6 Key Insights from the NSPCC: A Whole School Approach to Safeguarding 

We were delighted to welcome Kay Joel, the senior consultant for education at NSPCC, to our Safeguarding Children in Schools Conference. With extensive experience in primary teaching and special educational needs (SEN) support, Kay shared valuable insights on implementing a whole-school approach to safeguarding. Kay has witnessed significant changes in the NSPCC’s presence in the education sector since joining in 2011. Over 1.5 million pupils in England are identified as having SEND, an increase of 87,000 from 2022 (Nasen, 2023). With many aspects of the sector under constraint; this insight offers key advice for professionals working in schools. The whole video can be watched above, with a summary below. 

Key Points on Safeguarding 

1. A Whole School Approach: A comprehensive safeguarding strategy involves not only having clear policies and procedures but also ensuring everyone in the school is aware of and adheres to them. This includes annual updates, training, site security, visitor policies, safer recruitment, online safety, and understanding students’ lives outside school.
2. Learning from Case Reviews: NSPCC’s analysis of case reviews from 2020 to 2022 highlights the importance of schools providing stability and positive relationships, which help children feel safe and confident to speak out. However, there are challenges, such as safeguarding concerns being misinterpreted as behaviour or attendance issues, leading to delayed responses. 
3. The Impact of Exclusion and Special Needs: Exclusion from school can lead to increased risk of criminal exploitation and gang involvement. Children with additional needs are particularly vulnerable to abuse and neglect, and their issues are often mistakenly attributed to their disabilities rather than recognised as safeguarding concerns. 
4. Effective Record Keeping: Proper documentation of decision-making processes, especially when following advice from children’s social care, is crucial. Schools must ensure their records reflect their rationale and any external guidance they follow. 
5. Listening to Students: It’s essential for schools to create an environment where students feel safe and confident to express their concerns. Involving students in discussions about safeguarding in a supportive way is key to addressing their needs effectively. 
6. Recent Updates and Future Directions: The online safety bill, though expected to be watered down, may lead to more content on online safety in future guidelines. New updates emphasise the importance of filtering and monitoring, training for all staff, and recognising prolonged absences as potential safeguarding concerns. Additionally, there’s ongoing consultation on mandatory reporting and potential changes to DBS checks and the supervision element of regulated activity. 

Resources and Training

NSPCC offers various resources and training options to support schools, including the Talk Relationships program, which provides lesson plans and e-learning courses to help teachers confidently address relationship and sex education topics. New training programs on anti-racism in safeguarding and keeping children safe updates webinars are also available. 

Staying Informed

Educators are encouraged to sign up for NSPCC’s newsletters, particularly the Safeguarding in Education update, to stay informed about the latest developments and resources. 

Overall, Kay’s presentation at our Safeguarding in Schools Conference underscores the importance of a holistic approach to safeguarding, involving comprehensive policies, effective training, proper documentation, and active listening to students. By leveraging resources and staying updated on new developments, schools can create a safer environment for all students. 

For more information on Safeguarding please see our Most Able Pupils Conference below.

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