Safeguarding for Schools

Stone King’s specialist Safeguarding Team is at the heart of our education practice.  We support schools in fulfilling their core duty to ensure that, as far as possible, children are kept safe from harm.  Our Safeguarding Team has a deep understanding of safeguarding law and best practice and many years of experience advising schools on a wide range of safeguarding issues.

We recognise that safeguarding matters frequently require urgent advice on complex issues. Our Safeguarding Team gives prompt and practical advice with an understanding of the sensitivities and risks associated with a safeguarding crisis. Safeguarding requires a whole school approach and so our Safeguarding Team includes specialist lawyers from a range of disciplines, including:

• Education
• Employment & HR
• Information Law (including Data Protection)
• Family
• Regulatory (including Health and Safety)
• Crime
• Dispute Resolution

How we can help

A key strength of our Safeguarding Team is the breadth and depth of the Team’s expertise. We can provide support and advice on a diverse range of matters including:

• Crisis management, including responding to an immediate safeguarding crisis including comms planning;
• child-on-child abuse;
• safeguarding incidents involving AI, including deepfake and other AI generated content;
• gender questioning children;
• handling allegations against staff;
• responding to historic allegations of abuse;
• liaising with multi-agency bodies including Children's Social Care and police;
• assisting where there is an ongoing criminal process;
• safer recruitment and issues relating to eligibility for DBS checks;
• the Prevent duty;
• inquests;
• reporting obligations including Serious Incident Reporting;
• referrals to the DBS/TRA;
• information sharing in a safeguarding crisis;
• safeguarding-focused due dilligence for independent schools mergers and acquisitions drafting/updating safeguarding policies for schools; and
• bespoke safeguarding training for schools

We also recognise the importance of drawing on expertise from external experts, such as in crisis PR, and have close working relations with trusted professionals who are able to provide tailored advice and support to our clients.

 

Latest Literature & Resources

• Working together to safeguard children
• The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 - FAQs for schools
• Major legislative update: The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 is now law

Events

We have an upcoming webinar on SEND & Safeguarding, see details below: 

• A new Era for SEND and safeguarding is part of our Stone King, BDO & Newmark webinar series. This webinar will discuss the Governments landmark new SEND reform proposals, and their implications for independent schools.

Key Contacts

Our Safeguarding Team is led by Charlotte Melhuish.

If you would like to discuss how we can support your organisation or have a safeguarding query, please contact Charlotte.