--- title: DfE Updates Statutory Safeguarding and Child Protection Guidance description: The DfE has updated the statutory safeguarding and child protection guidance - Keeping children safe in education, which comes into force on 1st Sept 2021. image: https://blog.sgworld.com/hubfs/School%20Images/bigstock-Group-Of-School-Children-With--423472841.jpg --- [![SG World](https://blog.sgworld.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/SGWorld_December2020/images/sg_world_logo_new_373x208.png?width=1000&height=1043&name=sg_world_logo_new_373x208.png "SG World")](https://www.sgworld.com/) [Login](https://www.sgworld.com/account/login) - For Business - [Contractor Management](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/contractor-management) - [Authorisation To Work Passes](https://www.sgworld.com/products/contractor-authorisation-to-work-passes) - [Customised Authorisation Passes](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/customised-contractor-authorisation-to-work-pass) - [Permits To Work](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/permit-to-work-products) - 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Resources - [Blog](https://blog.sgworld.com/) - [Permits To Work Library](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/permit-to-work-information) - [Pre-Use Inspection Library](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/pre-use-safety-inspections) - [School Accident and Incident Reporting](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/school-accident-reporting) - [School Asset Management Library](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/school-asset-management) - [Visitor Management Library](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/visitor-management) - [Free Poster Library](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/workplace-safety-posters) August 10, 2021 Lisa Robinson Updated on: July 26, 2022 # DfE Updates Statutory Safeguarding and Child Protection Guidance ![bigstock-Group-Of-School-Children-With--423472841](https://blog.sgworld.com/hs-fs/hubfs/School%20Images/bigstock-Group-Of-School-Children-With--423472841.jpg?width=1600&name=bigstock-Group-Of-School-Children-With--423472841.jpg)The Department for Education (DfE) has updated the statutory safeguarding and child protection guidance for schools and colleges in England, Keeping children safe in education, which comes into force on 1st September 2021.  The guidance sets out what schools and colleges in England must do to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people under the age of 18. The NSPCC have released a briefing document covering the latest updates including changes to the management of safeguarding guidance.  Whole school and college approach to safeguarding A new section has been added making clear the importance of a whole school and college approach to safeguarding. It states that safeguarding and child protection should be at the forefront and underpin all relevant aspects of process and policy development in schools and colleges. Where there is a safeguarding concern, children’s wishes and feelings should be taken into account when determining what action to take and what services to provide. Children and young people should know that their concerns will be treated seriously and they can safely express their views. Systems for reporting abuse should be well promoted, easily understood and easily accessible for children. Safeguarding and child protection policies Additional information has been added on what should be covered in schools’ and colleges’ child protection policies, including: • their approach to peer-on-peer abuse • reporting systems • procedures • multi-agency safeguarding arrangements • serious violence. **Information sharing** Clarification about the powers schools and colleges have to share, hold and use information to identify and tackle abuse and neglect and promote children’s welfare has been included. Safeguarding training New guidance has been added stating the importance of online safety training for school and college staff. Training on online safety should be integrated with the whole school or college approach to safeguarding. Teaching safeguarding Links have been added to resources to help teachers teach children and young people about safeguarding, including relationships education and online safety. ![bigstock-Coronavirus-Outbreak-Lockdown-359531779](https://blog.sgworld.com/hs-fs/hubfs/School%20Images/bigstock-Coronavirus-Outbreak-Lockdown-359531779.jpg?width=1600&name=bigstock-Coronavirus-Outbreak-Lockdown-359531779.jpg) Online safety Additional guidance has been added to help schools and colleges protect children and young people and educate them on online safety. There should be a whole school or college approach to online safety, making sure it is reflected in all relevant policies, the curriculum, teacher training, the role of the DSL and parental engagement. Schools’ and colleges’ approach to online safety should be reflected in their child protection policy and there should be a clear policy on the use of mobile and smart technology. This policy should cover how schools and colleges will manage incidents of sexual harassment between children and young people via mobile or smart technology. If children are being asked to learn online at home, for example because of the coronavirus pandemic, schools and colleges should follow advice from the DfE on safeguarding and remote education ([DfE, 2021b](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/safeguarding-and-remote-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19)). Schools and colleges should have appropriate filters and monitoring systems in place to limit children’s exposure to online risks. Settings should also ensure they have appropriate security procedures in place to safeguard their systems. Schools and colleges should review their online safety policies and information annually to keep up with developments in technology, risks and harms. Peer-on-peer abuse Further guidance on what information about peer-on-peer abuse should be included in schools’ and colleges’ child protection policies has been added, including: • a statement making it clear that there is a zero-tolerance approach to peer-on peer abuse • the systems in place for children to report abuse • a