Keeping children safe in education
What the DfE's statutory safeguarding guidance means for your website, from the child protection policy to online safety and safer recruitment.
Official source: Keeping children safe in education 2026 ↗
6 requirements
- Child protection policyShould: Recommended in official guidance, such as the DfE's. Not a legal requirement in itself.Your child protection and safeguarding policy, including how children can report abuse and how you handle concerns.Every September
- Designated safeguarding leadShould: Recommended in official guidance, such as the DfE's. Not a legal requirement in itself.Who your designated safeguarding lead and any deputies are, and how to contact them.Keep it up to date
- Online safety information for parentsShould: Recommended in official guidance, such as the DfE's. Not a legal requirement in itself.What parents need to know about online safety, including how you filter and monitor internet use and which senior leader and governor are responsible.Keep it up to date
- Safer recruitment statementShould: Recommended in official guidance, such as the DfE's. Not a legal requirement in itself.A statement on your vacancies page and job adverts about your commitment to safeguarding, telling shortlisted candidates that online searches may be carried out.Keep it up to date
- Staff code of conductShould: Recommended in official guidance, such as the DfE's. Not a legal requirement in itself.Your staff code of conduct, covering relationships with pupils, social media and how to raise concerns.Keep it up to date
- Whistleblowing policyMust: Required by law, statutory guidance or the academy's funding agreement.If your school is an academy, your website needs the trust's whistleblowing procedure or a link to it, saying how staff who report wrongdoing are protected.Keep it up to date
Want to know which of these your school's website has? We check every one, with the page and the words we found.
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