 Working together for Safeguarding and Inclusion
We hope everyone managed to enjoy some time off during half-term.
Ofsted will resume inspections on 10th November, applying their revised framework. As with any new framework, there is naturally some uncertainty around how inspectors will interpret new elements and gather and assess evidence. We understand that many of you expecting inspections will have already accessed a range of guidance and support materials. However, at its core, meeting the safeguarding standards - now referred to as ‘met’ rather than ‘effective’ - requires both full compliance with statutory requirements and a strong safeguarding culture where children, staff, and parents feel safe and able to thrive.
A key focus of the new framework will be your ability to demonstrate, day-to-day, how children feel safe through strong professional relationships and staff who clearly understand and enact their safeguarding responsibilities.
Attendance will also be a significant line of enquiry. Inspectors will be particularly interested in:
- Children attending alternative provision
- Those with low or irregular attendance
- Pupils on part-time timetables
- Children recently removed from roll for Elective Home Education
- Children reported as Missing in Education (CME)
In each case, schools and settings must be able to evidence that every reasonable effort has been made to include these children and that all appropriate safeguarding measures have been taken.
As you will also be aware from previous communications, Devon has launched a new Inclusion and Learning Strategy, and as part of that process we are undergoing an Inclusion and Learning Redesign to drive forward our commitment to ensure the delivery of high-quality support to all schools and settings, fostering an inclusive education system in Devon where every child and young person thrives. You will be aware the redesign moves us into a locality-based model, underpinning our collective priority of building inclusive communities.
We are currently working to minimise any negative impact on our ability to offer our current traded offer and to ensure a smooth transition during this redesign period. Because of this we are likely to experience some capacity issues during the Spring term, but plan to share further information in our December newsletter and in the New Year.
As ever, that you for everything you do.
The Education Safeguarding Team
Recent changes to the DBS code of practice mean that for new DBS requests, schools are no longer required to see a document that confirms the individual's address. Those schools who are using an excel document to list the checks undertaken are likely to have a column that records this address. We advise, that from the point of this change, words to the effect of ‘Address check no longer required’ are entered so that for those employees who were required to show evidence of their address this has been retained, and for employees moving forward this is no longer required.
Following the most recent meeting (23rd September) of the Education Advisory Group, part of the Devon Safeguarding Children’s Partnership sub-group structure, the following was agreed:
- This year's S175will be made available to DSLs through the contacts we have and via school @Admin address at the start of the Spring term and will be required to be returned by 14th February 2026.
- The audit will again be in two parts, part one reflecting compliance aligned with current KCSiE requirements.
- Part two will focus on the following areas:
- Information and actions taken prior to children being reported as EHE and CME.
- Actions and assurances of a safeguarding nature regarding children who have a Part-time timetable.
- Actions and assurances of a safeguarding nature regarding children who have received a fixed-term exclusion or Permanent Exclusion.
- Questions relating to the priorities for each of the Partnership sub-groups that align to the 5 overarching Partnership priorities – these are not listed in any priority order:
- Improving outcomes of pre-birth services and the response and support provided to families to prevent non-accidental injuries to infants.
- Improving partnership response to child neglect.
- Improving response to need through developing multi-agency contextual safeguarding approaches, including risk outside the home.
- Improving the partnership response to domestic abuse to prevent harm to children.
- Implementation of the Families First Partnership Programme.
Ofsted and safeguarding: how the new framework might impact schools - this gives an interesting insight into how Ofsted is likely to inspect safeguarding provision.
You may also be interested in learning more about how Ofsted looks at AI during inspection at the government's website.
The form informs Public Health Devon of drug intelligence that is causing concern and warrants further investigation due to the harms reported. Professionals can use this form to submit any drug intel to the public health team.
We are pleased to let you know we have produced a new OMG No.70 to provide a basic understanding of Ketamine. Please see our OMG catalogue for access to all 70 OMG’s!
The new Children’s Services Feedback Form is now live.
Until now, there have been two different feedback forms – one for under 13s, and another for over 13s (including parents and carers). DevonSCP have now brought everything together into one simple form for everyone, no matter their age.
This new version is easier to use, more accessible, and based on the Ten Top Tips for workers, which were created with help from young people themselves.
We have been made aware of the following information regarding a set of children’s books. The books involved are the series Spy Dogs/Pups and Spy Cat books written by Andrew Cope. These books contain a link to a website which contains highly pornographic content. The book asks children to explore the website to find more about the characters in the book. It appears the website identified (on the back or inside page) has now been compromised and takes users to a pornographic website with no age verification. We would advise schools to check if these are present in your school and remove from children access. It may also be sensible to share this information with parents and carers.
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You may find the following links to resources helpful in your continued conversations with children and young people about the recent terror attacks in Manchester. You can also find a lot of information and support on the Ethnically Diverse Education Achievement Service (EDEAS) website.
- DfE’s Educate Against Hate website provides schools and parents with free, quality assured resources to help them navigate discussions on sensitive topics and confront hate and prejudice in our schools and communities. Resources on antisemitism can be found here.
- The following online resources may also be helpful in managing difficult conversations with young people:
There is also Education Learning and Guidance advice on the Protect UK website.
 'Thanks for the time and advice last week - really useful to gather some extra perspectives and ideas. We have had positive meetings with the family and have a good plan moving forward with the young person.'
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