In 2021 the website Everyones Invited highlighted the extent of sexual abuse, sexual assault and sexual harassment suffered by children and young people at the hands of their peers.
Schools should offer a sanctuary to their students, creating safe spaces and a culture that enables them to thrive, rather than survive. To achieve the best outcomes for their students, school staff need support and guidance to be able to handle, intervene and prevent incidents of this nature effectively, swiftly and professionally.
To help you achieve this and to offer more information and supporting resources on the subject, we've linked some helpful content from The Safeguarding Company, which is now part of Tes.
Download a free child-on-child abuse briefing for all staff here >
Watch a free child-on-child abuse webinar on-demand here >
If you've experienced abuse there is help available, the NSPCC has launched a new, dedicated helpline for children and young people who have experienced abuse at school and also for worried adults and professionals that need support and guidance. Young people and adults can contact the NSPCC 'Report Abuse in Education' helpline on 0800 136 663 or email help@nspcc.org.uk.
What is child-on-child abuse?
Child-on-child abuse is a growing concern and one that we have little reliable data on at present. In 2019 NSPCC reported a 29% increase in children seeking help from Childline due to child-on-child sexual abuse. In 2021 an Estyn report 'We Don't Tell Our Teachers' in which 35 secondary schools in Wales were surveyed, 61% of female pupils reported having personal experience of child-on-child harassment and 82% reported seeing others experience it. This compares with a lower proportion of male pupils (29% and 71% respectively).
There is evidence to suggest that criminal exploitation and sexual abuse, both directly and in the form of grooming, are among the biggest concerns here. Child-on-child abuse includes:
- Physical and sexual abuse
- Sexual harassment and violence
- Emotional harm
- On and offline bullying
- Teenage relationship abuse
- Gang activity
This list is not exhaustive. The perpetrator and victim should be of a similar age and be under 18 years old. There are more details of some of these forms below.
Bullying (Including cyberbullying)
Bullying (including Cyberbullying) is defined as “behaviour by an individual or group, usually repeated over time, which intentionally hurts another individual or group either physically or emotionally.”
Bullying can start with seemingly trivial events - such as name-calling. It can happen anywhere - at school, at home or online, at any time. It’s usually repeated over time and can cause physical and emotional hurt. A child that is being bullied may feel like there’s no escape. There are many different forms of bullying: This abuse is prevalent in the real world as well as the virtual, and as such can go unnoticed.
Of concern are the people that dismiss child-on-child abuse as ‘children being children’ or the harmful language passed off as 'banter'. Policies and practice should ensure that this is never the case and it is dealt with as stringently as any other safeguarding concern.
- ‘Cyberbullying’: involves sending inappropriate or hurtful text messages, emails or instant messages, posting malicious material online (e.g. on social networking websites) or sending or posting offensive or degrading images and videos. Cyberbullying was of particular concern during Lockdown, when children and young people were working remotely
- Sexual, Sexist and Transphobic Bullying: includes any behaviour, whether physical or nonphysical, where sexuality is used as a weapon
- Homophobic Bullying: targets someone because of their sexual orientation (or perceived sexual orientation)
- Disablist Bullying: targets a young person solely based on their disability
Gang activity and youth violence
This includes where a child or young person can be exploited (sexually and/or physically/criminally) by a gang, but this is not necessarily the reason why gangs are formed. The Office of the Children’s Commissioner has defined CSE in gangs and groups as:
- Gangs - mainly comprising men and boys aged 13-25 years old, who take part in many forms of criminal activity (e.g. knife crime or robbery) who can engage in violence against other gangs, and who have identifiable markers, for example, a territory, a name, or sometimes clothing.
- Groups - involves people who come together in person or online for the purpose of setting up, coordinating and/or taking part in the sexual exploitation of children in either an organised or opportunistic way. Types of exploitation may include using sex as a weapon between rival gangs, as a form of punishment to fellow gang members and/or as a means of gaining status within the hierarchy of the gang. Children and young people may be forced to gain entry into the gang by carrying out an initiation process that may be harmful to them and/or may inflict harm to others. Where abuse takes place in a gang environment, members may perceive the abuse as normal, as well as accepting it as a way of achieving a respected status/title within the gang.
Who is at risk of child-on-child abuse?
Research suggests that girls and young women are more at risk of abusive behaviours perpetrated by their peers; however, it can also affect boys and young men, those with special educational needs and disabilities, LGBTQ Children and young people, Looked After Children and those who are from different communities.
Scenarios may include a child or young person being forced or coerced into sexual activity by peers.
Supporting the victim and alleged perpetrator
Abuse that involves or is believed to involve sexual assault and violence must always result in multi-agency response. As well as supporting and protecting the victim, professionals need to consider whether the perpetrator could be a victim of abuse and also have experienced abuse. Perpetrators may also be in danger of being subjected to abuse post an allegation. Measures to support them should be put into place here too.
Peer pressure can be huge for children and young people and there will be times when the abuse, in whatever form it takes, looks consensual. This is another reason why a multi-agency approach is needed, potentially involving both social care and the police, in order to ensure investigations are properly carried out.
In situations where the children or young people are in the same class or even school, risk assessments should be put into place, to safeguard both parties, these should consider how best to keep the two parties apart whilst at school and also whilst travelling to and from school. If the allegation involves rape and/ or assault by penetration, then the statutory guidance states that the perpetrator must be removed from any shared classes. Guidance is clear that any separation arrangements must continue for as long as is necessary to make sure children are safe.
