1. Safeguarding and Promoting
the Well-being of Children
Ensuring Student Teachers Work Safely

2. • Safeguarding children is the most important
thing we teachers do.
• We can, in extreme circumstances, save lives.

3. Reminders and revision as
preparation for final placement
• What is safeguarding?
• Child Protection: definitions and statistics
• Why does it affect us?
• E-safety
• Practical information (what to be aware of,
processes, designated teacher)

4. Safeguarding and child protection
Safeguarding and promoting the
welfare of children is defined as:
• protecting children
from maltreatment
• preventing impairment
of children’s health or
development
• ensuring children are
growing up in
circumstances
consistent with the
provision of safe and
effective care.
Child protection is a part of
safeguarding and promoting welfare.
It refers to the activity that is undertaken to
protect specific children who are suffering,
or are likely to suffer, significant harm.
Effective child protection is essential as part
of wider work to safeguard and promote
the welfare of children. However, all
agencies and individuals should aim to
proactively safeguard and promote the
welfare of children so that the need for
action to protect children from harm is
reduced.

5. Definitions and symptoms of abuse
There are four categories of abuse:
• Physical abuse
• Neglect
• Sexual abuse
• Emotional abuse
Plus
• Radicalisation - recent category – grooming
vulnerable and impressionable young children.
Teachers response: record and report.
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7. Latest Statistics
• 50,000 approx. reported cases of child abuse
in two years (April 2012 – March 2014)
• Children’s commissioner estimates that 85%
of cases go unreported. (450,000)
Source: BBC.co.uk 24/11/15

8. Sexual abuse victims are :
75% girls
Most likely to be 9 years
old
2/3 are abused inside
family & friends circle
Most victims don’t
recognise it as abuse until
they are older.
Source: Children’s Commissioner 2015

9. A sad case study 2002
• Holly Wells & Jessica Chapman
• Both 10 years old.
• Abused and murdered by a school
employee known to children, families
and staff – a caretaker in 2002.
• The accomplice did not have the
qualifications of a classroom assistant
as claimed on her job application;
because no-one checked
qualifications or references she
gained entry into a classroom – and
developed a working relationship and
trust with victims, their families and
colleagues.
• Identified the need to check records
of all school staff.
• Action: DBS checks in place for all
employees and potential employees.

10. Some more statistical facts
• Approximately one child dies every week as a result
of non-accidental injuries.
• Parents (including step-parents) are the most likely
perpetrators.
• Strangers are statistically unlikely to be the
perpetrators.
• 750,000 children witness violent domestic abuse
each year (Source: Refuge.org.uk 2015).

11. • Children with SEN or a disability are
more vulnerable to abuse – why so?
• We are all most at risk from those
closest to you: 25% of murders in
London are within a family
• (Source: Evening Standard 15/12/15)

12. Why is this so important?

13. The Legislative Context
• Children Act (1989): placed duty on local authorities,
including schools, to assist where children are in need or at
risk of harm.
• Education Act (2002): placed a duty on schools to promote
and safeguard welfare of children and schools have a moral
and legal responsibility to promote children’s well being ,
protect them from harm and to respond to child abuse.
• Children Act (2004) introduced statutory local Safeguarding
Children Boards.
• Working together to safeguard children (DfE, 2013) places
onus on all education and care providers to be proactive and
take action to minimise exposure to risk. 13

14. • What sort of person abuses a child?

15. • 680 people arrested in 9 months Mar – Nov
2015 for having indecent images of children
• 90% not previously known
• 104 in positions of trust
• Including 32 in education
(Source : BBC.co.uk 15/12/15)

16. Highly regarded, bold, zany, fearless

17. Teachers’ Standards Part Two
Personal and Professional Conduct
• A teacher is expected to demonstrate
consistently high standards of personal
and professional conduct.
• Teachers uphold public trust in the
profession and maintain high standards
of ethics and behaviour, within and
outside school
• Regard for the need to safeguard pupils’
well-being
• Teachers must have proper and
professional regard for the ethos, policies
and practice of the school in which they
teach.

