How to recognise, respond, report and record safeguarding concerns
The 4Rs of safeguarding and child protection can help you understand your safeguarding responsibilities and keep children safe.
They are:
- recognise possible abuse, including knowing what abuse is, what to look out for, and how to be vigilant at all times.
- respond quickly and appropriately to possible concerns. Sometimes a concern is obvious, sometimes it is not.
- report your concerns to the appropriate person or organisation to ensure that you or your school or college does everything possible to keep your students safe and supported.
- record your observations and concerns, including the actions you and others have (or haven't) taken.
> Learn more about the 4Rs in our elearning training courses
Why are the 4Rs of safeguarding important?
We all have a responsibility to keep babies, children and young people safe from harm.
Organisations that work or come into contact with children should have safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures to keep children safe. All staff and volunteers should understand these and know what steps they need to take to recognise and respond to concerns.
The 4Rs provide a handy framework to help you understand and remember your safeguarding responsibilities.
Safeguarding responsibilities in schools
Some settings such as schools, academies and colleges also have a statutory responsibility to protect children from abuse. As in all organisations, all staff and volunteers should read, understand and follow their school's child protection policy and procedures.
All staff and volunteers should also complete child protection training to make sure they understand the different ways abuse can take place, the indicators of abuse and what to do if they are ever worried about a child.
> Find out more about safeguarding roles and responsibilities in schools
Learn how to keep children safe with the 4Rs
Our Introduction to safeguarding and child protection and Safeguarding in schools, academies and colleges elearning courses cover the 4Rs of safeguarding and child protection. These CPD-certified courses will help you recognise and respond to concerns about a child. Both courses take around 3 hours. You'll learn from teaching pages, videos, reflective activities and Q&As. It's a cost-effective way to complete your safeguarding training, and you can access the course as many times as you like over a year.
> Take Introduction to safeguarding and child protection training
> Take Safeguarding in schools, academies and colleges elearning course
> See all our training courses
More safeguarding and child protection resources
At the NSPCC, we work to keep babies, children and young people safe from abuse and neglect every day. Whether you are new to safeguarding and child protection or you're looking for support with a specific issue, we have a range of guidance, resources and training to help you.
Getting started with safeguarding and child protection
Find out more about what exactly safeguarding is and links to guidance on writing a safeguarding policy and procedures, safer recruitment, recommended adult to child ratios and more.
> Get started with safeguarding
Assess your current safeguarding arrangements
Our free online tool helps you audit your current safeguarding arrangements, identify areas for improvement and make changes. With tailored versions for schools and voluntary and community groups, you can save your responses and access more detailed information and resources on the topics covered.
> Find out more about the safeguarding self-assessment tool
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