Management Information Sheet

On 22 July 2015, the Department for Education (DfE) published a revised version of Keeping Children Safe in Education. This became statutory with immediate effect and is guidance that all schools and further education colleges must have regard to when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

Summary of the Changes

The document has been updated to reflect the new Prevent Duty, to emphasise responsibilities concerning children missing from education and to provide more content on female genital mutilation (FGM).

Part 1: Safeguarding information for all staff

• States that staff should be aware of new reporting requirements with regard to known cases of FGM (paragraph 18)
• Provides new information for staff on children missing from education (pages 13-14)
• Provides further information for staff on FGM including information about the mandatory reporting duty that is due to commence in October 2015 (pages 14-15)
• Provides further information for staff on preventing radicalisation - the guidance provides clarity about the level of training required and states that as a minimum, schools should ensure that the DSL undertakes Prevent awareness training and is able to provide advice and support to other members of staff on protecting children from the risk of radicalisation (pages 15-16)

Part 2: The Management of Safeguarding

• Clarifies that governing bodies and proprietors should put in place appropriate safeguarding responses to children who go missing from education (paragraph 35)

Please note that all relevant guidance and policy documents have been updated to reflect the changes in statutory guidance and the Prevent Duty that came into force in July 2015. You can access these documents from the Forms and templates section of the Norfolk Schools - Safeguarding web pages. It is important to note the changes but existing school policy documents should not need to be reviewed outside the normal policy review cycle in light of these.

Prevent

Due to high demand, further 'Prevent' training sessions have been organised during November. To book a place on one of these sessions, please apply via s4s.norfolk.gov.uk by searching for course title or date. Spaces will be allocated on a first come first served basis. The briefing is free to attend, but please note there will be a £20 per person administration fee for non-attendance or if cancelled within 10 working days of the course date. No refreshments will be provided. If you have any queries with booking please email: cs.pdcsafeguardingadministration@norfolk.gov.uk.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

The DfE is currently consulting on revised multi-agency practice guidance on FGM to reflect the new duties in respect of reporting. Further guidance on the mandatory reporting of FGM will be issued to schools when this guidance has been published by the DfE. Information about the consultation can be accessed at www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-the-draft-statutory-multi-agency-practice-guidance-on-female-genital-mutilation-fgm.

For those professionals who want to access further guidance on this topic, Recognising and Preventing FGM is a free e-learning tool provided by the Home Office.