Safeguarding Bulletin - 30 September 2026

Information Sharing Duty: What educations settings need to know

The DfE statutory guidance comes into force on 30 September 2026 and radically changes the way we approach information sharing, placing children’s well-being and safety as the primary concern in any information sharing conversation.

It is vital that DSLs and staff are confident prior to its implementation. What do education settings need to know?

• Read the blog

Safeguarding Network is running webinars on the new Information Sharing Duty. We have a 45 minute webinar at 12:15pm on Thursday 15th October to explore the guidance, examine how we go about sharing information, transparency with families and the limited exemptions from the duty in more detail. It’s free for members as part of our KCSiE implementation series, and £10 for non-members.

• Find out more and book

Unconscious bias: How your judgements and assumptions impact your safeguarding practice

As a DSL, we may believe that we are free from making assumptions or passing judgement. However, there is a growing body of safeguarding research that explores how unconscious bias directly shapes professional judgement, risk assessment and ultimately outcomes for children.

Sophie Baker looks at the issue in more detail and asks what do we mean when we talk about unconscious bias and how can we prevent it?

• Read the blog

The Prevent duty: safeguarding learners susceptible to radicalisation

The Prevent duty: safeguarding learners susceptible to radicalisation is support guidance for those working in education settings with safeguarding responsibilities.

The guidance is for designated safeguarding leads, and those who have safeguarding responsibilities for keeping children, young people and adult learners safe in schools, colleges, further education and independent training provider settings.
The guidance is designed to: explain the Prevent referral process and the statutory responsibilities to keep children, young people and adult learners safe from the risk of extremist ideology or radicalisation; and to prepare DSLs to respond effectively and get support for people who may be being exploited by radicalising influences.

There is also practical guidance for DSLs on Channel meetings and next step checklists on safeguarding learners susceptible to radicalisation.

• Read the Guidance

• Check out London Grid for Learning's Prevent Quiz for School Staff 2026.

SEND and inclusion training for mainstream schools

Teachers in England will be empowered to better support children and young people with SEND, as the government kickstarts a comprehensive teacher training offer.

Developed by training experts Ambition Institute, and building on expertise from the sector, the first-of-their-kind free, adaptable and practical training materials for schools and post-16 settings are now available to be used in the way that works best for them, throughout the year or on existing training days. The materials will put inclusion at the heart of every classroom and workshop, giving teachers practical techniques such as breaking instructions into digestible steps, pre-teaching specialist vocabulary, and carving out time for children and young people to practise it.

• Access the materials

Nicotine: The addiction that is becoming a safeguarding concern

We all know as educators the health risks of smoking and vaping. We can talk to students about this in science, PSHE and in awareness sessions.

Nicotine use is becoming not only a logistical issue for schools (for example, due to having to install vapour detectors or stop and search students) but also leading to behavioural and safeguarding concerns.

The aim of this piece is not to explain how to teach young people about the dangers of nicotine, but more how DSLs and staff can look for signs and support young people who may be using nicotine.

• Read the blog

Hidden NEETs: The attendance of 16 and 17-year-olds in further education colleges in England

The Children's Commissioner's latest report reveals a major blind spot in current data: almost 42,000 16 and 17-year-olds are severely absent from further education, missing at least half of the sessions they are expected to attend. Yet these children continue to be counted as being ‘in education’ and can therefore miss out on the support and interventions designed to help young people who are NEET.

This data shows clearly that attendance recording in FE settings needs to improve, and that the Department for Education should act as soon as possible to ensure that it does so.

• Download the report

Whole school approach to tackle misogyny

The Education Secretary has announced a new strategy to help schools tackle misogyny and challenge harmful attitudes among young people.

Schools will receive practical guidance, teacher training and parent support to help create a culture of respect and belonging, while equipping pupils to build healthy relationships, challenge harmful behaviours and navigate both online and offline risks. The approach builds on strengthened Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) lessons, which cover topics such as healthy relationships, harmful behaviour and online threats including deepfakes.

The initiative comes as new data highlights the prevalence of misogynistic attitudes in schools, with half of girls reporting hearing misogynistic comments from other pupils. To support implementation, the government is investing in an RSHE expert advisory group, alongside new programmes funded through the £16 million Violence Against Women and Girls Prevention Programme. These initiatives will work with young people to promote healthy relationships, challenge negative online influences and build respect, resilience and critical thinking skills through both classroom learning and wider curriculum reforms.

• Read the press release

Find out more about our new E-Learning module: Misogyny Awareness: Children and Young People

Persistent themes in child safeguarding reviews

The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel is running a webinar launching new website resources on persistent themes in child safeguarding on Wednesday 14 October, 12:00pm - 1:00pm.

They will explore why these themes persist, what the accumulated learning from reviews tells us about them, and how practitioners and partnerships can be supported to notice and consider these themes afresh. They will also be joined by Rebecca Bethune, Lead Child Protection Practitioner at Newham Council, who will share her views and experiences and help to ground the discussion in day-to-day practice

• Find out more