Legislation and guidance

Legislation and regulations

Below are the links to key legislation and guidance. It is important that the Headteacher, DSLs and members of the Governing Board read the guidance and legislation and they understand the implications for policy and practice.

• Keeping Children Safe in Education, DfE (opens new window) (September 2023)
• Disqualification under the Childcare Act 2006, DfE (opens new window) (August 2018)
• Working Together to Safeguard Children, DfE (opens new window) (July 2018)
• What to do if you're worried a child is being abused, DfE (opens new window) (March 2015)
• Information Sharing: Advice for practitioners, DfE (opens new window) (July 2023)
• School Staffing and Employment Advice, DfE (opens new window) (October 2021)
• The Children Act (1989) (opens new window)
• The Education Act (1996) (opens new window)
• The Education Act (2022) (opens new window)

Independent schools and academies

Independent schools and academies are required to have regard to the following regulations:

• The Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2014 (opens new window)
• The independent school standards: guidance for independent schools (opens new window) (PDF)

Boarding schools

Schools with boarding provision need to have regard to:

• Residential Special Schools: National Minimum Standards (opens new window) (2022)

Ofsted guidance

• Ofsted School Inspection Handbook (opens new window) (2023)
• Early Years Inspection Handbook for Ofsted Registered Provision (opens new window) (October 2023)
• Education Inspection Framework (opens new window)

Best practice

Download from the Children's Commissioner website:

• You have someone to trust - Outstanding safeguarding practice in primary schools (opens new window)
• Feeling safe, keeping safe: Good practice in safeguarding and child protection in secondary schools (opens new window)
• Good practice guidelines for safeguarding and child protection in secondary schools (opens new window)