Effective Pupil Safeguarding for Governors

Independent school regulatory standards require governors to show how school leaders are actively promoting the well-being of pupils and carrying out risk assessments for pupil welfare.
The education sector will come under increasing scrutiny as the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) continues its work ‘to consider the extent to which State and non-State institutions have failed in their duty of care to protect children from sexual abuse’.
Regulators from the Charity Commission to Local Safeguarding Children Boards have identified weaknesses likely to be prevalent across the sector around how independent schools promote and safeguard the welfare of pupils.
Prevent duties emphasise that protecting children from radicalisation is a safeguarding matter, with those in school leadership positions specifically tasked to establish mechanisms for understanding the risk of radicalisation.
Confusion or lack of clarity about roles and responsibilities for safeguarding in schools is now seen as a failure of governance.
The governors’ annual review of safeguarding will come under the spotlight as inspectors seek evidence of a rigorous process, independent corroboration and proper challenge.
Regime change pursuant to the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and the changes expected consequent on the replacement of LSCBs by Local Safeguarding partners.

Our training, specifically aimed at governors, will provide essential information about current best practice expectations, including:

Understanding how to demonstrate fitness to act as a governor.
Understanding the Charity Commission's new safeguarding strategy and the implication of their calls for moral leadership.
Extracing key learning points from IICSA's interim report of 25 April 2018.
An introduction to the legal and regulatory framework, including governors as proprietors and as charity trustees and an overview of key Government guidance in this area.
The role of the Chair and the nominated safeguarding governor.
Safer recruitment for governors, including effective interrogation of the Single Central Register.
The proper role of governors in complaints, allegations and incidents, including relationships with local agencies/police.
Conducting the annual review of safeguarding.
How to demonstrate strong leadership.
Preparing governors for inspection.
Adopting a best practice approach to safeguarding governance.

An introduction to the legal and regulatory framework, including governors as proprietors and as charity trustees and an overview of key Government guidance in this area
The role of the Chair and the nominated safeguarding governor
Safer recruitment for governors, including effective interrogation of the Single Central Register
The proper role of governors in complaints, allegations and incidents, including relationships with local agencies/police
Conducting the annual review of safeguarding
Preparing governors for inspection
Adopting a best practice approach to safeguarding governance

For additional information, please email our Events team or call 01923 919 322.