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."

 The Maintained schools governance guide states

The core functions of the governing body include, but are not limited to ensuring:

• that the vision, ethos and strategic direction of the school are clearly defined
• that the headteacher performs their responsibilities for the educational performance of the school
• the sound, proper and effective use of the school's financial resources

The governing body has a duty to ensure that it:

• carries out its functions with a view to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
• has regard to the statutory guidance issued by the Secretary of State for Education relating to arrangements required to fulfil its safeguarding duties

This is outlined in section 175 of the Education Act 2002.

Governing bodies have a strategic leadership responsibility for its school's safeguarding arrangements. They must:

• comply with their duties under legislation
• have regard to KCSIE guidance
• ensure that policies, procedures and training in their schools are effective and comply with the law at all times

Governors and associate members should ensure they have read and follow part 2 of the KCSIE guidance.

These requirements are the same as outlined in 7.10 of the Academy trust governance guide.