Changes in Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023 My Insights and Tips

In 2023, the Department for Education (DfE) made some significant changes to the rules that help keep children safe in schools. These rules are part of a document called "Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023" or KCSIE. These rules aim to ensure that schools in England are safe places for children and young people under 18. I care deeply about the safety of our children, so I want to explain these changes in a way that's easy to understand and share some tips for teachers, parents, and guardians.

What Are the New Rules About?

First, let's talk about the critical updates in KCSIE 2023. These changes are all about making sure kids are safe when they go to school:

Roles and Responsibilities: The new rules say that teachers and school staff must learn how to keep kids safe online. This means understanding how to stop bad things from happening on the internet. Everyone working in a school must get proper training, especially regarding online safety.

Missing School: KCSIE 2023 tells us that if a child does not attend school regularly, it could be a sign that something is wrong. This could be because of things like bullying or other problems. Schools need to pay attention to this and take action to help these children.

Checking New Teachers: When schools hire new teachers, they can access their information online. But they should let the job applicants know that they might do this. This way, everyone knows the rules.

Safety at School: The rules also discuss what to do if someone who doesn't work at the school uses the school for activities with kids. Schools need to ensure these activities are safe and follow the rules.

Learning More About Filtering and Monitoring

One of the essential parts of these rules is something called filtering and monitoring. This means making sure that the internet is safe for kids to use. It's like having a guard to protect them from bad things online. The rules say that everyone who works in a school should learn about this. They should get training on how to keep the internet safe for students. Schools also need to have a plan for this and include it in their safety policy.

Good Behavior and Safety

The rules also say that good behavior and safety go together. If kids behave well, it helps keep them safe. Schools need to make sure their rules for behavior match the new rules in KCSIE. This way, kids can learn and be safe at the same time.

Kids Who Miss School

The rules talk about what to do if a child keeps missing school. It's essential to have a plan for this. Schools should tell their staff about the plan so everyone knows what to do. This is because kids who miss school a lot might need extra help.

Checking New Teachers

When schools hire new teachers, they can look at their information online. But they should let the teachers know that they might do this. This way, everyone knows the rules and what to expect.

What Have We Learned?

These new rules help keep kids safe when they're at school. Everyone – teachers, parents, and guardians – needs to understand and follow these rules. By working together, we can ensure kids have a safe and enjoyable time at school. These rules provide that kids are safe and happy while learning and growing.

In Conclusion

In summary, the updates to Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) in 2023 bring important changes aimed at ensuring the safety and well-being of children in schools. These changes emphasize the roles and responsibilities of education staff, the significance of monitoring online content, and the importance of addressing absenteeism as a potential warning sign of safeguarding issues.