Introduction to monitoring and evaluation

‘Keeping Children Safe in Education (opens new window)’ states:

"Governing bodies and proprietors have a strategic leadership responsibility for their school’s or college’s safeguarding arrangements and must ensure that they comply with their duties under legislation. They must have regard to this guidance, ensuring policies, procedures and training in their schools or colleges are effective and comply with the law at all times. Headteachers and principals should ensure that the policies and procedures, adopted by their governing bodies and proprietors (particularly those concerning referrals of cases of suspected abuse and neglect), are understood, and followed by all staff.

"Governing bodies and proprietors should have a senior board level (or equivalent) lead to take leadership responsibility for their school’s or college’s safeguarding arrangements
Governing bodies and proprietors should ensure they facilitate a whole school or college approach to safeguarding. This means involving everyone in the school or college, and ensuring that safeguarding, and child protection are at the forefront and underpin all relevant aspects of process and policy development. Ultimately, all systems, processes and policies should operate with the best interests of the child at their heart.

"Where there is a safeguarding concern, governing bodies, proprietors and school or college leaders should ensure the child’s wishes and feelings are taken into account when determining what action to take and what services to provide."

Governance Handbook 2020 (opens new window) states:

"Section 175 of the Education Act 2002, and the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 place a duty on the boards of maintained schools and academy trusts to have arrangements in place to ensure that they:

• Carry out their functions with a view to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children; and
• Have regard to the statutory guidance issued by the Secretary of State in considering what arrangements they need to make for the purpose of that section.

"Governing bodies have a strategic leadership responsibility for their school’s safeguarding arrangements and must ensure that they comply with their duties under legislation. They must have regard to KCSIE ensuring policies, procedures and training in their schools are effective and comply with the law at all times. Boards should ensure they read and have regard to this guidance."