How to review your child protection policy

Last reviewed on 24 June 2022
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Statutory/mandatory for: Maintained schools Academies Free schools Independent schools Sixth-form colleges Further education Pupil referral units Non-maintained special schools

Find everything you need to review and approve your school's child protection policy. Be clear on what key questions you can ask your school leaders, and use our model policy and checklist to make sure your school's compliant.

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Contents

  1. Key facts
  2. What this policy needs to do
  3. 3 key questions to challenge the policy
  4. Model policy and checklist

What this policy needs to do

When you're reading your school's safeguarding policy, check that it: 

  • Sets out how the school can take appropriate action in a timely manner to safeguard and promote children’s welfare
  • Makes all staff and governors aware of their safeguarding responsibilities 
  • Makes sure staff are properly trained in recognising and reporting safeguarding issues

Statutory safeguarding guidance says a child protection policy should include: 

  • Your whole-school approach to child-on-child abuse
  • The systems in place for pupils to report abuse
  • Your safeguarding procedures (which should be in line with government guidance)
  • Local multi-agency safeguarding arrangements (e.g. referring to procedures set by the 3 local safeguarding partners)
  • Policies such as online safety and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)

3 key questions to challenge the policy

You need to ask challenging questions when the policy comes to you for approval so you can satisfy yourself that the policy-reviewing process was robust.

Your policy

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