What are the changes from 1 September 2022?
The DfE has reviewed and updated its guidance on searching, screening and confiscation.
This comes after the publication of the Safeguarding Practice Review report on the case of Child Q, where a pupil was strip-searched without parental consent at school. The Safeguarding Practice Review highlighted the need to put safeguarding at the centre of your school's approach to handling searches.
A change in approach on which staff members can search pupils (read more about this in the section 'Make sure your behaviour policy is clear on how you'll conduct searches') That you should record certain searches in your school’s safeguarding system (the old guidance said there's no legal requirement to record) New guidance on what you should do before, during and after a search New guidance on strip searches and supporting the pupil afterwards That where possible, you should