How total safeguarding links to KCSIE
Total safeguarding practices not only ensure a joined-up, holistic approach to safeguarding but also support schools and trusts in meeting the statutory requirements set out for KCSIE. Keep reading to learn more about total safeguarding and how it benefits safeguarding practices.
Understanding Keeping Children Safe in Education
Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) is one of the main pieces of statutory guidance in England which helps protect children and young people under the age of 18. The Department for Education (DfE) issues and updates the guidance on an annual basis, setting out the legal duties that educational settings must follow in order to safeguard children and young people.
KCSIE guidance applies to all staff in educational settings, including teachers, leaders, support staff and volunteers.
Understanding total safeguarding
Total safeguarding is an approach to safeguarding that promotes a holistic, joined-up effort and encourages people to see the bigger picture. Modern safeguarding challenges are complex and multi-faceted: it doesn’t stop at the school gates and often involves online threats. Ultimately, it takes a community to help ensure effective safeguarding, where people work together, share knowledge and combine resources.
How total safeguarding links to Keeping Children Safe in Education
Adopting a total safeguarding approach supports schools in meeting the statutory requirements set out in KCSIE and is beyond just being a tick box exercise. It is about culture, consistency and visibility. We’re exploring a few examples of how total safeguarding gives schools the joined-up processes and evidence they need to demonstrate compliance with KCSIE requirements.
Staff training and awareness
KCSIE requires that all staff undertake various forms of training and awareness tasks on a regular basis. This naturally ensures compliance but also ensures that staff stay up to date with safeguarding best practices, helping to create a joined-up, whole school culture of total safeguarding.
KCSIE states that the core training requirements for all staff are:
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Reading Part 1 of KCSIE (dependent on role)
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Annual safeguarding training and updates
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Induction training for new staff
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Awareness of abuse indicators
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The Prevent Duty
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Understanding policies and procedures
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Early help and professional curiosity
Recording and reporting concerns
School staff have a responsibility to safeguarding which, ultimately, includes identifying potential risks, responding to information provided by students, and following KCSIE guidelines around recording and reporting concerns.
Some of the key guidance set out by KCSIE around recording and reporting safeguarding concerns states that:
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Schools must record all concerns about a child’s welfare and safety, including those that are not substantiated
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Records should include the date, time, and details of the concern, as well as the actions taken and any decisions made
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Schools should ensure that records are accurate, up-to-date, and easily accessible to relevant staff
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Schools should also consider using a digital recording system to ensure that records are secure and easily accessible
Recording concerns in this manner helps ensure a total safeguarding approach – all relevant staff have access to a centralised system that provides a bigger picture and gives them context to apply to individual concerns they may observe.
Oversight and analysis at school and trust level
KCSIE states specific requirements for schools and trusts around oversight and analysis. One of the key requirements here is the appointment of a designated person responsible for safeguarding and ensuring that policies are effective. There should also be a governor or committee that oversees the school or trust’s safeguarding arrangements.
These appointments also have the responsibility of:
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Analysing their school or trust’s policies and procedures
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Reviewing the effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements
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Identifying areas for improvement and implementing the necessary changes
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Ensuring that all staff are aware of their safeguarding responsibilities and that they receive regular safeguarding training
Demonstrating safer recruitment and safeguarding culture
KCSIE provides specific guidance around safer recruitment in schools to ensure that all school staff are vetted prior to employment. This creates a stronger safeguarding culture where all staff are aware of their safeguarding responsibilities.
To demonstrate this, schools must:
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Ensure that all staff, governors and volunteers have a thorough background check such as a DBS check before starting employment
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Verify the identity of all staff, governors and volunteers
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Ensure that all staff, governors and volunteers are aware of their safeguarding responsibilities and are aware of the school or trust’s safeguarding policies and procedures
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Ensure that all staff receive the appropriate safeguarding training and updates
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Ensure that their recruitment process is fair, transparent and free from bias
Everyone working within the school or trust being on the same page about safeguarding opens up a total safeguarding approach – everything is joined-up and centralised, making it easier to see the bigger picture.
Ensure KCSIE compliance with our free Safeguarding Self-Assessment Review Tool
Regular safeguarding reviews are essential for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of students, in line with KCSIE guidance. Our free self-assessment review tool helps schools evaluate their current safeguarding measures, identify potential risks, and highlight areas for improvement, so you can:
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Ensure compliance
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Identify gaps
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Strengthen a whole-school approach
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Demonstrate commitment to safeguarding