Ofsted Report - failed on "Safeguarding of Pupils" - what does this really mean?

[Checkmate]

What does this mean in a (very recent) Ofsted inspection report

"School X is performing significantly less well than in all the circumstances it could reasonably be expected to perform. The school is, therefore, given a notice to improve. Significant improvement is required in relation to the application of safeguarding procedures as part of the staff recruitment process. Although School X provides a satisfactory education for the pupils, its overall effectiveness is inadequate because its leaders have failed to ensure that all government requirements relating to the safeguarding of pupils are followed. Consequently, care, guidance and support, and governance, are inadequate. Significant improvement is required in relation to its safeguarding procedures."

What kind of thing have the school been not doing (or doing) to be not safeguarding children? Is this a form ticking exercise, and some non-essential paperwork, or something serious? Any ideas would be very helpful, thanks.

Wow, thanks for all the responses! Very helpful to hear the things it could be, thanks. Sorry for my slow responses though, RL caught up with me in a bad way so I haven't had time to MNet for past few days.

civil - Yes! I'm writing this on behalf of DSis, who is worried because all that was said by the school, off the back of this report, was "The safeguarding children issue has now been dealt with." No explanations of what the issue was or why was given (to her at least). When you're already dealing with the emotions of your child needing to start school and being away from your protection, the last thing you want is to see the school is failing on safeguarding.

There are obviously other issues in the report (lack of leadership, not a consistency in teaching level, and bright children not being stretched) which all seem strange in an over subscribed school with a strong catchment area.

Are you a governor there?

mrz - Christine Gilbert has not resigned, actually she is working out her contract which finishes next year ...perhaps you are confusing her with Zenna Atkins, the Chair of Ofsted who resigned and left at the end of August?

No I meant Christine Gilbert but I had forgotten that she refused Gove's request that she "go sooner rather than later" and decided to hang on to the bitter end www.cypnow.co.uk/news/ByDiscipline/Social-Care/1011510/Christine-Gilbert-remain-Ofsted-until-next-year/

Checkmate - luckily I'm not a governor there otherwise I would be implicated in 'poor governance and management'.

I am a governor at another school very local to this one. We actually live between the two schools.

The response from head sounds limited. If I were your DSis (sister?) and was still concerned, I would ask to speak to the head.

The rest of the report (which I've now read) is not that unfeasible. The school is immensely popular and middle class parents flock to it from miles around. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that the teaching is that good. You can rest on your laurels a bit if you've got nicely behaved, able children.

Plus, people wouldn't want to believe that it is poor because it would make parents who are driving several miles to get there (passing other schools on the way) look a bit silly.

Not being involved with the school, I don't know what goes on on a day to day basis, so your DSis will need to make up her own mind about whether the Ofsted reflects the school well. Ofsted is not perfect!

WITHOUT PREJUDICE

Hi, I had to remove my child from school X for September 2011 term very recently because safeguarding concerns were not being met as confirmed by Ofsted after mycomplaint to Ofsted in the first place prompted Ofsted to investigate. This was after my daughter informed me of a serious allegation that was repored to and then not investigated thoroughly by school.

It was only when Ofsted investigated that it was discovered safeguarding out of check, training and legal paperwork. I would have trusted the school to get it right with new Governing Body and Head but after my daughter X made an allegation that something very serious had happened to her at X school by an older puplil we were then bullied by the school and then to make it even worse, the school reported parents to Social Services for bruise on child that did not exist which parents have video proof it never existed and medical report. Council slow to investigate. No other school available and parents now having to relocate to protect child who they believe is at risk if she stays or goes back to school if same child protection officer is still in place in September 2011.

Safeguarding could mean ANYTHING from not knowing who the designated person for child protection is, to not checking doors are locked to children bullying, using homophobic and inappropriate language to physical assault.

Sadly a school in the town in which I work, failed their OFSTED in May and had an ENTIRE A4 PAGE of improvements they needed to make. Most of it was due to bad behaviour of the children outside in the corridors and playground, much of it witnessed by OFSTED and going unchecked by staff. Consequently, a lot of parents have pulled their children out when they realised that their child was being exposed to such behaviour which has had a knock on effect on neighbouring schools in the town.

S A F E G U A R D I N G S P E C I A L N E E D S

M y daugter enjoyed her time there November to July

E very child including her seemed very happy

D espite what happened there

I trusted them implicity, despite their casual ways

N ot sure who to blame

A couple of unhappy incidents, is what has given it this name

H orrible as it sounds this really happened and is true

O ur daughter alleged to us an incident, A lack of safeguarding what would you do?

U nmet legal requirements found and parents unmonitored just wandering through

S he alleged to us she did not feel safe because of something another child was allowed to do

E nsure this new head sorts it out for children who intend to stay

S he told us about the allegation that stopped us in our tracks that day

P lease find out why they did this

E nsure safeguarding of your kids too

C aring for our daughter since, disappointed at what they have been able to do

I nforming social services of

A bruise on her that was not true

L everaging the score through our daughter by reporting us untrue

S o they must have been upset and thought we'd been unfair, we thought they'd been unprofessional and foolish in her care

C os of the allegation our daughter made that day

H er speech capabilities were questioned and ridiculed away

O h the authorities were quick to turn the complaint onto us and investigated us all

O fsted were the only ones who took us seriously that day; and looked into our concerns and took our fears away, when they found Safeguarding out of check which helped to explain that day

L ook at what the school have done since and made up she had a bruise, with medical and video proof showing it was never there; where can they go from here?

-----

S orry we have to leave the island now to relocate back to her previous school; as the school has a bullying group of people that can't be trusted not to make up something new,

O ranges and Sunshine film we know unjusts are done; don't let them get away with it if their egos become undone.

S he never meant to hurt anyone in raising her concern

A ll children have the right to speak up and be made safe

D o only good to everyone and pray the truth for all will shine through

Sorry to hijack, how seriously would a situation like this be taken: A lorry delivering a skip and driving across an icy playground whilst the children are on breaktime?

School would be expected to produce a risk assessment for the situation and a reason why children were in the playground at the time.

Thanks mrz :)

our nursery had the training for the governors booked for the week after the ofsted visit and it had been booked since sept, but we still got marked down in safeguarding when ofsted came as we hadnty had the training.

If they have failed to safeguard that is very serious. www.northsomersetlscb.org.uk/uploads/files/283.pdf

Children are at risk. Could be a school that has preferred to protect a dodgy teacher rather than protecting children. The school may have actively covered up safeguarding issues.