Source: Department for Education
Date: 06 July 2021

The Department for Education (DfE) has published updated Keeping children safe in education 2021 statutory guidance for schools and colleges in England. This guidance comes into force on 1 September 2021 and replaces Keeping children safe in education 2020 (updated January 2021). Substantive changes, outlined in Annexe G, cover areas including: child on child sexual violence and sexual harassment; safeguarding information for all staff; the management of safeguarding; safer recruitment; and allegations made against or concerns raised in relation to teachers. Separately, the DfE has published a summary of the responses to its consultation on proposed changes to the statutory guidance for schools and colleges in England. NSPCC Learning has published a CASPAR briefing summarising key points in the updated guidance

Read the guidance: Keeping children safe in education
Read the consultation responses: Keeping children safe in education: proposed revisions 2021
Read the CASPAR briefing: CASPAR briefing: Keeping children safe in education 2021

NSPCC Learning has published a CASPAR briefing summarising key findings from the Independent review of children’s social care in England's initial report. The briefing focuses on key findings from The case for change report organised under the following themes: helping families; the child protection system; the care system; and addressing issues in the system. This is an initial report from the independent review aimed at starting the conversation about possible solutions to the issues faced by social care, and the review is calling for feedback, as well as further ideas, views and evidence, by 13 August 2021.

Read the CASPAR briefing: The independent review of children's social care

Give feedback: Case for change: feedback form

Source: Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel
Date: 14 May 2021

The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel has published its second annual report looking at how effectively the system of national and local child safeguarding practice reviews is operating in England. The Panel received notification of 482 serious incidents between 1 January and 31 December 2020, relating to 514 children. Of those notifications, 206 were in relation to child deaths and 267 related to serious harm. Of the 206 fatal incidents, 17% were caused by maltreatment within the family, 8% were extra-familial assaults or homicide, 31% were sudden unexpected deaths in infancy (SUDI) and 20% were suicides. Notifications relating to serious harm notifications show that: physical abuse was the main form of harm recorded in 38% of non-fatal cases; domestic abuse was recognised in 42.6% of non-fatal incidents; and parental mental ill-health was a characteristic in 27.3% of non-fatal incidents. The report identifies six key practice themes to make a difference in reducing serious harm and preventing child deaths caused by abuse or neglect. A briefing summarising learning from this report will be published by NSPCC Learning next week.

Read the press release: Safeguarding system needs to tackle “stubborn challenges”
Read the report: Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel: annual report 2020

Source: NSPCC Learning
Date: 05 May 2021

NSPCC Learning has relaunched the safeguarding self-assessment tool for schools and voluntary and community groups. The free self-assessment tool provides: a step-by-step guide to help your school or organisation meet best safeguarding and child protection practices, help to identify areas for development, and support you in making any changes necessary.

Visit the self-assessment tool: Safeguarding and child protection self-assessment tool

Source: Home Office, Ministry of Justice
Date: 29 April 2021

The Domestic Abuse Bill received Royal Assent on 29 April 2021. The Domestic Abuse Act explicitly recognises children as victims if they see, hear or experience the effects of abuse and includes a legal definition of domestic abuse which incorporates a range of abuses beyond physical violence, including emotional, coercive or controlling behaviour, and economic abuse.

Read the news story: Landmark Domestic Abuse Bill receives Royal Assent
Read the Act: Domestic Abuse Act

See also on NSPCC Learning 
Protecting children from domestic abuse