Understanding Low-Level Concerns
Low-level concerns are behaviours or actions that don’t meet the threshold for harm or a formal referral to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) who’s contact details must be within the schools safeguarding policy. Despite this, they are significant as they can undermine a school’s culture of openness, trust, and transparency. These concerns often reflect conduct that, while not overtly harmful and meet the ‘harm threshold’ as defined in part four of KCSiE, (KCSiE 2024 paragraphs 430-443 & 449-452) might make a reasonable person question the individual’s suitability to work with children or serve as a positive role model. Many schools will have created and shared a low-level concern policy considering their local context and reporting pathways. (KCSiE part four paragraph 365)
Examples of such behaviours could include (but are not limited to)
- Making or encouraging others to make inappropriate remarks to or about a pupil.
- Using inappropriate language, such as swearing, racist, homophobic or gender bias terms in the presence of pupils.
- Discussing personal relationships in the presence of pupils.
- Making unprofessional comments that scapegoat, demean, discriminate, or humiliate others.
- Any behaviours that are contradictory to the school’s code of conduct
Addressing Concerns Effectively
All low-level concerns should be promptly shared with the Headteacher. If the concern involves the Headteacher, it should be reported to the relevant person within the schools organisation who could be the Chair of Governors, Trust CEO or other named person. This information should be made known to staff within relevant policies and documents.
- Confidential records should be kept by the Headteacher, seeking support from their HR advisors or partners as required with regular reviews to identify emerging patterns of behaviour. (KCSiE part four paragraphs 444-447)
Good practice includes a confidential discussion between the Headteacher and the individual involved, issuing professional advice as needed. The Headteacher will review summaries of concerns and determine if a LADO referral is required, based on defined thresholds.
Embedding Safer Working Practices
To reduce risks and maintain a safe environment:
- Staff should familiarize themselves with safer working practice guidance found in the staff handbook, school code of conduct and your safeguarding policy.
- Annual reviews of the staff code of conduct should incorporate findings from any breaches or allegations, ensuring a “lessons learned” approach is applied.
- Staff training must ensure that everyone is clear on their responsibilities including who to report concerns to if the ‘named adult’ is absent or it involves them
- Induction procedures confirm that new members of staff are clear on the above and confirm their understanding and agreement to accept these requirements
Raising Concerns Safely
It’s vital for all staff and volunteers to feel empowered to raise concerns about unsafe practices or safeguarding failures. Clear whistleblowing procedures, as well as staff training on these protocols, are key to encouraging an open culture. Any concerns about the DSL should be directed to the Headteacher or their line manager (such as the Chair of Governors).
When to contact LADO
School leaders need to use their professional judgement supported by part 4 of KCSiE and any wider links polices and documents that have been agreed and ratified. In contacting LADO, leaders should consider;
- The context of the allegation/incident/concern
- The views of the child and parent
- Outcome of preliminary enquiries/fact finding (if appropriate depending on the nature of the concern)
- Is there a pattern of low-level concerns or behaviours that could indicate a risk?
- Has the individual received informal/formal guidance previously about the same concern?
- To what extent are they concerned about the individual? do they get a sense that there may be a potential risk.
(See KCSiE part four paragraphs 362-364)
For additional guidance, refer to
- NSPCC Briefing: [Preventing Abuse in Positions of Trust](https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/research-resources/briefings/preventing-abuse-positions-of-trust)
- Safer Recruitment Consortium: [Guidance for Safer Working Practices](https://www.saferrecruitmentconsortium.org/)
Please also refer to information on the LADO website for details of the LADO criteria Managing allegations against adults working with children (for professionals) – Education and Families
By addressing low-level concerns, schools can reinforce a commitment to safeguarding and create a safe, transparent environment for both pupils and staff.