The government has said it will “explore” legislative changes to include schools as a statutory safeguarding partner, following a consultation on updating its multi-agency child protection guidance.
It comes after it received criticism for its “half-hearted” response to Josh MacAlister’s landmark review of social care, which recommended schools should become legal safeguarding partners alongside police, health services and councils.
In its response in February, the government said it agreed education “needs to play a greater role in local safeguarding arrangements” and would consult on how to “strengthen” its role.
The Department for Education (DfE) also said it would “use learning from this” to form proposals on “whether and how to” make education a safeguarding partner through consultation this autumn.
