Supply teaching: Safeguarding – A shared duty...

Child abuse is illegal under UK law and as educators it is our mandatory duty to safeguard both those deemed vulnerable, and those where protective intervention has been too late.

However, this presents challenges for educators working as supply teachers, who often may be meeting new students on a weekly if not daily basis. So, how can they meet their safeguarding responsibilities without knowing the individual student’s circumstances nor being party to the bigger collective picture of knowledge?

First, regardless of how long you spend with a school and set students, never underestimate the vital role that you play in their protection. Your safeguarding training and expertise can enable you to spot the signs of abuse, or that something just isn’t right, just as proficiently as a teacher working in a permanent position.