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

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
• The independent school standards: guidance for independent schools (PDF)

Boarding schools

Schools with boarding provision need to have regard to:

• Residential Special Schools: National Minimum Standards (2022)

Ofsted guidance

• Ofsted School Inspection Handbook (2023)
• Inspecting Safeguarding in Early Years Education and Skills (September 2022)
• Early Years Inspection Handbook for Ofsted Registered Provision (September 2022)
• Education Inspection Framework

Best practice

Download from the Children's Commissioner website:

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