About this toolkit

This toolkit has been produced by Norfolk County Council's Education Safeguarding Team. It has been devised to help schools and other education settings maintain high standards of safeguarding practice through the development of a rigorous, whole-school approach that exceeds statutory requirements. The Toolkit should be used in conjunction with the Department for Education (DfE) statutory guidance 'Keeping Children Safe in Education (opens new window)'. The toolkit will be kept under review and updated as necessary.

Who is the toolkit for?

The principles of the toolkit can be applied to all education settings including independent schools and alternative education providers. It is intended for use by Headteachers, Designated Safeguarding Leads and Governors to support the development and review of safeguarding procedures.

Background

'Keeping Children Safe in Education' is the statutory guidance for schools and colleges on safeguarding children and safer recruitment. Schools and colleges in England must have regard to it when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

It is essential that everybody working in a school or college understands their safeguarding responsibilities. The statutory guidance states:

"Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as:

Providing help and support to meet the needs of children as soon as problems emerge
Protecting children from maltreatment, whether that is within or outside the home, including online
Preventing the impairment of children's mental and physical health or development
Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes."

Governing bodies and proprietors should ensure an appropriate senior member of staff, from the school or college leadership team, is appointed to the role of designated safeguarding lead. The designated safeguarding lead should take lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection (including online safety). This should be explicit in the role holder's job description.

It is a matter for individual schools and colleges as to whether they choose to have one or more deputy designated safeguarding leads. Any deputies should be trained to the same standard as the designated safeguarding lead and the role should be explicit in their job description.

The role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead is set out in Annex C of 'Keeping Children Safe in Education (opens new window)'

The Education Safeguarding Team

The Education Safeguarding Team is comprised of two Safeguarding Advisers, a Safeguarding Training Officer, a Safeguarding Support Assistant, CADS representative and Support Assistant, Prevent Support Assistant, Prevent Co-ordinator and Bystander Intervention Programme Co-ordinator and is managed by the Senior Safeguarding Adviser. The Education Safeguarding Team provides professional advice, audit and training to support schools to meet and, wherever possible, exceed statutory requirements for safeguarding.

For further information you can contact us by:

Telephone: (01603) 223188
Email: educationsafeguarding@norfolk.gov.uk
Twitter: @NorfolkDSL (opens new window)
Website: Norfolk Schools and Learning Providers