Posted on Aug 14, 2019
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What are the key changes made to Keeping Children Safe in Education 2019?
Changes have been made to the statutory guidance Keeping children safe in education. The revised publication, which replaces the 2018 guidance, comes into force on 2 September 2019 – just in time for the new school year.
Are you aware of the key changes?
The Department for Education has published the updated guidance, and there are some important changes that you should be aware of if you work in education.
Many of the changes reflect current issues and challenges faced by the education sector, such as upskirting and serious violence, whilst other changes reflect changes to multi-agency working.
We feel it’s important to stay on top of these developments, and so we keep our resources regularly updated in line with new guidance and changes to legislation.
The flick subscription includes the Keeping Children Safe in Education – flick essentials course. This course covers the key updates and allows learners to read section one and annex a, which can be reported on by administrators.
We have also ensured that all of our safeguarding courses have been updated to reflect the changes to the guidance, including our child protection course, which includes new content on upskirting and child criminal exploitation.
We’re going to take a look at some of the key changes here. For the detailed summary of all changes, take a look at our free whitepaper.
What are the key changes to Keeping children safe in education?
Multiagency working changes
The arrangements for how different agencies work together to safeguard children is currently changing, and the deadline for this change is 29 September 2019. As part of these changes, Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) will be replaced.
Under the new legislation, it is the three safeguarding partners who must make arrangements to work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of local children, including identifying and responding to their needs.
The three safeguarding partners must set out how they will work together and with other institutions, such as schools and colleges. They should make arrangements to allow all schools and colleges in the local area to be fully engaged and involved and included in the new safeguarding arrangements.
Upskirting
“Upskirting” typically involves taking a picture under a person’s clothing without them knowing, with the intention of viewing their genitals or buttocks to obtain sexual gratification, or cause the victim humiliation, distress or alarm.
Although this harassment is known as “upskirting”, people of any gender can be victims. Photos can be taken under any item of clothing including shorts and trousers. Content related to this is added to the sub-section of KCSIE on peer-on-peer abuse, but it is worth noting that staff are at risk of harassment in this way as well as pupils.
Serious violence
While violent crime is not a new issue, figures have shown that prevalence of crimes involving weapons have increased, and there is increased concern that children are getting involved in criminal activity.
Schools, both primary and secondary, and colleges have a duty and a responsibility to protect their pupils and students. It is also well established that success in learning is one of the most powerful indicators in the prevention of youth crime.
Relationship education
The environment in which children grow up is changing dramatically, and so it’s important that they are given the right information and guidance regarding safe and healthy relationships.
This is why the way young people are taught about sex and relationships is changing. The Government has made regulations which will make certain subjects mandatory from September 2020:
- Relationships Education is now compulsory in all primary schools in England.
- Relationships and Sex Education is now compulsory in all secondary schools.
- Health Education is now compulsory in all state-funded schools.
Inspections
From September 2019, Ofsted’s inspections of early years, schools and post-16 provisions will be carried out under Ofsted’s Education Framework. This replaces the previously-used Common inspection framework.
Section 128 checks
This section was updated in KCSIE 2018: where it previously only applied to management, it was extended to include governors/trustees, headteachers, members of the Senior Leadership Team and departmental heads. This year’s update provides further clarity for how it applies to governors.
Read a detailed summary of the changes in our free white paper.
Sign up today and get the Keeping Children Safe in Education course included in subscription.
