Safeguarding

Safeguarding through the curriculum

The legal context for safeguarding education

These duties are set out in the 2002 Education Act (the 2010 Academies Act also refers to the broad and balanced curriculum). Schools also have statutory responsibilities in relation to promoting pupil wellbeing and pupil safeguarding (Children Act 2004) and community cohesion (Education Act 2006). The Equality Act 2010 also places duties on schools to help to reduce prejudice-based bullying and in doing so to keep protected characteristic groups safe. PSHE education plays an important part in fulfilling all of the responsibilities (see further detail on PSHE education and safeguarding, below).

All schools have responsibilities relating to the safety of children in their care. Keeping Children Safe in Education (2023), paragraph 129 states:

“Governing bodies should ensure that children are taught about how to keep themselves and others safe, including online. It should be recognised that effective education will be tailored to the specific needs and vulnerabilities of individual children, including children who are victims of abuse, and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.”

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Article 19.1 : ‘Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any other person who has care of a child.’