obtained is correct and make a written record.
You then need to report this to the Designated Safeguarding Lead and follow school policies accordingly. If you believe a child is in immediate danger, you should contact the police and make the Designated Safeguarding Lead aware.
If a school has concerns about an individual working with children in the school, they should share them with regulatory bodies.
Who is responsible for safeguarding?
While safeguarding is a whole-school responsibility, as all members of staff work directly with students daily, the governing body, Headteacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead hold the most responsibility.
The governing body is legally accountable for ensuring the school is compliant with safeguarding legislation and is also responsible for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of safeguarding training. The Headteacher is responsible for ensuring that all staff adhere to safeguarding policies.
The Designated Safeguarding Lead has overall responsibility for safeguarding across the school and they are responsible for:
- Coordinating, delivering and arranging safeguarding training.
- Keeping up to date with changes in guidance and legislation.
- Maintaining accurate records of staff training.
- Ensuring refresher training is provided on time.
- Supporting staff in understanding and applying safeguarding policy in the school.
How often should Teachers have safeguarding training?
The frequency of safeguarding training for Teachers can vary depending on the specific role and the policies of the school. However, it is usually recommended that Teachers should receive safeguarding training every one to three years. With that being said, Teachers should also take responsibility and ensure their knowledge is up to date so they can identify issues and know how to respond to them.
According to the ‘Keeping children safe in education 2024’ statutory guidance, ‘all staff should receive regular safeguarding and child protection updates, including online safety (for example, via email, e-bulletins, staff meetings) as required, and at least annually, to continue to provide them with relevant skills and knowledge to safeguard children effectively.’
Training should also enable staff to understand that their role includes whistleblowing when there are concerns about those working with children and workplace culture and practice.
Are there any school staff excluded from safeguarding training?
In short, no. All school staff, regardless of their role or seniority, must take part in safeguarding training as it is a legal requirement in the UK. With that being said, the level and frequency of the training can vary depending on the individual's role within the school.
If you work with children in a school setting and have not received or taken part in safeguarding training, it is important that you make the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Headteacher aware of this.
Without proper safeguarding training, you may be less equipped to recognise the signs of abuse or neglect and respond to safeguarding concerns which could put children at risk. The school could also face consequences such as legal action if they can’t display adequate safeguarding measures.
Teaching jobs
If you’re searching for your next teaching job, why not take a look at the latest teaching vacancies, or simply upload your CV to be notified when a relevant position becomes available.
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If you’re struggling to fill a teaching vacancy, why not get in touch with one of our team to see how we can help?
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Established in 2017, we’re an award winning and progressive recruitment agency based in the heart of the North West. Our reputation is built on trust, expertise and an unwavering commitment to exceed expectations.
In 2024, we were named Recruitment Agency of the Year at the prestigious Recruiter Awards, an accolade we are extremely proud of.
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