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<p>The department accepted the findings of Ofsted’s review in full and immediately
began working on delivering a multi-agency, cross-departmental response, tackling
the issues identified.</p><p>Local statutory safeguarding partners should support
schools to address harmful sexual behaviours and sexual abuse. The department’s immediate
response involved asking all 135 safeguarding partners to review working arrangements
with schools and colleges in their area. We ran several events with safeguarding partners,
educational establishments and sector experts, ascertaining emerging practice and
barriers to effective working. This information will be shared across all safeguarding
partners.</p><p>The department has published strengthened statutory Keeping Children
Safe in Education Guidance in 2021, ensuring schools have clearer guidance on dealing
with sexual abuse. We are further strengthening this guidance and a draft version
was published in May and will take effect in September 2022. Additionally, the Child-on-Child
Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment guidance have been revised.</p><p>The department
has worked with the Home Office on development of the Harmful Sexual Behaviour Support
Service, assisting professionals, such as teachers and designated safeguarding leads
(DSLs), to tackle harmful sexual behaviours.</p><p>DSLs have a pivotal role in supporting
and protecting children in school which is why we have provided more support to DSLs,
enabling them to identify and address issues more confidently. We have extended our
pilot of supervision and training for DSLs working alongside the Child Sexual Abuse
Centre of Expertise and What Works Children’s Social Care. Later this year an online
hub for DSLs will be launched, in conjunction with professionals and the sector, delivering
further advice and guidance.</p><p>To address safeguarding issues online and on social
media platforms, alongside the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport,
we asked the Children’s Commissioner to immediately explore how children’s access
to pornography and harmful content can be reduced. We have worked with the Children’s
Commissioner’s Office to develop and publish a Parent’s Guide: Talking to your child
about online sexual harassment. Additionally, Ministers and the Children’s Commissioner
have sought reassurance from technology companies that they will identify further
information which they can share, and continue to make available resources to parents,
teachers, and children.</p><p>To ensure children and young people are educated about
these issues, the department is supporting teachers to implement the compulsory Relationships,
Sex and Health Education (RSHE) curriculum, including through producing non-statutory
guidance to strengthen content and clarity on when relevant topics should be taught
and asking schools to prioritise delivery of the full RSHE curriculum this academic
year.</p><p>Where children and young people are affected by these issues, they continue
to be supported by NSPCC’s Report Abuse in Education helpline (0800 136663). The helpline
is open to anyone who has suffered sexual abuse or harassment in educational settings,
and those concerned for someone else.</p><p>Work on safeguarding and child protection
continues across government, including the Home Office’s Violence Against Women and
Girls and Tackling Child Sexual Abuse strategies, the Department for Digital, Culture,
Media and Sport’s Online Safety Act, the National Crime Agency’s response to abuse
and exploitation, and Cabinet Office’s Stop Abuse Together campaign.</p>
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