Safeguarding Bulletin - 11 November 2026
Consent, boundaries and banter. Safeguarding lessons for young people
The conviction of former comedian and broadcaster Russell Brand has prompted renewed discussion about consent, personal boundaries and the difference between harmless banter and harmful behaviour. While many young people may be unfamiliar with Brand, the case provides a valuable opportunity to explore important safeguarding lessons around healthy relationships, respect and accountability.
This article examines how educators can use high-profile cases to reinforce key messages about consent, boundary-setting and speaking up when behaviour makes someone feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
Strengthened mobile phone guidance
Children will benefit from distraction-free learning under strengthened mobile phone guidance to help schools take the next step towards a truly phone-free school day under new guidance announced by the Department for Education.
The strengthened guidance will make clear that schools should go beyond ‘not seen, not heard’ - where phones may remain in pupils’ bags - and adopt whole-school strategies that keep phones out of use and inaccessible throughout the school day.
Supporting students who are questioning their gender
Schools and colleges are increasingly supporting students who are questioning their gender. While every student's experience is unique, educational settings have an important role in providing a safe, respectful and supportive environment, while ensuring that safeguarding remains at the centre of decision-making.
Students who are questioning their gender require understanding, patience and support. Schools and colleges should respond with compassion and professionalism, ensuring that safeguarding, parental involvement, careful decision-making and the wellbeing of all students remain at the heart of their approach. Here are some practical support measures for settings...
The reality of child-on-child sexual abuse in nurseries, schools and colleges
Recent figures reveal the scale of child-on-child sexual abuse occurring in and around UK schools, with thousands of offences recorded over the last four years, including reports involving very young children. These findings reinforce an important safeguarding message: harmful sexual behaviour, sexual harassment, sexual violence and image-based abuse should never be dismissed as "banter", experimentation, or simply part of growing up.
Prevention starts early. Age-appropriate education around consent, boundaries, respectful relationships and trusted adults is essential from the earliest years. Schools and settings must also remain alert to the influence of online harms, including misogynistic content, intimate image abuse, AI-generated imagery and harmful pornography.
Creating a culture where children feel safe to speak up, staff feel confident to act, and concerns are taken seriously remains one of the strongest protective factors against abuse.
The Safeguarding Groundhog Day: the danger of prioritising activity over impact
Safeguarding reviews remind us that the key question is not “are services involved?”, instead, “is life actually getting better for the student?”
Claire Bellman explains how this mantra should sit at the heart of every safeguarding meeting, referral, action plan and review.
Red flags we don’t see: Missed signs and missed support in teenage relationships
A new report from The Children’s Society, Red flags we don’t see, highlights how teenage relationship abuse can often go unrecognised and unsupported.
Research cited in the report found that 39% of 13 to 17-year-olds who had been in a relationship experienced emotional or physical abuse from a partner, affecting an estimated 390,000 young people across England and Wales. More than one in five of those affected said they had avoided school or college because of issues linked to a relationship. The report also highlights gaps in local responses, with only 21% of councils reporting dedicated guidance on teenage relationship abuse and just 31% collecting data on young people experiencing it.
Shades of Bias digital toolbox
The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) has launched the Shades of Bias digital toolbox, a reflective resource designed to help professionals recognise and address bias, discrimination, oppression and racism.
Using a simple “Reveal, Reflect, Repair” approach, the toolbox includes practical guidance, case studies, infographics, videos and other learning materials to support reflection, supervision and team discussions. The resource aims to encourage open conversations, greater accountability and more inclusive practice across social work and wider professional settings.
Action on childhood verbal abuse in education
Words Matter has published a report on childhood verbal abuse in education, drawing on research with more than 1,000 students and 600 teachers. The findings highlight the impact of teacher-student communication, with over 90% of students saying positive interactions boost motivation and learning.
However, a quarter reported experiencing harsh words from teachers, while a third said their experiences had made them reluctant to attend school. The report calls for childhood verbal abuse to be explicitly recognised within education and safeguarding policy.
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