Safeguarding Audits

Statutory Safeguarding (Section 11/157/175) Audits

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 places a legal duty (section 11 Children Act 2004 and sections 157/175 Education Act 2002) on Shropshire Safeguarding Community Partnership/Local Authority to seek assurance as to the effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements for registered education providers in their area.

The results and actions arising from these audits should also be shared with Governing Bodies/Proprietors/Management Committees to enable them to have strategic oversight of the effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements. 

Registered education providers operating in Shropshire are asked to complete a statutory safeguarding audit on an annual basis. 

In the spring term of every academic year all registered education providers operating in Shropshire are required to submit their audits via an online platform. 

Headteacher/Managers/Childminders/Principals  are responsible for making sure the statutory safeguarding audit is completed (but can allocate other people to contribute to/view it).  In the latter part of the Autumn Term they should received a letter from the Director of Children's Services and an email enabling them to access the audit.  Please contact the Safeguarding Audits email address on this page if you require support accessing the platform.

Education providers will be expected to complete and submit their audits by a pre-determined date in the Spring Term (dates for 2026-2027 will be released shortly).

The Education Quality Safeguarding Team will be providing support to help providers to complete the audit. This includes:

• Audit Respondents Manual - see below in documents 

• Dedicated contact email (if you're unable to resolve difficulties via accessing the manual/troubleshooting tips):  safeguarding.audits@shropshire.gov.uk 

• Statutory Safeguarding Audit Launch Seminar (recording from 12.1.2026) and Audit Launch Webinar Presentation Slides Jan 2026

• Troubleshooting Tips  and Troubleshooting drop-ins throughout the Spring Term (please see table below):

Next steps:

Summer Term:

• The Education Quality Safeguarding Team will provide indicative findings to the 
  Children’s Safeguarding Partnership Boards, will review audit 
  completion and follow the non-completion escalation process (included in the email with 
  the letter sent to Leaders or registered provisions).
• Audits will be reopened once findings are reviewed for agreed extensions (by 
  exception only) and ongoing updates by providers.

Autumn Term: 

• The Education Quality Safeguarding Team will report thematic findings from the previous years audits to 
  the Children’s Safeguarding Partnership Board.
• Preparations will begin for the audit for this academic year, which will be launched again in the Spring Term.