Safeguarding

The phrases ‘child protection’ and ‘safeguarding’ are often used interchangeably, but the words have distinct meanings.

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as:

• protecting children from maltreatment;

• preventing impairment of children’s health or development;

• ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care;

• and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

Put simply safeguarding is:

• Child protection

• Supporting vulnerable children

• Safe care, at home, in school and in the community

• Taking action

It can be useful to think of safeguarding as being the filing cabinet and child protection is simply one drawer. Safeguarding is most successful when all aspects are integrated together.

Three key elements include:

• a clear safeguarding ethos in the school

• a policy that sets out clear expectations and processes

• high-quality training that ensures staff know what to do and do it consistently across the school.