Teachernet, Child protection

This section of TeacherNet is aimed primarily at schools and local authorities. More information is also on the 'Safeguarding Children' webpages of the Every Child Matters website.

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, which came in to effect in 2008, introduced a new vetting and barring scheme for all those working with children and young people. As part of the new scheme, the Department announced the tightening of existing regulations and issued guidance on the implications of this legislation. The guidance, Safeguarding children and safer recruitment in education (Nov 2006), is current.

Further implementation of the Vetting and Barring Scheme in 2009
From 12 October 2009, a new duty to share information and a set of increased safeguards have been introduced under the Vetting and Barring Scheme, as administered by the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). For further information and guidance, visit the 'Vetting and Barring Scheme' section of the Every Child Matters website.

Guidance: Safeguarding children and safer recruitment in education
The guidance, Safeguarding children and safer recruitment in education, clarifies the duties and responsibilities of schools and local authorities in ensuring safer recruitment. It looks at the recruitment and selection processes, recruitment and vetting checks, and duties for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in education. It is a consolidated version of earlier guidance material. It replaces:

Child protection: Preventing unsuitable people from working with children and young persons in the education service
Criminal Records Bureau: Managing the demand for disclosures
Safeguarding children in education
Safeguarding children: Safer recruitment and selection in education settings
Dealing with allegations of abuse against teachers.

All schools, including non-maintained schools, independent schools, academies, FE institutions and LAs exercising education functions should use this guidance to review and, where appropriate, modify their practice and procedures for safeguarding children and dealing with allegations of abuse made against teachers and education staff.

Guidance: Working together to safeguard children
Working together to safeguard children (April 2006) is the current guidance that sets out how individuals and organisations should work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. The guidance updated the previous version, which was published in 1999. The current version reflects developments in legislation, policy and practice.

As of October 2009, the DCSF is working on updating this guidance and updates will be announced here as soon as they are available.

The guidance is addressed to all practitioners and front-line managers who have particular responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and to senior and operational managers in organisations that are responsible for commissioning or providing services to children, young people, parents and carers.

It is also addressed to senior and operational managers in organisations that have a particular responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. However, it is not necessary for all practitioners to read every part of the guidance — the table on pages 19-20 sets out which parts of the document are particularly relevant to different roles.

To help Local Safeguarding Children Boards implement the guidance, see: