Safety & Safeguarding

As Children’s Commissioner, I have a statutory duty to protect and promote the rights of children – no matter how they get here or what their asylum status is.

How schools survived the record-breaking heatwave

A quarter of schools closed early this week as the UK had its hottest June day on record – with leaders calling for urgent action to cool classrooms.

Looksmaxxing: A rapidly growing safeguarding threat

The first national study into the ‘looksmaxxing’ phenomena reveals a disturbing online ecosystem that is monetising the insecurity and isolation of young men, pushing them into dangerous behaviours.

Bright Horizons' legal notice from Ofsted is an 'important lesson' for the sector about safeguarding, say experts

Bright Horizons' legal notice from Ofsted addresses a range of 'familiar' concerns within the sector and offers ‘important lessons’ about safeguarding, reveal experts.

Full list of schools closing or shutting early as heatwave scorches

Hundreds of schools in England and Wales are being forced to send children home this week as the UK braces for extreme temperatures.

Failure to plan for rising temperatures has left UK’s schools sweltering

To see the UK’s failure to plan for the impacts of climate crisis, look no further than Beaconsfield primary school in west London – where a building more than 100 years old copes with extreme temperatures better than its neighbour, built less than 10 years ago.

Schools set to close amid rare red warnings of extreme heat

Scores of schools across England announce they will close or finish early over the next few days as record-breaking temperatures predicted.

Ofsted serves Bright Horizons with legal notice over safeguarding concerns

Ofsted has issued Bright Horizons – the UK’s third largest nursery chain – with a legal notice over concerns that 69 of its settings are not meeting safeguarding and welfare requirements.

Ofsted increasing unannounced visits to early years settings as investigation reveals a rise in Welfare Requirements Notices

Ofsted is to triple its number of unannounced visits to early years settings to strengthen safeguarding as a BBC investigation suggests a rise in serious incident reporting and in the number of Welfare Requirements Notice (WRN) being given out.

Heatwave: Some nurseries close amid extreme heat warning while others share tips to keep cool

Some nurseries have closed or reduced hours while others are implementing routine changes to keep children and staff cool as temperatures are expected to exceed 37 degrees Celsius.

Nursery chain served with safeguarding notice

One of the UK's largest nursery chains may not be meeting safeguarding and welfare requirements, according to the education regulator.

Will schools close as temperatures hit 38C in the June heatwave?

A new wave of scorching temperatures next week is set to bring significant discomfort for millions of school children packed into busy classrooms.

School leaders’ union NAHT (which represents leaders in the majority of schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland), has today written to all its members with guidance on dealing with the heat this week.

Parents will have greater peace of mind as more surprise Ofsted visits, stronger checks and faster action help keep children safe in nurseries.

There are several ways that schools can make changes to keep children safe in hot weather, especially as children are more at risk of becoming ill with heat-related issues than adults.

‘Dangerous’ for schools to carry on as normal in heatwave, union warns

NEU issues warning as government highlights updated guidance for schools on what to do during heatwaves, with England facing record-breaking temperatures this week.

Paedophile nursery worker could have been stopped sooner, says former colleague

Serious concerns about a suspected paedophile childcare worker were ignored for months by nursery managers, a BBC investigation has been told.

Too cool for school? Not in our overheating classrooms

After May saw record-breaking temperatures in the UK, another warm spell is under way in parts of England.

Talk to us before rolling out AI tools, tutors tell DfE

Tutors are calling for the government to engage with them before rolling out an AI tutoring programme, amid concerns that the tools will lack human oversight and pose risks to safeguarding.

The need to protect the rights of every child, regardless of their asylum status

NEU writes to Bridget Phillipson as schools endure another day of extreme heat

How schools survived the record-breaking heatwave

Looksmaxxing: A rapidly growing safeguarding threat

Bright Horizons' legal notice from Ofsted is an 'important lesson' for the sector about safeguarding, say experts

Full list of schools closing or shutting early as heatwave scorches

Failure to plan for rising temperatures has left UK’s schools sweltering

Schools set to close amid rare red warnings of extreme heat

Ofsted serves Bright Horizons with legal notice over safeguarding concerns

Ofsted increasing unannounced visits to early years settings as investigation reveals a rise in Welfare Requirements Notices

Heatwave: Some nurseries close amid extreme heat warning while others share tips to keep cool

Nursery chain served with safeguarding notice

Will schools close as temperatures hit 38C in the June heatwave?

Advice for school leaders on dealing with the heatwave

Safer nurseries with 3,000 more surprise Ofsted visits

Hot weather and heatwaves: guidance for schools and other education settings

‘Dangerous’ for schools to carry on as normal in heatwave, union warns

Paedophile nursery worker could have been stopped sooner, says former colleague

Too cool for school? Not in our overheating classrooms

Talk to us before rolling out AI tools, tutors tell DfE