Safeguarding
Safeguarding is the most important responsibility any school holds. Every child has the right to be safe, every staff member has a…
ExploreSafeguarding Audits & Reviews
Safeguarding is the most important job any school has. When it works, children are safe, staff know what to do, and leaders can act with confidence. But it’s hard to judge your own safeguarding from the inside. An external audit gives you an honest, outside look at how well your systems protect children, what works well, and where safeguarding can be stronger.
Below, we explain what a safeguarding audit and review involves, and how it helps you keep every child safe.
What Is a Safeguarding Audit and Review?
It’s an independent check of how your school’s safeguarding works in practice. We look at your policies, your records, and what actually happens day to day. We use clear evidence to see how well safeguarding is managed, what you do correctly, and where you can improve.
It gives you a reliable, honest picture of your safeguarding, free from internal bias. You see your school as an outsider sees it, with practical steps to build on.
Who Is a Safeguarding Audit For?
It’s designed for all education settings: maintained schools, academies, and multi-academy trusts, Alternative Provisions, and SEND Units/Hubs. Headteachers, designated safeguarding leads, and governors use an audit to improve practice, support staff, and show they take child protection seriously.
Many schools ask for one after a serious incident, a change in leadership, an inspection, or simply as good practice on a regular cycle.
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What Does a Safeguarding Audit Include?
We cover every key part of safeguarding. You can choose a full audit or focus on specific areas. Our most common areas include:
- Your safeguarding and child protection policy and how well it works in practice
- Record keeping, referrals, and how concerns are logged and tracked
- Safer recruitment and your single central record
- How staff spot, report, and respond to concerns
- Support for children who are vulnerable or at risk
- Online safety and how it is taught and monitored
- Staff training, confidence, and knowledge of their duties
- Pupil voice and how safe children feel at school
- The link between safeguarding, culture, and wellbeing
How a Safeguarding Audit Helps Your School, Academy, Trust, or Alternative Provision
1
Confirm your systems work in practice
Policies only protect children when they are followed. An audit checks how safeguarding plays out across the school. You find out where practice is strong and where it drifts. This helps you close gaps and keep every child safe.
2
Spot risks early
Small gaps can grow if no one notices them. An external audit looks with fresh eyes. We find weak routines, unclear processes, or missed steps before they become serious. Fixing them early keeps children protected.
3
Support your staff
Safeguarding is everyone’s job, and staff need backing. An audit shows where training or support would help. It gives your team clearer expectations and more confidence to act on concerns.
4
Give clear proof for inspection
When inspectors ask about safeguarding, you have evidence. Our reports show what you do, how it works, and what checks you’ve made. This makes inspections smoother and less stressful.
5
Improve how safe children feel
We listen to pupils and see school through their eyes. This shows you what’s working and what feels unsafe to them. Better safeguarding means children who feel safe, known, and heard.
6
Support better decisions
You get clear facts, not guesswork. Leaders can plan training, budgets, and support based on what the audit shows. This makes your safeguarding stronger and more focused.
7
Promote a safer culture
Safeguarding and culture are closely linked. An audit highlights where practice can be stronger and where risks sit. It builds a shared mindset where every child feels safe and known.
Book a quick, friendly callTwenty minutes with Shaun, our Founder and CEO, to explore how we can help you.
How Our Audits Work
- 1We agree exactly what you want to cover and when.
- 2Our experienced team reviews your policies, records, and key documents.
- 3We speak to leaders, staff, and pupils to understand how safeguarding works in real life.
- 4We check your single central record and safer recruitment where it helps.
- 5We gather facts and evidence only, no assumptions or bias, then produce a concise, easy-to-read report with findings and clear next steps.
- 6We work efficiently and focus only on what matters. Our independent view gives you a clear and accurate picture of your safeguarding.
What You Get at the End
You receive a high-quality written report. It includes:
- What your school does well and where it’s strong
- Exact areas where you need to improve or develop
- Practical, realistic recommendations you can use straight away
- Clear evidence you can show inspectors, governors, or trustees
Arrange a chatTell us your timescale and we'll tell you honestly whether we can meet it.
Key Features of Our Service
Objective, evidence-informed evaluation
Every finding is based on facts. You get clear assurance and clear priorities.
Flexible audit models
Pick what you need: full audit, targeted, or focused on a single area. We adapt to you.
Clear, professional reporting
Reports are simple to understand. They help you improve and prove your standards.
Why Choose Jarvis Education?
We work only with education settings. We know how safeguarding works, the pressures staff face, and what good practice looks like. Our independent view helps you build a safer school where every decision stays focused on children.
Want to know how a safeguarding audit could help your school? Just get in touch.
Next Steps & How to Get Started
- Speak to one of our experts. We’ll explain how we work, answer your questions, and help you choose the right audit for your school.
- We book dates well in advance. Once you’re happy, we confirm everything in writing and start planning your visit.
- Contact us today to discuss how we can support your school, academy, trust, and alternative provision.
- We’re ready to help and support you.
Who We Work With
We support settings of every type across England and internationally.
More safeguarding services
ServiceSafeguarding Support & ConsultancySafeguarding support and consultancy for schools, academies, trusts and APs. It's flexible, hands-on help with every part of…ServiceSafeguarding TrainingPractical Level 1 and Level 2 safeguarding training for schools, academies, trusts, APs and governors. Certificates issued. Bespoke…ServiceSafeguarding SupervisionSafeguarding supervision for independent schools, APs, SEND settings and governors. Designated safeguarding leads and pastoral leads family support…ServiceSection 175/157 Safeguarding AuditsIndependent Section 175/157 safeguarding audits for schools and trusts. A deep-dive review against KCSIE, validating your safeguarding arrangements.
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