Statutory guidance for schools and colleges, Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSE), defines safeguarding as:

  • Protecting children from maltreatment.
  • Preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development.
  • Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care.
  • Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

This is statutory guidance from the Department for Education and is issued under:

  • Section 175 of the Education Act 2002.
  • The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014.
  • The Non-Maintained Special Schools (England) Regulations 2015.
  • The Education and Training (Welfare of Children) Act 2021.