Consideration to where the alleged abuse took place must also be given and should include ways that this can be made safe/ mitigated. Schools should consider this not only for their grounds and buildings but also if the abuse took place in a public space. Whilst the school cannot act on this alone, again the multi-agency approach can be vital here.
Avoiding child-on-child abuse will depend on how well trained your staff are, and how well they and pupils adhere to policies, such as the behaviour policy and Acceptable Use policies, alongside Anti-Bullying and Child Protection policies and practice. It is also key that parents are aware of these, and what constitutes acceptable language and behaviour at all times from the pupils- both within and outside of school. The school’s ethos is also key; children should feel safe in coming forwards, and know that they will be heard and be confident that their concerns will be dealt with fairly and honestly, whilst protecting and supporting all parties involved.
KCSIE 2022 Guidance: Update to child-on-child abuse
On September 1st 2022 Keeping Children Safe in Education released a new version of the statutory guidance. The guidance sets out the legal duties an establishment must follow to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people under the age of 18 in schools and colleges. It includes several mentions of child-on-child Abuse including the following:
Changes to Part 2: The Management of Safeguarding
Supporting the DSL
The importance that governors and proprietors properly support the DSL role has been given prominence by adding it to the main body of the guidance and includes an expectation that they should read the full DSL job description in Annex C.
Safeguarding Training
There is a new requirement for governors and trustees to receive safeguarding training at the point of induction to ensure their understanding of their important strategic role, as well as their legislative responsibilities, and those set out by their local multi-agency safeguarding arrangements, and that this is regularly updated.
Online Safety
In relation to online safety, there is an expectation that the governors hold this as a central theme in their whole setting approach to safeguarding.
Effective Safeguarding Curriculum
A focus on preventative education has been added, with a new paragraph about the importance of the setting’s role in delivering an effective safeguarding curriculum.
LGBTQ+ Children and Young People
There is a greater emphasis on risks for LGBTQ+ children and/or those that are perceived to be. Staff are reminded that LGBTQ+ inclusion is part of the statutory relationships education/relationships and sex education curriculum.
Changes to Part 3: Safer Recruitment
Curriculum Vitae and Full Application Forms
Regarding safer recruitment, the guidance clarifies that a curriculum vitae (CV) should only be accepted alongside a full application form. CVs on their own will not contain all the information required to support safer recruitment.
Online Searches during the Recruitment Process
The guidance now states that education settings should consider conducting online searches as part of their due diligence during the recruitment process. The stated aim of this is that it “may help identify any incidents or issues that have happened, and are publicly available online, which the school or college might want to explore with the applicant at the interview.
Changes to Part 4: Allegations and Safeguarding Concerns Made Against Staff and Contractors
Lessons Learned from all Allegations
Learning from all allegations against staff investigations should be incorporated by schools and colleges, not just from those that are concluded and substantiated.
Low-Level Concerns
The guidance now makes clear that schools and colleges can choose to whom low-level concerns about staff are reported to, so long as it is clear in their policies. All staff should be aware of how to handle low-level concerns, allegations against staff and whistleblowing, with KCSIE 2022 being clear that this information should be contained in the staff behaviour policy (also known as the code of conduct)
Changes to Part 5: Child-on-Child Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment
DfE Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Guidance
On our initial reading, whilst not explicitly stated, it appears that the DfE Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment guidance has been incorporated into KCSIE 2022, and therefore will be withdrawn in September 2022. It is helpful that the information is all in one place, and therefore easier for staff to access, although it does mean that there has been a substantial increase to the length of the KCSIE guidance. This also means that what was non-statutory guidance becomes statutory.
Child-on-Child Abuse
Terminology throughout KCSIE 2022 has changed from peer-on-peer abuse to child-on-child abuse. This is a welcome change as the term peer-on-peer abuse suggests the abuse is between children of a similar age which is not always the case.
Preventative Education
Senior leaders are reminded of the crucial part education settings play in preventative education within the context of a whole-school or college approach that creates a culture that does not tolerate any form of prejudice or discrimination, including sexism and misogyny/misandry. The expectation is that schools/colleges’ values and standards in this area will be underpinned by their behaviour policy, pastoral support system, as well as a planned programme of evidence-based RSHE. The guidance spells out key areas to be included in the latter
Changes to Annexes
Annex B
In annex B there is increased emphasis on staff being able to identify the indicators of serious youth violence including reducing attendance, changes in friendship groups and performance concerns. Education settings are encouraged to reach out to their local violence reduction unit.
Annex C
A key change is in Annex C, where a statement has been added which requires the DSL to be aware of the role of the appropriate adult. The DSL must liaise with the headteacher or principal to inform him or her of issues- especially ongoing enquiries under section 47 of the Children Act 1989 and police investigations. This should include being aware of the requirement for children to have an Appropriate Adult. Further information can be found in the Statutory guidance - PACE Code C 2019.
The role of the DSL has been moved entirely into Annex C to provide clarity and reinforce the responsibility of the role. It is expected that Governors read this in full. The guidance also states that sole proprietors cannot be the DSL in their setting.
Safeguarding Awareness Week
Don't miss our annual week dedicated to safeguarding (20-26 May 2024) where we'll be sharing a host of insights and best practices - including a downloadable guide, webinar, teaching resources and training.