Safeguarding in schools

It's essential that everybody working in a school understands their safeguarding responsibilities. Here we explain what safeguarding in schools means and why it's so important.

Teachers and students stood with a giant safeguarding shield

What does safeguarding in schools mean?

Safeguarding in schools refers to the measures and actions taken to protect children and young people from harm, abuse, neglect and exploitation. Safeguarding in schools is essential to ensure that children and young people can learn and grow in a safe and nurturing environment.

Safeguarding procedures in schools

All schools and colleges have policies and procedures to safeguard children. Governments across the different nations issue statutory safeguarding guidance for schools, colleges and other organisations, which must be followed. This is practical guidance for the implementation of legislation and is updated as required, such as when new laws are enacted, or standards are amended.

Everyone working in schools must know what to look out for and how to report concerns about children and young people.

Teachers having a meeting about safeguarding

Why is safeguarding in schools so important?

Schools are in a position where they can identify concerns early and provide support. To help protect children and young people, schools should consider their location and the culture in their local area, and assess the risks that young people may be exposed to, both inside and outside of school. This approach helps staff to understand the different relationships that young people have outside of their family; in their neighbourhood, within school or while online, which may act as protective factors, but may also present a risk of harm.

 The general principles of safeguarding are:

  • Always put the best interests of children first
  • If anyone has a concern about any child, they should act in accordance with their school’s child protection policy and procedures

Keeping children safe and protecting their welfare should be every school’s priority. Safeguarding in schools begins with the recruitment and induction process, and appropriate training of all staff and volunteers.

Teacher helping their student who is sat at their desk

Safeguarding in schools FAQs

  • Teacher looking at safeguarding statistics

    The importance of managing safeguarding concerns

    Read more Read more
  • Teachers doing their safeguarding checks on a giant laptop

    Safeguarding: What do I need to do to remain compliant?

    Read more Read more
  • Students stood in a line in front of a safeguarding shield

    Why is safeguarding so important in schools?

    Read more Read more

Tes Live Lesson on staying safe with NSPCC

Learn how children can stay safe in this recorded PSHE Lesson led by NSPCC Schools Coordinator Gemma Rose. Through a series of activities, pupils learn about children's rights and consider who their safe adults are and the support available to them. Pupils then explore how to develop healthy relationships by responding to different scenarios. 

Watch Live Lesson

Tes Live Lessons NSPCC Logo

How we can help

We have great tools that can help you to safeguard the children in your care.

  • Teachers doing safeguarding checks

    Safeguarding training

    You can provide all your staff with the knowledge and confidence to spot potential safeguarding issues with our online safeguarding training package, Tes Safeguarding.

    Read more Read more
  • Teacher safeguarding her pupils

    MyConcern

    Support staff to easily record and monitor safeguarding concerns. Enabling early interventions by identifying trends and patterns and helping to inform decision-making with our case management system, MyConcern, now part of Tes.

    Read more Read more