Full Description
What is my role in safeguarding and why does it matter? What should I do if a child makes a disclosure? How should school staff maintain professional boundaries?
Effective safeguarding is a non-negotiable in school and something every teacher must get right. In this accessible, dip-in-and-out guide, a panel of safeguarding experts offer insights to help Early Career Teachers (ECTs) navigate complex situations and ensure children are protected from all forms of harm.
Each chapter is framed around key questions on safeguarding practice, from responding to issues of neglect, harmful sexual behaviour and online safety to understanding safer recruitment and staff codes of conduct. Drawing on extensive first-hand experience, panellists consider challenges that may occur in school settings and share guidance to help ECTs identify when children are at risk and approach difficult conversations with confidence. Top tips and reflective moments are included, to emphasise the importance of listening, being curious and asking questions when something doesn't feel right.
As an ECT, your role in safeguarding is vital, but it shouldn't feel intimidating: it is part of your daily care for the children in your setting, ensuring they feel safe and have the best possible outcomes. This book is essential reading for Early Career Teachers and a useful staffroom resource for all settings.
Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction
• What Do We Mean by Safeguarding?
• How to Use This Book
• Points About Language
• Our Contributors
Chapter 1: Safeguarding and Child Protections
• What Are the Common Signs of Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation? Ann Marie Christian
• What Is Physical Abuse and Its Common Signs? Jon Le Fevre
• What Is Emotional Abuse and Its Common Signs? Hanah Carter
• What Is Neglect and Its Common Signs? Jon Le Fevre
• What Is Sexual Abuse and Its Common Signs? Susan Taylor
• Where Are Children at Risk from Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation and Who From? Jon Le Fevre
• What Is Child-on-Child Abuse Hannah Carter
• What Is Extra-Familial Abuse? Mandy Parry
Chapter 2: Safeguarding in School
• What Are the Main Safeguarding Documents in Schools? Mandy Parry
• What Is a DSL and What Is Their Role? Victoria Morris
• What Is My Role in Safeguarding and Why Does It Matter? Ann Marie Christian
• What Should I Do if a Child Makes a Disclosure? Mandy Parry
• What Can I Ask a Child if I Am Worried About Them and Their Safety? Ann Marie Christian
• What Do I Do if I Report a Concern and Nothing Happens? Victoria Morris
• Why Don't Children Disclose? Mandy Parry
• Why Is Working in Partnership with Parents Important and How Can I Do This Effectively? Victoria Morris
Chapter 3: Children Potentially at Greater Risk of Harm
• What Are the Additional Safeguarding Vulnerabilities of Children with SEND? Sara Alston
• How Are Mental Health and Safeguarding Concerns Linked? Andrew Martin
• When Children Display Harmful or Abusive Behaviours, How We Ensure That They Continue to Have the Rights and Protection of a Child? Andrew Martin
• How Do We Safeguard Looked After or Previously Looked After Children? Rezina Kelly
• How Do We Support Young Carers in Safeguarding? Andrew Martin
• What Are the Experiences of Black and Ethnic Minority Children in Safeguarding? Ann Marie Christian
• How Do We Ensure the Safeguarding Children Who Identify as LGBTQ+? Rezina Kelly
• How Should We View the Link Between Neglect and Poverty? Ann Marie Christian
Chapter 4: Specific Issues in Safeguarding
• What Is Honour Based Abuse and What Are My Responsibilities, if I Am Worried a Child Is at Risk? Carolyn Eyre
• What Is Forced Marriage and Who Is at Risk? Sara Alston
• What Is the Impact of Domestic Abuse on Safeguarding? Andrew Martin
• What Are County Lines, CCE and CSE and How Are They Linked? Hannah Carter
• What Is the Connection Between Attendance and Safeguarding? Victoria Morris
• What Is Fabricated and Induced Illness (FII) and How Do You Identify It? Andrew Martin
• What Is Mandatory Reporting and When Does It Apply? Carolyn Eyre
Chapter 5: Online Safety Catherine Knibbs
• What Are the Risks Associated with Particular Programmes or Platforms?
• What Are the Online Safeguarding Risks for Children?
• What Is Meant by Filtering and Monitoring and What Are My Responsibilities?
• How Do We Support Children to Stay Safe Online?
• What Do I Do if a Child Have Been Sending, Receiving or Sharing Nudes or Semi-Nudes?
• How Should We Response to Concerns About Cyberbullying?
Chapter 6: PREVENT and Radicalisation
• Why Is Prevent Part of Safeguarding? Sara Alston
• What Is the Difference Between Extremism, Radicalisation and Terrorism? Sara Alston
• What Makes Some Children More Susceptible to Grooming and Radicalisation? Hannah Carter
• What Are the Signs a Child Might Be Being Radicalised? Sara Alston
• What Should I Do if I Am Worried a Child Is Being Radicalised? Hannah Carter
• What Is the Channel Programme? Mandy Parry
Chapter 7: Safer Recruitment Carloyn Eye
• What Is Safer Recruitment and Why Does It Matter?
• What Is a DBS Check? (Including the Update Service)
• What Are the Pre-Employment Checks Required for Working in a School?
• Why and How Do Schools Carry Out Online Searches Before Employment?
• What Happens if I Have Lived or Worked Abroad?
• What Safeguarding Questions Might I Be Asked at Interview?
Chapter 8: Concerns About Adults in Schools
• What Is the Harms Threshold and What Is Meant by a Low Level Concern? Kerry Dawson
• What Is Whistleblowing and Why Is It Important? Kerry Dawson
• What Should I Do if I Am Concerned About an Adult's Behaviour in School? Mandy Parry
• What Should I Do if I Am Concerned About the Behaviour of a Volunteer or Visitor to the School? Kerry Dawson
• What Happens if a Safeguarding Concern Is Raised About Me?
• How Should School Staff Maintain Professionals Boundaries? Sara Alston
Conclusion
• School Safeguarding Culture
• Self-Care
• Safeguarding Checklist
Index
