Seeking the voice of the child: are you listening?
As DSLs, we know how important it is to hear the voice of the child. KCSiE makes it very clear, stating: “school or college leaders should ensure the child’s wishes and feelings are taken into account when determining what action to take and what services to provide.”
The increasing emphasis on ‘it could happen here’ in government legislation and inspection criteria encourages schools to be more proactive in both seeking the views of the child and breaking down the barriers to disclosure.
However, how often do we actually find the time to properly listen or to ask the right questions in the right order?
It can be very tempting, when faced with these scenarios, and the chaos of the day-to-day life of a DSL, to rely on experience, assumptions and maintaining a positive relationship with stakeholders and parents as the easy option. But if we are to work in line with the statutory guidance and ensure that the best interests of the child are always our priority, then we must continually ask, 'have I asked enough?', 'have I listened enough?', 'have I done everything I can to ensure the young person is confident to speak to me about how they feel?' Because if we haven’t, then none of the rest matters.
What next?
Review safeguarding policies to ensure that the voice of the child is paramount. Detail how you are seeking it, listening to it and encouraging it
Deliver staff training: how to break down barriers to disclosure; how to practice active listening; professional vigilance and curiosity
Be prepared to defend your decisions to parents. KCSiE and Working Together are your friends; this is legislation, not guidance
Write clear and detailed records: including how you sought the voice of the child, what that was and how you listened.
Proactively seek out the voice of the child:
Ensure there are a variety of different ways to disclose, including proactive check ins, with age appropriate approaches
Ask the young people what would make it easier for them to disclose and act on your findings
Build emotional currency with the young people every day; be patient and build trust, as not everyone will open up immediately; be honest and explicit when talking to them
Find out more about our DSL Support Programme starting on 21st April 2026
About the author: Claire Bellman is a Designated Safeguarding Lead & Deputy Head Pastoral with over 20 years experience in schools.
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