recognition that even if there are no reported cases of peer-on-peer abuse, this doesn’t mean it’s not happening within the school or college. Use of school or college premises for non-school/college activities A section has been added to the guidance setting out what governing bodies and proprietors should do to ensure children are kept safe if the school or college premises are being used for other activities. If services or activities are provided by the school or college, under direct supervision from staff, their arrangements for child protection will apply. If another organisation is providing services or activities on the site, the governing body or proprietor should ensure that appropriate safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures are in place. Alternative provision New paragraphs have been added making clear that governing bodies and proprietors of alternative provision should be aware of the complex needs of children and young people and the additional risks they might be vulnerable to. The DfE has published two pieces of statutory guidance which commissioners of [alternative provision should](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alternative-provision) [follow (DfE 2016; 2013).](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alternative-provision) Elective home education A new section has been included, which highlights that although many children have positive experiences of home education, for some children it means they are less visible to services that are there to keep them safe and supported. If a parent or carer expresses their intention to educate a child at home, the local authority, school and other key professionals should work together to coordinate a meeting with the parent or carer. This is particularly important if a child has special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), is vulnerable or has a social worker. Schools should be familiar with guidance for local authorities on[elective home education (DfE, 2019).](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/791527/Elective_home_education_gudiance_for_LAv2.0.pdf) Mental health support Additional information has been added about the DfE’s programme to help schools prevent and tackle bullying and support pupils whose mental health problems manifest themselves in behaviour. The DfE has published advice and guidance for schools on these topics, which might also be helpful for colleges [(DfE, 2018; 2017)](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/755135/Mental_health_and_behaviour_in_schools__.pdf). Schools and colleges may choose to appoint a senior mental health lead, though this is not mandatory. The senior mental health lead should be supported by the senior leadership team and could be the pastoral lead, special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) or DSL. From September 2021, some schools and colleges will be able to access training for senior mental health leads. A full copy of the guidance can be found here: [Keeping children safe in education 2021 - Statutory guidance for schools and colleges](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1007260/Keeping_children_safe_in_education_2021.pdf) ### About Lisa Robinson Lisa - word smith to the gods. ### Latest Reads [Catch SG World at HSM Live Coventry This Week Jun 30, 2026](https://blog.sgworld.com/catch-sg-world-at-hsm-live-coventry-this-week) [Daily Vehicle Lift Safety Checks: PUWER Compliance for Garages Jun 29, 2026](https://blog.sgworld.com/daily-vehicle-lift-safety-checks-puwer-compliance-for-garages) ### Categories - [Health & Safety](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/health-safety) - [Education Solutions](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/education-solutions) - [Safety Inspections](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/safety-inspections) - [Visitor Health and Safety](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/visitor-health-and-safety) - [Visitor Management](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/visitor-management) - [Asset Management](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/asset-management) - [Contractor Management](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/contractor-management) - [Public Sector News](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/public-sector-news) - [School Safeguarding](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/school-safeguarding) - [Permit to work](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/permit-to-work) - [Case Study](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/case-study) - [Academies](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/academies) - [Inventory](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/inventory) - [Forklifts](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/forklifts) - [LOTO](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/loto) - [Visitor touchscreen](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/visitor-touchscreen) - [5D](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/5d) - [Construction](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/construction) - [HSE](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/hse) - [News](https://blog.sgworld.com/topic/news) ## Follow us [mailto:web-enquiries@sgworld.com](mailto:web-enquiries@sgworld.com) ## Navigate - [Home](https://www.sgworld.com/) - [Search](https://www.sgworld.com/search) ## Contact - [Contact Us](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/contact-us-general) - [Request a Visit](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/arrange-a-visit) - [SG World Around the Globe](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/sgworld-around-the-globe) ## Support - [Software Support](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/support-centre) - [Shipping & Returns](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/shipping-and-returns) ## Legal - [Terms & Conditions](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/terms-and-conditions) - [Cookie & Privacy Policy](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/terms-and-conditions) - [Shipping & Returns](https://www.sgworld.com/pages/shipping-and-returns) Copyright © 2020 SG World. 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