Understanding Our Responsibility to Keep Children Safe
Many people associate safeguarding children with schools, colleges and children's services. However, universities also have important safeguarding responsibilities towards children and young people.
Universities regularly engage with:
- Students under the age of 18.
- Prospective students.
- Apprentices.
- School and college pupils.
- Summer school participants.
- Outreach programme participants.
- Children attending university events.
- Students who are parents or carers.
- Staff who are parents or carers.
- Students and staff working with children through placements and professional roles.
Creating safe environments for children and young people is everyone's responsibility.
What Is Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE)?
Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) is statutory guidance issued by the Department for Education.
It sets out how schools and colleges should:
- Safeguard children.
- Promote welfare.
- Respond to concerns.
- Work with safeguarding partners.
- Manage allegations and concerns about adults.
- Create safer organisational cultures.
Whilst universities are not directly regulated under KCSIE in the same way as schools and colleges, many of the safeguarding principles within KCSIE represent recognised best practice and help inform the University's safeguarding arrangements.
Who Is a Child?
For safeguarding purposes, a child is:
Anyone under the age of 18.
This means that some university students are legally children, even though they may be:
- Living independently.
- Managing their own finances.
- Studying at higher education level.
- Making decisions about their own lives.
Safeguarding responsibilities do not automatically end because someone attends university.
Where Might Universities Encounter Children?
Universities may engage with children and young people through a variety of activities and services.
Examples include:
Students Under 18
Some students begin their university studies before their eighteenth birthday.
Widening Participation and Outreach Activities
Including:
- School visits.
- Campus visits.
- Summer schools.
- Taster sessions.
- Mentoring programmes.
- Community engagement activities.
Apprenticeships
Some apprentices may be under the age of 18.
Work Experience and Educational Visits
The University may host children and young people through:
- Work experience.
- Insight days.
- Educational visits.
- Community projects.
Conferences, Events and Public Activities
Children may attend events hosted on university premises or delivered by university staff.
Children Connected to Students and Staff
Safeguarding responsibilities do not only arise when a child is directly studying at or visiting the University.
Sometimes concerns emerge through interactions with students or staff who are parents, carers or family members.
Examples may include:
- A student disclosing concerns about their child.
- Concerns arising during wellbeing or safeguarding conversations.
- Information suggesting a child may be at risk of abuse or neglect.
- Concerns identified through support services.
- Concerns arising during accommodation or welfare interventions.
Whilst the child may not be a member of the University community, the University may still have safeguarding responsibilities to consider and may need to work with safeguarding agencies where concerns arise.
Student Parents and Carers
The University recognises that many students successfully balance study alongside parenting and caring responsibilities.
Most student parents provide safe, loving and supportive homes for their children.
Safeguarding involvement is not about judging parenting choices or circumstances.
The focus is always on:
- Supporting families.
- Promoting wellbeing.
- Identifying risks where they exist.
- Ensuring children remain safe.
Domestic Abuse and Children
Children do not need to be directly harmed to be affected by domestic abuse.
Living in a household where domestic abuse occurs can have a significant impact upon a child's:
- Physical safety.
- Emotional wellbeing.
- Development.
- Mental health.
- Sense of security.
Where domestic abuse concerns are identified involving students or staff who are parents or carers, safeguarding professionals may need to consider the welfare of any children involved.
Students and Staff Working With Children
Many students and staff work with children through:
- Placements.
- Professional training.
- Volunteering.
- Research activities.
- Community engagement programmes.
- Employment roles.
Examples include:
- Teaching.
- Healthcare.
- Nursing.
- Midwifery.
- Social work.
- Psychology.
- Youth work.
- Sport and coaching.
Individuals undertaking these roles may have additional safeguarding responsibilities and are expected to maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
Recognising Possible Safeguarding Concerns
There is no single sign that a child may be experiencing harm.
Concerns may arise through:
Behavioural Changes
- Withdrawal.
- Distress.
- Anxiety.
- Fearfulness.
- Sudden changes in behaviour.
Physical Indicators
- Unexplained injuries.
- Neglect of basic needs.
- Signs of poor care.
Verbal Disclosures
A child or young person may directly or indirectly disclose concerns about:
- Abuse.
- Neglect.
- Harm.
- Exploitation.
- Family difficulties.
Information Shared by Others
Concerns may be raised by:
- Parents.
- Friends.
- Colleagues.
- Placement providers.
- External agencies.
Child-on-Child Abuse
KCSIE recognises that children and young people can sometimes harm other children and young people.
Examples include:
- Bullying.
- Harassment.
- Sexual harassment.
- Sexual violence.
- Online abuse.
- Image-based abuse.
- Coercive behaviour.
- Hate incidents.
Such concerns should always be taken seriously.
Online Safety
Children and young people increasingly experience risks online.
Examples include:
- Cyberbullying.
- Online exploitation.
- Grooming.
- Harmful content.
- Sexual harassment.
- Image-based abuse.
- Online coercion.
Universities should remain alert to these risks where children engage with university services, activities or digital platforms.
What If a Student Tells Me They Are Worried About Their Child?
Students may disclose concerns about:
- Their child's welfare.
- Parenting pressures.
- Domestic abuse.
- Housing instability.
- Financial hardship.
- Family conflict.
- Emotional or behavioural concerns.
Often students are seeking advice and support.
However, where information suggests a child may be at risk of harm, safeguarding advice should be sought promptly.
What If I Am Concerned About a Child?
You do not need proof that abuse or neglect has occurred before seeking advice.
Examples might include concerns about:
- Physical abuse.
- Emotional abuse.
- Neglect.
- Sexual abuse.
- Domestic abuse.
- Exploitation.
- Significant welfare concerns.
If you are worried about a child, seek advice from the University's safeguarding team as soon as possible.
Information Sharing and Safeguarding
Safeguarding sometimes requires organisations to share information appropriately.
Where concerns arise about a child, information may need to be shared with:
- Children's Services.
- Police.
- Schools or colleges.
- Health professionals.
- Safeguarding partners.
Any information sharing should be:
- Necessary.
- Proportionate.
- Relevant.
- Lawful.
- Focused on protecting the child.
The safety and welfare of children will always be a primary consideration.
Professional Boundaries Matter
Professional boundaries help create safe environments for children and young people.
Staff and students working with children should:
✓ Maintain professional relationships.
✓ Use appropriate communication channels.
✓ Follow organisational procedures.
✓ Avoid situations that could be misunderstood.
✓ Raise concerns promptly.
Healthy boundaries help protect both children and adults.
What Should I Do If I Am Concerned?
If you are worried about the safety or welfare of a child:
✓ Take the concern seriously.
✓ Record relevant information.
✓ Seek safeguarding advice promptly.
✓ Raise concerns through the appropriate channels.
✓ Do not assume someone else will act.
You do not need certainty before seeking guidance.
Safeguarding Is Everyone's Responsibility
Safeguarding is not solely the responsibility of safeguarding professionals.
Everyone within the University community can play a role by:
- Recognising concerns.
- Listening to children and young people.
- Seeking advice when worried.
- Sharing concerns appropriately.
- Supporting safe environments.
Early action can often make a significant difference.
Key Message
Universities engage with children and young people in many different ways, including through students under 18, outreach activities, placements, community engagement and through students and staff who are parents and carers.
The principles of Keeping Children Safe in Education remind us that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.
By remaining alert to concerns, maintaining professional boundaries and seeking advice when worried, we can help ensure that children and young people connected to our University remain safe, supported and protected.