18. How can teachers safeguard their pupils?
• Being alert to the general well being of pupils
• Carrying out risk assessments
• Understanding and implementing Care Plans as required
• Building a positive classroom ethos and addressing
bullying
• Delivering a good PSHE curriculum and E Safety
• Sharing concerns
• Building good relationships with parents and families
• Being well briefed on the CP status & circumstances of
the children
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19. If you have any concerns about a child…..
• Observe, listen, ask natural general questions
• Record
• Share it with the designated teacher immediately
• Do not interview the child as you can compromise
the evidence
• Always make it clear to the child that you will share
the information and do not agree to keep secrets.
• Do not take photos or examine a child
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20. E-safety
The government
commissioned a
review into matters of
E-safety led by Dr
Tanya Byron resulting
in the booklet
Safer Children in a
Digital World, 2008.
(The Byron Review)

21. The Byron Review: The Risks

22. Protecting Children:
E-Safety Policy
• Rules for pupil conduct when using school
computers, including use of Internet, email and
other tools.
• How content is filtered and use monitored.
• How to deal with E-Safety related incidents e.g.
access to inappropriate content or cyber bullying.
•Rules and procedures for use of digital images of
children and publishing content online.

23. So…what about you?
‘consistently high standards of personal
and professional conduct…within and
outside school…’
That’s just common
sense isn’t it?

24. Careless use of social media can blur the separation of personal and professional lives

25. As professionals working in positions of significant responsibility with young children
it is especially important to consider the potential pitfalls and how they can be
avoided.
You must safeguard your own professional reputation.
What will schools find out about you ….google….

26. Avoid compromising your
professional position
•Review and lock down privacy settings so that you are certain who can
access what.
• Pupils (and staff) may search social networking sites to find teachers. If
your profile is set to be visible via a public search, what information can
be seen? Try it.
• Think carefully about who you choose to accept as a friend and think
about any knock-on implications.
•Do not encourage or accept friend requests from pupils or parents from
your placement school. Think about the complexities of having a teaching
colleague as a ‘friend’
•Regardless of privacy settings, never discuss colleagues, pupils, parents
or issues which may compromise your professional role if made public..
Doing so will lead to disciplinary procedures.
•Think before you post…would it stand up to scrutiny by your school ,
your children, their parents…or your Mum?
• Remember…others may tag you in their photos

27. Protecting Yourself:
Acceptable Use Policy
All Kent schools have a code of conduct for
internet/computer use by employees.
It may cover areas such as:
• Professional use of school computer equipment
and systems.
•Rules about use of personal ICT equipment in the
classroom.
•Secure storage of data including images of children.
You need a copy of this and you need to
know what it means for you!

28. http://www.childnet-int.org/kia/traineeteachers/
Further Support and Advice
CLIC LEARN > Programme
Information

29. Two final thoughts
You are adding to
your digital
footprint everyday.
It has the potential
to follow you
around forever.

30. When you first visit your school…
• Ask for a copy of the Safeguarding Children
policy & E Safety/ Acceptable use Policy.
• Identify the Designated Teacher for
Safeguarding.
• Find out how you can record/report any
concerns.

31. Guidelines for safe practice.............
• Don’t give children gifts
• Maintain professional boundaries. Do not give out your
personal address, home/mobile phone number or e-mail
address. Use your professional contact details at all
times.
• If a child touches you inappropriately, record and report
it to the designated person.
• Dress appropriately.
• Physical contact should be needs led, age and gender
appropriate.
• Avoid conduct which could be misinterpreted e.g.
horseplay, tickling or fun fights. Avoid children sitting on
your lap.
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32. • Do not carry out any personal care for a child that
they can do for themselves.
• Record and report incidents involving a child,
including injuries, in line with school procedures e.g.
Child Protection, Physical Intervention, Health and
Safety.
• When meeting with pupils 1 to 1 ensure you are
visible and/or open door.
• Only use photographs when appropriate to a school
lesson or activity and with correct permissions.
• Report any concerns about a colleague’s behaviour
and/or attitude toward children to the Head
teacher.
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33. Confidentiality

34. Remember
• Collect and read the e-safety AND
safeguarding/child protection policy from your
school
• KNOW who you should talk to if you have
concerns
• Don’t be afraid to ask if you’re unsure or
unconvinced by a situation you face
• Seek help!
• Most children are loved & well looked after