The purpose (Why?)
The purpose of this audit is twofold. Firstly, under Sections 175 and 157 of the Education Act 2002, all Local Authorities must ensure that every school, whether maintained, academy, independent, or registered with the Department for Education, is fulfilling its statutory safeguarding responsibilities. This requirement directly aligns with the expectations set out in the current Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSiE) guidance. Much of this statutory compliance is addressed in Part One of the audit.
The second part of the audit focuses on identifying key initiatives, priorities, and areas for development across Devon. This section helps us understand what is working well in schools and informs the Local Authority and wider safeguarding partners, particularly the Devon Children’s Safeguarding Partnership (DCSP), about where future priorities should lie. While this section is not mandatory, your input is highly valued, as the analysis will represent all Devon schools and will be shared with the Education Advisory Group, part of the DCSP Executive sub-group structure.
This year, Part Two includes questions developed by each of the Partnership’s sub-groups. Your responses will help shape, evaluate, and share the work of these groups, which include representation from education colleagues. It is vital that, in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023), education remains fully engaged in local decision-making to support children, families, and the agencies working with them.
To complete (How and when?)
The audit should be completed by the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), or in their absence, the Deputy DSL, and returned no later than 13 February 2026. This process provides an excellent opportunity to review safeguarding practice across your setting, identify areas for development, and incorporate these into wider school improvement plans. Involving the Safeguarding Governor or Trustee is encouraged, as no individual children or families should be referenced. The DSL should report the completion of the audit, and any identified actions or areas for development, to their governing body or trust board.
- Please include as much detail as possible.
- Devon Education Safeguarding team will also use this evidence to promote innovative practice with other schools and settings.
- This audit can also be used to evidence evaluation of safeguarding practices with inspectors from Ofsted or ISI.
This year, we will again ask you to grade many questions on a scale of 1 to 4, where:
- 1 indicates that safeguarding practices are fully embedded and supported by clear evidence.
- 4 indicates that these practices are not yet in place.
Each question includes detailed descriptors for each rating to help you assess your setting accurately. We recommend adding any questions scored 3 or 4 to your Safeguarding Action Plan for the academic year.
What happens next?
Once all returns have been submitted, the Devon Education Safeguarding Team will review and analyse them to identify trends and adjust training where appropriate. Every individual return is read in full. If any concerns are identified within a school or setting’s audit, a member of the team will contact that school directly to discuss and offer additional support as needed. Please note that you should therefore not expect automatic contact following submission.
After analysis, the collective outcomes from all schools will be presented to the Education Advisory Group, along with a proposed action plan. Representatives from each area of education will contribute to this plan and will be accountable for implementing improvements in identified areas. The plan will also be shared with the DCSP Leadership Group (Business Group) and will inform partnership priorities, ensuring that education continues to play a key role as required under Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023).
Any questions?
Please ensure the audit is completed and returned by 13 February 2026. If you have any questions about completing the audit, please contact lara.stead@devon.gov.uk.