A snapshot of safeguarding in 2019

Due to the importance of (and therefore the emphasis on) safeguarding pupils, it is worth considering what is on the horizon this year in terms of safeguarding. There is a particular focus on peer-on-peer abuse, and also on the issue of county lines. It is important to ensure sufficient training and support in these areas when considering your school’s approach to safeguarding. Likewise, this year’s transition deadline for the changes to Local Children Safeguarding Boards (LCSBs) is of particular relevance when ensuring that your school’s safeguarding policy is up to date.

Peer-on-peer abuse

Abuse between pupils is unfortunately a common area of concern in schools. The extent to which this is a concern is demonstrated in research recently published by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).

The IICSA found that peer-on-peer abuse within schools far exceeds the annual number of allegations against staff. It was found that technology facilitated the sexual abuse, harassment and objectification of girls, and girls were more likely to be adversely affected than boys.

There should be a particular focus on peer-on-peer abuse in schools including as regards staff training so that staff know who and where to turn to for support. Peer-on-peer abuse should be adequately reflected in school policies, including the safeguarding policy and wider school policies (e.g. behaviour).

The government’s advice ‘Sexual violence and sexual harassment between children in schools and colleges’ (updated in May 2018) is very useful when considering your approach to safeguarding and how to respond to reports of sexual violence and sexual harassment.

County lines

90% of police forces reported evidence of county lines activity in 2018, with concerns that this figure may increase in 2019.

In a joint report published at the end of last year by education, police, care and probation inspectorates, it was found that perpetrators target the exploitation of new groups of children in order to avoid detection. This could be a particular issue for independent school pupils as the report expressly refers to perpetrators “grooming children attending public schools, who are less likely to be identified as ‘drug running’ by the police.” The report also specifically notes that county lines activity is affecting areas of relative affluence, such as Tunbridge Wells and Cheltenham.

We have more information as to steps that independent schools should take in relation to county lines.

Safeguarding partners

Legislation has been introduced which means that local areas are replacing LCSBs and transitioning to safeguarding partners and child death review partners with a deadline for transition being 29 September 2019. The safeguarding partners (local authorities, clinical commissioning groups and chief officers of police) in a local area will have equal responsibility to make arrangements to work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children in a local area, while the child death review partners (local authorities and clinical commission groups) will make arrangements to review and analyse all deaths of children normally resident in a local area. Local authority areas must have completed their transition from LSCBs to safeguarding partner and child death review partner arrangements by 29 September 2019.

Where a LCSB has already been replaced by the new partner arrangements, a school’s safeguarding policy must incorporate the local safeguarding arrangements agreed with and published by the safeguarding partners. Where a school’s LCSB is yet to undergo the transition, the school should liaise with their LCSB regarding transition periods and interim measures to ensure the school’s safeguarding policies reflect any transitional arrangements.

Any questions?

We have a team that specialises in advising independent schools on all elements of safeguarding issues. Should you wish to discuss any aspects of safeguarding within your school, including if you need assistance with policy drafting, handling a difficult safeguarding situation, or an urgent child protection crisis, please do get in touch.