Key UK safeguarding and education legislation



1. Core Child Welfare and Safeguarding Legislation

These Acts form the foundation of child protection and safeguarding duties:

  • Children Act 1989
  • Children Act 2004
  • Children and Families Act 2014
  • Children and Social Work Act 2017


2. Education and School Standards Legislation

These govern the duties of education providers, school accountability, and standards:

  • Education Act 2002
  • Education Act 2011
  • The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014
  • The Further Education (Providers of Education) (England) (Regulations) 2006


3. Protection from Abuse, Harm and Exploitation

Focused on protecting children and vulnerable individuals from harm and exploitation:

  • Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003
  • Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
  • Modern Slavery Act 2015
  • Protection of Freedoms Act 2012


4. Preventing Extremism and Promoting National Security

These establish duties to prevent radicalisation and manage risks to national security:

  • Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015
  • Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009


5. Digital and Data Protection

Supporting safeguarding in the digital age:

  • Digital Economy Act 2017

 

6. Data Protection and Information Sharing

  • UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR)
  • Data Protection Act 2018

These underpin lawful processing of personal data, especially in safeguarding, SEND, and multi-agency work.


7. Online Safety and Filtering

  • Online Safety Act 2023
    New and significant, especially for schools and digital safeguarding.


8. SEND and Inclusion

  • Equality Act 2010
    Covers protection from discrimination, including disability, race, gender, religion etc., with specific application in schools.
  • Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014
    Provides statutory requirements on SEND provision.


9. Statutory Guidance (Not legislation but legally significant)

These are non-legislative but statutory, meaning they must be followed unless there is a good reason not to:

  • Working Together to Safeguard Children (most recent update: 2023)
    Key multi-agency safeguarding guidance.
  • Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) – updated annually
    Statutory guidance for schools and colleges on safeguarding.
  • Prevent Duty Guidance (linked to the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015)
    Outlines schools’ responsibilities to prevent extremism.
  • What to Do if You’re Worried a Child is Being Abused
    Practical guidance for frontline staff.


🛡️ UK and International Child Protection: Key Resources and Guidance

This list brings together essential legislation, guidance, organisations, and tools for safeguarding and child protection in both UK-based and international school contexts.

UK Statutory Guidance (Essential Reads)
These are core documents every safeguarding lead and professional working with children should be familiar with.
  • Keeping Children Safe in Education (DfE)
  • Statutory safeguarding guidance for schools and colleges (updated annually).
  • Working Together to Safeguard Children (DfE)
  • Multi-agency guidance for all professionals working to safeguard children.
  • What to Do If You’re Worried a Child is Being Abused – Advice for Practitioners (DfE)
  • Multi-agency Statutory Guidance on Female Genital Mutilation (Home Office)
International Safeguarding and Compliance
  • Council of British International Schools (COBIS). Offers guidance on safeguarding in international school.  🔗 COBIS Safeguarding
  • COBIS: Pre-employment Checks and Disclosure and Barring Service.  Details safe recruitment practices and international DBS checks.  🔗 COBIS Safer Recruitment
  • International Child Protection Certificate (ICPC), Police check for UK nationals applying to work with children overseas.  🔗 ICPC Website
  • International Task Force on Child Protection (ITFCP),  Collaborative global initiative to raise safeguarding standards in international schools.  🔗 ITFCP Website
Embassies and Consulates Worldwide - Useful for reporting safeguarding concerns involving international families or obtaining checks in different jurisdictions.

Online Safety and Digital Safeguarding
  • CEOP: Information, Advice and Resources, Guidance for children, parents, and professionals - International Association of Internet Hotlines (INHOPE)
  • CEOP’s Thinkuknow, Government-backed education programme about online safety. 🔗 Thinkuknow Website
  • Global network for reporting and removing online child exploitation material.  🔗 INHOPE Website

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
  • Child Sexual Exploitation: Definition and Guide for Practitioners (DfE)
  • DfE CSE Guidance (Feb 2017 PDF) - Archived but still used in some professional contexts.
  • NHS Choices: How to Spot Signs of CSE.  🔗 NHS CSE Info
  • Parents Against Child Sexual Exploitation (PACE).  Parent-led organisation offering advice and support.  🔗 PACE Website
  • Helping School Nurses to Tackle Child Sexual Exploitation.  Specific guidance for health professionals. Useful in multi-agency work.

Support Organisations and Helplines
  • NSPCC,  Leading UK charity on child protection, 🔗 NSPCC Website
  • The Survivors TrustUmbrella agency supporting survivors of rape, sexual violence, and abuse.  🔗 Survivors Trust Website
  • The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC), Offers support for adult survivors.  🔗 NAPAC Website
  • Samaritans, Emotional support for anyone in distress, including safeguarding concerns.  🔗 Samaritans Website
Foundational and Legal Frameworks
  • United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC),  Global agreement outlining children’s rights.  🔗 UNCRC Summary - UNICEF
  • Equality Act 2010,  UK law protecting against discrimination, including in education and safeguarding.
  • Data Protection Act 2018 & UK GDPR,  Legal basis for processing, storing, and sharing safeguarding data.