Ofsted has published a series of inspection toolkits designed to provide detailed guidance on various aspects of school inspections, including safeguarding. These toolkits cover early years, schools, independent schools, and further education and skills settings.
Safeguarding is a fundamental aspect of school inspections and is assessed based on six key areas:
- Culture
- Safeguarding information for all staff
- Management of safeguarding
- Safer recruitment
- Safeguarding concerns or allegations
- Child-on-child sexual violence and sexual harassment
How Schools Can Meet Safeguarding Standards
For a school to be deemed as meeting Ofsted’s safeguarding criteria, the following standards must be met in each area:
Culture
- Leaders and those responsible for governance must establish a culture where safeguarding is a shared responsibility.
- Pupils must be kept safe and feel safe.
- Staff must be vigilant and effectively carry out their safeguarding responsibilities.
- Leaders and staff should be open to challenge and continuously review the impact of their safeguarding policies.
Safeguarding Information for Staff
- Leaders, staff, and governors must be aware of and comply with statutory safeguarding requirements.
- Staff must recognize safeguarding concerns and confidently follow the school’s procedures.
Management of Safeguarding
- Leaders and governors must manage safeguarding in line with ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ and part two of ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’.
- Leaders must fulfil their responsibilities under the ‘Prevent’ duty.
Safer Recruitment
- Schools must ensure compliance with safer recruitment guidelines outlined in ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ and part three of ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’.
- Any minor safeguarding issues identified during inspections should be rectified promptly.
- Pupils must be kept safe and feel safe.
Safeguarding Concerns or Allegations
- Leaders and governors must properly report, refer, and keep records of safeguarding concerns as required by ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ and part four of ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’.
Child-on-Child Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment
- Leaders must ensure compliance with the safeguarding responsibilities related to child-on-child sexual violence and harassment as outlined in ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ and part five of ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’.
Resources for Schools
For schools looking to review their safeguarding policies, Ofsted’s toolkits can provide valuable guidance. You can access them here: Ofsted Inspection Toolkits.
Additionally, Ofsted’s Chief Inspector, Martyn Oliver, provides further insight into these changes in a recent video: Watch here.
To contribute your thoughts on the latest proposals, you can participate in Ofsted’s consultation: Consultation Document.
By staying informed and implementing robust safeguarding practices, schools can create a safe and secure environment for all pupils.
