Ofsted Inspecting safeguarding in early years, education and skills settings

Signs of Successful Safeguarding Arrangements

Use of technology and social media

In settings that have effective safeguarding arrangements, there will be evidence that

• Adults understand the risks associated with using technology, including social media, of bullying, grooming, exploiting, radicalising or abusing children or learners. They have well-developed strategies in place to keep children and learners safe and to support them to develop their own understanding of these risks and in learning how to keep themselves and others safe. Leaders oversee the safe use of technology when children and learners are in their care and take action immediately if they are concerned about bullying or children’s well-being. Leaders of early years settings implement the required policies with regard to the safe use of mobile phones and cameras in settings.

paragraph 13 | p.7-9

The Role of Leaders and Governors

How effectively leaders and governors create a safeguarding culture

Inspectors should evaluate how well early years settings, schools and further education and skills providers fulfil their statutory responsibilities and how well staff exercise their professional judgement in keeping children and learners safe.

Inspectors should consider evidence that:

• action is taken to ensure that children are taught about safeguarding risks, including online risks.
• as part of the curriculum, children and learners are supported to understand what constitutes a healthy relationship both online and offline, and to recognise risk, for example risks associated with criminal and sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, substance misuse, gang activity, radicalisation and extremism, and are aware of the support available to them.
• staff, leaders and managers understand the risks posed by adults or young people who use the internet to bully, groom or abuse children, learners and vulnerable adults; there are well-developed strategies in place to keep learners safe and to support them in learning how to recognise when they are at risk and how to get help when they need it
• appropriate filters and monitoring systems are in place to protect learners from potentially harmful online material.
• staff, leaders and managers oversee the safe use of electronic and social media by staff and learners and take action immediately if they are concerned about bullying or risky behaviours.

paragraphs 18-19 |p.11-14

Judging Safeguarding Arrangements

Promoting children’s and learners’ safety

Inspectors will evaluate, where applicable, the extent to which the provision is successfully promoting and supporting children’s and learners’ safety. Inspectors will consider, among other things, children’s and learners’ understanding of healthy and unhealthy relationships and how they are supported to keep themselves safe from relevant risks such as exploitation and extremism, including when using the internet and social media. Inspectors should include online safety in their discussions with children and learners (covering topics such as online bullying and safe use of the internet and social media). Inspectors should investigate what the school or further education and skills provider does to educate pupils in online safety and how the provider or school deals with issues when they arise.

paragraph 37 | p.17

[In addition, the ‘Inspecting safeguarding in early years, education and skills settings’ guidance requires Inspectors to be familiar with the ‘Teaching Online Safety in Schools Guidance’ and ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE)’ guidance documents.]