Safeguarding

This section provides information and resources for headteachers, governors and designated child protection leads in schools. The information contained within this page is in line with statutory guidance and will be up-dated when any changes occur.

Definition of safeguarding

Ofsted adopts the definition of safeguarding used in the Children Act 2004, and in the government’s guidance document Working together to safeguard children. This can be summarised as:

protecting children and young people from maltreatment
preventing impairment of children and young people’s health or development
ensuring that children and young people are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
undertaking that role so as to enable those children and young people to have optimum life chances and to enter adulthood successfully.

National and local safeguarding guidance documents

Safeguarding children and safer recruitment in education (links to DCSF pdf)
Sets out the responsibilities of all local authorities, schools and further education colleges in England to safeguard children and young people.

Inspecting safeguarding (pdf)
Updated Ofsted guidance - January 2012.

Working together to safeguard children (DfE website)
A DCSF guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

Pan London child protection procedures (London Safeguarding Children board website)
4th edition: sets out how agencies and individuals should work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

Ealing integrated working and multi-agency thresholds of need guide (pdf)
A resource to support practitioners across Ealing in using integrated processes, such as the Common Assessment Framework, Lead Professional and Information Sharing, which will support integrated working.