Safeguarding briefing for schools and colleges

Spring term briefing

February 2015

• 1.15 – 1.35pm Section 47 investigations – a refresher about the process Balbir Kaur (Team manager for FCP and Assessment and CP team)

• 1.35 – 1.45pm South West Child Protection procedures whistle-stop tour

• 1.45 – 2.10pm Positive handling procedures and plans – reflecting on recent cases

• 2.10pm – 2.20 pm Headlines from the school safeguarding audits

• 2.20 – 2.55pm Touching base with supervision

AOB

Agenda

Use of reasonable force and positive handling

• Force is usually used either to control or restrain. This can range from guiding a pupil to safety by the arm through to more extreme circumstances such as breaking up a fight or where a student needs to be restrained to prevent violence or injury.

• Behaviour policy –make known to staff, parents and Governors (Sept 2014)

• No requirement to have a separate policy on use of reasonable force

• Good practice to set out in behaviour policy the circumstances when force might be used

• Parental consent is not needed to use force• By taking steps to ensure that staff, pupils and

parents are clear about when force might be used, the school will reduce the likelihood of complaints being made when force has been used properly.

Are you hurt?

Useful resources

• Guide to Team teach holds – Mountford Manor• Positive handling plans• Norfolk Positive Handling Toolkit• East Sussex resource pack

Dfe – Behaviour Guidance (Sept 14)Use of reasonable force (to be reviewed May 15)

Safeguarding Audit 2013/14

100% return from schools•49% of schools - enhancing•47% - embedding•4% embedding / enhancing

Policy and procedures

• Majority of schools report up to date policy and procedures in place (in line with KCSIE)

• 51% report ‘planned supervision arrangements in place’ (2013 - 40%)

• Schools reporting use of scenarios

Key actions:- mid-year review of actions‘In-house’ monitoring of individual files

Training and information to staff

Vast majority of schools now have safeguarding noticeboards in placeStaff training up to date

Key actions:-•Monitor the impact of training•CSE training safeguarding leads / deputies and Head teachers

Safeguarding pupils and the curriculum

• Record-keeping – Systems in place in all school for recording concerns and actions,

• Anti-bullying policy in place• School sites are secure

Key actions – • Evidence of outcome• Curriculum coverage / PSHE• Pupil-friendly anti-bullying policy

E safety

• Planned e safety programme being delivered in all schools

• Pupils are aware of e safety issues

Key actions –• Whole school ownership of e safety policy• Regular visits to 360 degree site• Awareness raising for parents and carers

Safer recruitment and allegations• All schools now have a code of conduct / safer

working practice in place• Staff much clearer about procedures to follow when

concerned about another member of staff• Schools using LADO process much more effectively

Key actions :-• Chair of Govs – allegation training• Review following use of force / handling incidents

Supervision re-visited

• Use of overview – capturing attendance, behaviour and exclusions

• Supervision cycle

AOB

• Over to you• Use of CCTV cameras• Mid year review of audit / action plan for

safeguarding