Child Sexual Exploitation: What Schools Need to Know to Intervene Early and Effectively

Child sexual exploitation (CSE) remains one of the most complex safeguarding challenges facing schools and colleges. Children who are being exploited may not recognise themselves as victims, and the signs can often be misunderstood or overlooked. Schools are uniquely placed to identify concerns early, build protective relationships, and work collaboratively with safeguarding partners to reduce harm and improve outcomes for vulnerable children.

This course has been designed for school leaders, designated safeguarding leads (DSLs), pastoral teams, teachers, support staff, governors and anyone with responsibility for safeguarding children and young people. Drawing upon the statutory requirements of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) and current safeguarding practice, the training will strengthen participants' understanding of child sexual exploitation and the crucial role education settings play in prevention, identification, and intervention.

Participants will explore the legal framework surrounding CSE, the vulnerability factors and indicators that may signal exploitation, and the realities of grooming, coercion, and consent. The course will also examine the principles of contextual safeguarding, recognising that significant risks to children can occur beyond the family home, including within peer groups, schools, neighbourhoods, and online environments.

Through practical examples and evidence-informed approaches, delegates will develop confidence in recognising concerns, responding appropriately to disclosures, understanding professional responsibilities, and implementing strategies that strengthen protective relationships with children who may be at risk of exploitation. The training will reinforce the importance of a child-centred approach, multi-agency working, professional curiosity and effective information sharing in safeguarding practice.

Key Themes

• Definitions and Legislation

• Vulnerability Factors and Risk Indicators

• Grooming and Consent: Law and Practice

• Contextual Safeguarding

• Effective Intervention and Relationship-Based Practice

• The Role of Schools within Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements

• Applying Keeping Children Safe in Education Guidance

This practical and engaging course will equip education professionals with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to recognise exploitation, respond effectively to safeguarding concerns and contribute to creating safer environments for children and young people

Rachael Courage is a qualified social worker with 20 years practice experience. She is an experienced trainer in child safeguarding and child protection and has managed sexual exploitation and missing services for Barnardos, including setting up services in new areas and working with Child Safeguarding Assurance Partnership around their strategic response to child sexual exploitation.

Rachael has been the safeguarding lead for the children and young people's service within a hospice and has worked for the NSPCC delivering individual and group therapeutic interventions for children who have experienced abuse.

Rachael is currently practicing as a Chair for Child Protection Conferences for a Local Authority.