Safeguarding Training in Boarding Schools: Regulations to Expect and Learn
Working in a boarding school is a fantastic opportunity. The relationships we have seen grow in boarding schools are truly special things. We want to help you feel as comfortable as possible if you’re about to start working at a boarding school, to help you develop a lasting impression amongst your colleagues and students.
One of the major responsibilities of roles such as this is the student’s well-being.
Safeguarding Training: The Regulations to Learn
There are four main regulations by which your safeguarding duty is defined. They are not specific to boarding schools, so we’ve outlined some of the key points of each.
- The Children Acts of 1989 and 2004 are the largest pieces of legislation to define and promote the necessary procedure when working in boarding schools. They have been critical in developing an integrated approach to protecting children from abuse and advocating student livelihood through essential provisions.
- It defines your legal obligation to help local authorities with all enquiries regarding your students, as well as stimulating the correct development of their welfare.
- Section 11 dictates that there are correct arrangements in place to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
- Child protection is a key component of your safeguarding training; the Children’s Acts define this as your responsibility to prevent or limit the damage a child can receive. "Significant harm” is any physical, sexual or emotional abuse, neglect, accident or injury that could “adversely affect progress and enjoyment of life”.
- Next, we have the Teachers’ Standards published by the government in 2012.
- They state that as part of teachers’ professional duties, they should safeguard children’s well-being and maintain the public’s trust in the teaching profession.
- The Keeping Children Safe In Education guidance laid out by the Department for Education was published in 2016.
- Part 1 of this document must be read and understood by all teachers in Britain.
- It states a duty of caregivers to protect children from maltreatment, the impairment of their health or development, and to ensure they grow up in circumstances that provide safe and effective care.
- Finally, we can outline the Working Together to Safeguard Children. This is statutory guidance on inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, last updated in February 2017.
- This is one of the most important documents to understand.
- It works alongside the Children’s Acts to bring them up to date for safeguarding children in the present day.
It offers essential guidance on how individuals and organisations must work together to provide a greater level of safeguarding for children. - Section 2 lays out what is expected from the various organisations involved in caring for children. It guarantees all bodies have policies and provisions in place that are understanding of the contemporary threats to child welfare.
Safeguarding Training: How to Uphold the Standards
In addition to outlining the regulations, our online child protection courses provide trainees with the necessary skills to help them uphold the standards they are expected to keep. Our Induction to Boarding course delivers experienced guidance and information to further advance your safeguarding training. It enables learners to obtain a working understanding of what it is like to care for the welfare of a student while at boarding school.
Our services will also help with understanding the authority on which you can act while working at a boarding school. We understand that being in charge of a child’s welfare is a daunting task, but it is important to feel confident. Always remember that your contract — and the school policies — give you a framework that supports your decisions regarding the welfare of your students.
However, it is important not to lose sight of the more personal side of teaching at boarding schools. Many students will suffer from homesickness for example, so teachers should expect to fulfil some of the pastoral needs of their students. It’s not just about protecting their welfare, teachers play a vital role in developing students emotionally too!
