The statutory guidance for schools and colleges - Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023 - has been updated and came come into force on September 1st 2023. With this in mind, this article outlines how this guidance substantively differs with regard to bullying from the previous 2022 guidance.
To see how the Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance links to bullying, please see our previous review of the 2022 version here.
Filtering and monitoring is highlighted to a greater degree in this version of the Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. Filtering and monitoring can be linked to preventing online bullying.
Paragraph 14 - New text added to raise awareness of the existing expectation for relevant staff to understand filtering and monitoring: "All staff should receive appropriate safeguarding and child protection training (including online safety which, amongst other things, includes an understanding of the expectations, applicable roles and responsibilities in relation to filtering and monitoring – see para 141 for further information) at induction."
Para 103 - Another added reference to filtering and monitoring.
Para 124 - New text added to make clear staff training should include understanding roles and responsibilities in relation to filtering and monitoring, and the responsibility of Governing bodies and proprietors regarding this: "Governing bodies and proprietors should ensure that all staff undergo safeguarding and child protection training (including online safety which, amongst other things, includes an understanding of the expectations, applicable roles and responsibilities in relation to filtering and monitoring – see para 141 for further information) at induction."
Para 138 - Reference to child protection policies and appropriate filtering and monitoring on school devices and school networks: "Online safety and the school or college’s approach to it should be reflected in the child protection policy which, amongst other things, should include appropriate filtering and monitoring on school devices and school networks."
Para 142 - Added new section referencing the new published filtering and monitoring standards. The standards are to support schools meet their duty to have appropriate/effective filtering and monitoring systems in place, this is not a new burden.
Annex A - Updated to include references to filtering and monitoring.
Para 167 - Paragraph updated to reference Keeping children safe in out-of-school settings. This is guidance with several references to bullying that occurs outside of school.
Para 175 - Clarification provided on the difference between children missing education and children absent from education. This is a useful clarification, as absence from education can be linked to bullying.
Annex B - Revised to reflect the difference between children absent from education and children missing education.
This guidance references the fact that children with special educational needs, disabilities or health issues are "...more prone to peer group isolation or bullying (including prejudice-based bullying) than other children." As such, the below addition of further signposting is a valuable resource for those experiencing bullying.
Para 202 - Additional signpost to specialist organisations for children with special educational needs and disabilities: "The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information and Support Services (SENDIASS). SENDIASS offer information, advice and support for parents and carers of children and young people with SEND. All local authorities have such a service: Find your local IAS service (councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk)"
Safeguarding allegations can be connected to bullying. As such, the below addition to the guidance can be viewed through an anti-bullying lens.
Para 377 - "Organisations or individuals using school premises" added as a new heading, with the new paragraph: "Schools and colleges may 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 and colleges should follow their safeguarding policies and procedures, including informing the LADO."
The guidance has been revised throughout to reflect wording from the behaviour in schools guidance.
