Information for Schools & Early Years Providers

Information for Schools & Early Years Providers

School Safeguarding Audits

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 and North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership recognise the valuable role of education and childcare settings in the safeguarding of children and young people in North Yorkshire:

As education and childcare settings have daily contact with most children and families, they are uniquely placed to identify concerns and, with partners as appropriate, address them early. Safeguarding professionals, including safeguarding partners and their delegates, should work closely with education and childcare settings to ensure information about children is shared effectively, risks of harm are correctly identified and understood, and children and families receive the services they need.

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023

On this page you will find specific information and resources for education and childcare settings including:

• Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023)
• Keeping Children Safe in Education
• School Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
• Practice Guidance and One Minute Guides for education and childcare settings
• Safeguarding Audits
• Training and events for education and childcare settings.

All other training, resources guidance and learning can be accessed in the professionals section of the website: NYSCP (safeguardingchildren.co.uk)

Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023)

Nothing is more important than children’s welfare. Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, stable, and loving home. Children who need help and protection deserve high quality and effective support. This requires individuals, agencies, and organisations to be clear about their own and each other’s roles and responsibilities, and how they work together.

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 (Working Together) is a multi-agency statutory guidance that sets out expectations for the systems, processes and ways people work together to help, support and protect children and their families.

NYSCP have summarised all the key information in relation to the updated Working Together document onto one handy webpage which can be accessed here: NYSCP (safeguardingchildren.co.uk)

Education professionals, volunteers and early years practitioners can keep up to date on the progress of the implementation of changes via the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (NYSCP) business unit. Any updates will be shared with partners via the monthly NYSCP e-bulletin which can be accessed here NYSCP (safeguardingchildren.co.uk) and via this webpage.

A learning event has been scheduled for 4^th December 2024 for all partners to attend, where all updates in relation to Working Together will be shared. This event will be delivered by the business unit, alongside statutory partners and relevant agencies to highlight the changes for all organisations. This event can be booked here: North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (NYSCP) Developments in Safeguarding Masterclass Webinars – December 2024 | NYES Info

Keeping Children Safe in Education

Keeping children safe in education – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) – September 2024

School Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

School settings: NYSCP (safeguardingchildren.co.uk)

Early Years: NYSCP (safeguardingchildren.co.uk)

Practice Guidance and One Minute Guides for Education Settings:

Safeguarding Children with a Social Worker, Children in Care and Children Previously in Care at School (proceduresonline.com)

Operation Divan School Guidance

Operation Encompass

Please note all Practice Guidance and One Minute Guides can be accessed here: NYSCP (safeguardingchildren.co.uk)

North Yorkshire Police: Support for School DSL’s

North Yorkshire Police have produced a resource centre for school DSL’s. The resource houses key information about local police contacts, and the role of school Liaison Officers, alongside other resources and local offers of support. The site can be accessed here:

North Yorkshire Police – Support for DSL’s – North Yorkshire County

Be Aware Child Exploitation Hub: Resources for Schools and Early Years Providers:

Following a consultation with school PSHE leads across North Yorkshire a collection of lesson plans and additional resources for schools and early years settings linked to exploitation was added to the partnership Be Aware Hu. These can be accessed here: NYSCP (at the bottom of the page).

Safeguarding Audits

Details and guidance on completion of the 2024/25 School Safeguarding Audit can be accessed here: NYSCP

School Safeguarding Audit 2022 – 2023

The safeguarding audit is a mechanism for schools to undertake a self-assessment of their safeguarding arrangements, identify areas for development, and produce an action plan.

The findings from the 2022-2023 audit can be accessed here:

Childminders and Early Years Self-Assessment Audits

Whereas schools are required to complete a mandatory safeguarding audit, this is not the case for childminders and early years providers. However, we would recommend completing a self-assessment audit for your own records and peace of mind, to ensure you are complying with all safeguarding requirements. NYSCP has put together the audit tools below for you to download and complete at regular intervals.

Guidance to writing Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures for Early Years Providers

Childminder Self Assessment Audit Tool – Updated 2024

Early Years Settings Self Assessment Audit Tool – Updated 2024

Training and Events:

Guidance for Designated Safeguarding Leads

North Yorkshire Education Service has produced guidance on North Yorkshire Council: Safeguarding Children Training. This details what courses would be advised for colleagues who are new to the role of Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL) and what courses to undertake for refresher sessions.

Click here to open the guide

School Designated Safeguarding Leads Network Meetings

The NYSCP School Designated Safeguarding Leads Network Webinars are open to all North Yorkshire Schools in North Yorkshire. Morning and afternoon sessions are available every term – please only select AM or PM session.

>> Book your places <<

Access to resources from previous sessions can be found here: NYSCP (safeguardingchildren.co.uk)

Early Years

Early Years Learning Events:

NYSCP holds specific Learning Events for Early Years every six months. The next event will take place on Wednesday, 23rd April 2025, from 19:00 to 21:00.

>> Book your places <<

School Improvement Safeguarding Team Training Programme 2024 – 2025

North Yorkshire Council’s School Improvement Service have put together schedules of their upcoming training sessions for the 2024 – 2025 academic year, these can be found below.

• School Improvement Team Training Programme
• PSHE Networks and Training
• PSHE and Healthy Schools Training and Updates

Staying Safe Online Quick Guide

A poster designed to give quick advice about staying safe online.