QTS Safeguarding — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the key statutory guidance document that all schools in England must follow regarding safeguarding?
- Working Together to Safeguard Children
- Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) (Correct answer)
- The Children Act 1989
- Every Child Matters
Correct answer: Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE)
Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) is the statutory guidance issued by the DfE that all schools and colleges in England must have regard to when carrying out their safeguarding duties.
Question 2: What is the role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) in a school?
- To teach PSHE lessons
- To take lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection within the school (Correct answer)
- To manage the school budget
- To conduct Ofsted inspections
Correct answer: To take lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection within the school
The DSL takes lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection, including liaising with local authorities and other agencies, and ensuring staff are properly trained.
Question 3: Under KCSIE, which of the following is a category of child abuse that staff should be aware of?
- Academic underperformance
- Neglect (Correct answer)
- Persistent lateness
- Homework avoidance
Correct answer: Neglect
KCSIE identifies four categories of abuse: physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child's basic needs.
Question 4: What does the term 'contextual safeguarding' refer to?
- Safeguarding only within the school building
- An approach that considers the wider environmental factors in a young person's life that may pose risks (Correct answer)
- Protecting school property
- Teaching pupils about internet safety only
Correct answer: An approach that considers the wider environmental factors in a young person's life that may pose risks
Contextual safeguarding recognises that young people can be vulnerable to risks outside the family, including in their neighbourhood, school, peer groups, and online environments.
Question 5: What is the 'Prevent' duty in the context of UK schools?
- Preventing accidents on school premises
- A statutory duty to have due regard to preventing people being drawn into terrorism (Correct answer)
- Preventing bullying in schools
- Preventing unauthorised absence
Correct answer: A statutory duty to have due regard to preventing people being drawn into terrorism
The Prevent duty requires schools to have due regard to preventing people from being drawn into terrorism. It is part of the Government's counter-terrorism strategy.
Question 6: If a pupil discloses abuse to a teacher, what is the correct initial response?
- Investigate the allegation thoroughly
- Listen carefully, reassure the child, and report to the DSL (Correct answer)
- Contact the police immediately without telling anyone else
- Promise the child you will keep it a secret
Correct answer: Listen carefully, reassure the child, and report to the DSL
Teachers should listen without judgement, reassure the child that they were right to tell, not promise confidentiality, and refer the matter to the DSL as soon as possible.
QTS Safeguarding
What is the key statutory guidance document that all schools in England must follow regarding safeguarding?