Safeguarding
Our safeguarding FAQs are divided into four sections available via the navigation on the left:
- childcare
- all schools and colleges
- learning and skills providers (education and training beyond age 16)
- Cafcass service areas.
Ofsted inspectors inspect to government legislation and statutory guidance. All Ofsted safeguarding guidance for inspectors is based on Safeguarding children and safer recruitment in education, but a number of other key documents are also referenced for your information.
- Safeguarding children and safer recruitment in education (DCSF, January 2007)
- Vetting and Barring Scheme guidance (October 2009)
- Briefing for section 5 inspectors on safeguarding children (September 2009) – this is in the zip file available from the supplementary guidance and resources for inspectors page.
The Government announced on 15 June 2010 its intention to review the Vetting and Barring Scheme. The aim of the review is likely to focus on reducing the number of people covered by the scheme. The review is being jointly conducted by the Department for Education, the Home Office and the Department of Health. In light of this announcement, some of the current answers on these pages are being revised. The new information of relevance to childcare providers may also be helpful.
If you do not find an answer to your question in the FAQs, please email us on enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk.