Keeping Children Safe In Education 2023: Key points and actions
Schools and colleges (including independent training providers ) were promised the changes from KCSIE 2022 to KCSIE 2023 would be minimal.
In summary there are three additional paragraphs…
1. FILTERING AND MONITORING
This is a repeated theme throughout the document. Mentions of the importance of all staff having ‘an understanding of the expectations, applicable roles and responsibilities in relation to filtering and monitoring’ are spread across the document. The providers approach to online safety, including appropriate filtering and monitoring on school devices and school networks should be reflected in their Safeguarding Policy which should include awareness of the ease of access to mobile phone networks.
In addition ‘Governing bodies should consider the number of and age range of their children, those who are potentially at greater risk of harm and how often they access the IT system along with the proportionality of costs versus safeguarding risks.’
It is recommended that providers:
Identify and assign roles and responsibilities to manage filtering and monitoring systems.
Review filtering and monitoring provision at least annually.
Block harmful and inappropriate content without unreasonably impacting teaching and learning.
Have effective monitoring strategies in place that meet their safeguarding needs.
Governing bodies and proprietors should review the standards and discuss with IT staff and service providers what more needs to be done to support the organisation in meeting this standard.
There are also links to the additional guidance on filtering and monitoring from the UK Safer Internet Centre and their related toolkit.
2. RETENTION OF DOCUMENTS
Paragraph 276 helps to clarify that copies of documents used to verify a successful candidate’s identity, right to work and required qualifications should be kept on their personnel file. But copies of DBS certificates and records of criminal information disclosed by a candidate are covered by UK GDPR/DPA 2018. To comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018, when organisations choose to retain a copy, there should be a valid reason for doing so and it should not be kept for longer than six months. When the information is destroyed the organisation may keep a record of the fact that vetting was carried out, the result and the recruitment decision taken if they choose to. It goes on to emphasise that organisations do not have to keep copies of DBS certificates, in order to fulfil the duty of maintaining the single central record.
3. USE OF PROVIDER SITES BY OUTSIDE ORGANISATIONS
There is a new heading, ‘Use of school sites by outside organisations’ (para 377) in Part 4 on raising concerns and managing allegations. This confirms schools’ safeguarding responsibilities when they receive an allegation relating to an incident that happened when an individual or organisation was using their school premises for the purposes of running activities for children (for example community groups, sports associations, or service providers that run extra-curricular activities). As with any safeguarding allegation, schools should follow their safeguarding policies and procedures, including informing the LADO.
So, what actions should providers take…
· Check your filtering and monitoring procedures:
Who is responsible for the filtering and monitoring?
Who checks and responds to any attempted breaches of the filtering systems?
How frequently is this done?
How is this recorded?
Who decides what is inappropriate and harmful content?
Who checks the filtering systems are up to date and monitoring for appropriate words?
This should not solely be the responsibility of your IT provider or server. The DSL needs to have a lead role and there needs to be clear procedures to respond to issues considering safeguarding concerns and responsibilities under the PREVENT duty.
Ensure all staff understand their responsibilities in this area. It needs to be included in training and annual updates:
Check your cyber security is robust and appropriate.
Check if you are keeping copies of ID documents for staff and if so, where. There is no need to keep copies of DBS certificates and these should not be kept for longer than six months.
Check the procedures for responding to safeguarding concerns about other organisations and individuals using your site. Also ensure that these are clearly stated in any lettings policy and hirings contracts.
Ensure that your attendance policies are clear about the safeguarding risks for children absent or missing from education, including those absent on repeat occasions and/or for prolonged periods. This should include how those supporting attendance work with the DSL.
Continue to review your procedures for conducting online searches for shortlisted candidates. This should include informing them that these will be undertaken. This should be included on the application form and/or in letters inviting candidates to interview.
Ensure that your culture of safeguarding is clearly stated and that explicitly includes all staff and their responsibilities in and outside of school and on and offline.
Consider the information included in your behaviour policy with regard to alleged perpetrator(s) of harmful sexualised behaviours, sexual harassment or violence and the use of sanctions against them.
Check that your policy on referrals to Channel refers to those susceptible to (rather than vulnerable to) being drawn into terrorism and recognises that any referral requires the individual’s consent.