Child Sexual Exploitation: What Schools Need to Know to Intervene Early and Effectively
Cost - £99+VAT for members, £149+VAT for non-members - Book 5 places and get your 6th free!
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
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.
Presenter
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.
Aims and objectives:
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
Understand the definitions of child sexual exploitation and the key legislation, guidance and safeguarding responsibilities that underpin professional practice.
Recognise vulnerability factors and identify indicators that may suggest a child is being sexually exploited.
Explain how grooming operates both online and offline and understand the legal position regarding consent and exploitation.
Apply the principles of contextual safeguarding to assess risk and develop effective responses.
Identify approaches that help reduce risk, build trust and strengthen protective relationships with vulnerable children and young people.
Understand how Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance informs school policies, procedures, referrals and multi-agency safeguarding responses.
Develop confidence in intervening early, recording concerns effectively and ensuring children receive the right support at the right time.
What you need to know to attend:
The course will be delivered online in one 5-hour session.
Dates
| Date | Instructor | Venue | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9th Dec, 2026 - 09:30 | Rachael Courage | zoom |
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