Background and Statutory Framework
There is a statutory duty, as set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education, for Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) to ensure that when a pupil moves between settings the child protection (CP) file is transferred to the new setting within 5 school days.
The transfer of this information must be secure, and the transferring setting should ensure confirmation of receipt of the CP file. The receiving setting should ensure that appropriate staff, such as the DSL and SENDCO, are aware of such file transfers and review the incoming information in a timely fashion.
What is a Child Protection file?
A safeguarding file is the record kept by the DSL (and their deputies) of any concerns about a child’s welfare. A file may only have one concern it or it may have an extensive history. The file maybe paper-based, but more commonly settings will be using electronic systems such as CPOMS or My Concern. Regardless of its size, all the information in the file should be transferred when a child moves between settings.
Where settings use electronic systems to record aspects of a pupil’s history at the setting beyond immediate CP and safeguarding concerns (e.g. behaviour) the file should still be shared in its entirety. However, it will be useful for the transferring setting to provide a summary of the main safeguarding concerns.
Further guidance on the transfer of child protection & safeguarding files for Plymouth schools and settings, including transfer checklists and receipts, can be found in the document below, put together by members from the Safeguarding in Education Reference group.
Guidance on Transfer of Child Protection & Safeguarding Files Document