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Child protection

Your child's well-being at school

The Education Service is as accountable as any other agency for the protection of children. Every child has a right to be protected from harm and to feel safe and secure in an educational environment. Children cannot learn if they are concerned or frightened about being abused or being the victims of violence, therefore all schools should have procedures in place for child welfare and for protecting children from abuse. This should also include procedures to be followed if a teacher or other member of staff is accused of abuse. 

A senior member of staff should be designated who is responsible for child protection issues. The designated senior member of staff [External Site] should be provided with the knowledge and skills required in recognising and acting upon child welfare concerns. In all cases where abuse is suspected or a sustainable allegation is made, teachers and other members of staff should report the information to the designated member of staff. This staff member should be the first point of contact and should refer concerns to the local Social Services Department and the police, according to the procedures established by the local Area Child Protection Committee [External Site] and by the local authority (LA).

The DCSF has issued guidance to all schools in England entitled 'Safeguarding Children In Education'. This clarifies the specific roles and responsibilities of individuals within LAs and schools and provides information and links to further advice and guidance. It also outlines the infrastructures that need to be in place so that the appropriate people have the skills, means and training necessary to ensure the safety of children.

Advice is given on the procedures involved in identifying children and young people who are suffering or likely to suffer significant harm, and the appropriate action that needs to be taken. However, the document is concerned with ensuring infrastructure and safeguards are in place it does not deal directly with what someone should do if they suspect a child is at risk. That information is covered in 'What To Do If You're Worried A Child Is Being Abused'.

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Child protection and the educational service FAQs

What measures need to be in place to ensure that the education service fulfils its role in child protection?

  • all school staff should be alert to signs of abuse.
  • all schools and colleges should have child protection policies, including procedures to be followed if a member of staff is accused of abuse.
  • all schools and colleges should have a senior member of staff (who has received appropriate training) with designated responsibility for child protection.

Is there a role for the education service in investigating cases of suspected child abuse?

No, the role of the education service is largely complete once they have reported suspected cases to the social services and police. Those bodies will take things forward as appropriate. This helps maintain a safe and secure school environment for the children affected and also means that the school can continue to provide impartial support as they are not   involved in the investigation.

What are the responsibilities of school staff?

If a member of a school's staff suspects that a child is, or could be, a victim of abuse they should be aware of the procedures for reporting their concerns. These are outlined in 'Safeguarding Children In Education' - see related links at the bottom of this page. Schools have an important role to play in the identification of abuse of pupils and referral of cases to the police and social services.

Who investigates cases of suspected abuse?

It is important to note that school staff do not themselves investigate cases of suspected abuse. That is the responsibility of the police and social services department.

What does abuse of trust mean?

Schools also need to be aware of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 [External Site] which sets out an offence of abuse of trust. The Act's provisions mean that, subject to a number of limited defences, it will be a criminal offence for a person in a position of trust in a school to engage in any sexual activity with a person under the age of 18, with whom a relationship of trust exists irrespective of the age of consent, even if the basis for their relationship is consensual. A copy of the Act can be accessed via the related link below.

What does the law have to say regarding child protection?

Sections 27 and 47 of the Childrens Act 1989 place duties on a number of agencies, including local authorities (and therefore, indirectly, local education authority maintained schools) to provide assistance to social services departments acting on behalf of children in need (s27) or investigating allegations of abuse (s47). Authorisations made in 1993 and 1994 brought City Technology Colleges (CTCs), colleges of further education and Education Associations within the scope of sections 27 and 47 of the Children Act.

A new duty has been introduced in Section 175 of the Education Act 2002 which establishes a clearer duty for LAs and maintained schools to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. New guidance will be issued in the near future to explain this duty. Essentially the new duty will ensure that governing bodies and LAs have appropriate child protection procedures in place. The statutory duty is applicable to LAs and governing bodies of schools and further education institutions. 

LAs needed to be covered because of their role in representing schools on Area Child Protection Committees and their responsibilities for groups of children not currently educated in schools.

What checks are made on teachers and workers with children and young persons under the age of 19?

The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) issued new guidance in September 2004 aimed at helping staff to keep children safe at school and at home. This new guidance, Safeguarding Children In Education, is also supported by dedicated websites [External Site] providing staff with access to additional information to aid them in protecting children.

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