About this guidance

This document contains information on what schools and colleges should do and sets out the legal duties with which schools and colleges must comply in order to keep children safe. It should be read alongside statutory guidance Working together to safeguard children, and departmental advice What to do if you are worried a child is being abused- Advice for practitioners.

Unless otherwise specified, ‘school’ means all schools whether maintained, non- maintained or independent schools, including academies and free schools, alternative provision academies, maintained nursery schools1 and pupil referral units. ‘College’ means further education colleges and sixth-form colleges as established under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, and relates to their responsibilities towards children under the age of 18, but excludes 16-19 academies and free schools (which are required to comply with relevant safeguarding legislation by virtue of their funding agreement).

Who this guidance is for

This statutory guidance should be read and followed by:

• Governing bodies of maintained schools (including maintained nursery schools) and colleges;

• Proprietors of independent schools (including academies, free schools), alternative provision academies and non-maintained special schools;
• And management committees of pupil referral units (PRUs). 

For information only. Guidance will commence on 5 September 2016 

The above persons should ensure that all staff in their school or college read at least Part one of this guidance.

The above persons should ensure that mechanisms are in place to assist staff to understand and discharge their role and responsibilities as set out in Part one of this guidance.

What this guidance replaces

This guidance replaces Keeping children safe in education July 2015. 

You can view the document here 

Keeping_children_safe_in_education_guidance_from_5_September_2016.pdf