How to prevent child-on-child abuse

Understand what child-on-child abuse is and steps you can take to reduce the risk of it happening in your school. Find guidance and resources, and know where to go for extra support.

Updated
on 23 September 2026
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School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 35774
Contents
  1. Understand what child-on-child abuse is 
  2. Put procedures in place to minimise the risk of child-on-child abuse
  3. Provide appropriate and regularly updated staff training
  4. Make sure staff challenge inappropriate behaviours
  5. Create a preventative curriculum programme
  6. Consider your context and work with local partners
  7. Seek specialist support
  8. What is Ofsted looking for?

Understand what child-on-child abuse is 

Bullying (including cyberbullying, prejudice-based and discriminatory bullying) Physical abuse such as hitting, kicking, shaking, biting, hair pulling or otherwise causing physical harm (this may include an online element, which facilitates, threatens and/or encourages physical abuse) Serious physical assault and harm, or the threat of harm, with a weapon  Initiation/hazing-type violence and rituals, which could include activities involving harassment, abuse or humiliation used as a way of initiating a person into a group, and may also include an online element Child-on-child sexual abuse, which includes: Abuse in intimate relationships between peers (sometimes known as 'teenage relationship abuse') Sexual violence and sexual harassment Causing someone to engage in sexual activity without consent Upskirting, which typically involves taking a picture under a person’s clothing without their permission, to obtain sexual gratification or cause the victim humiliation, distress or alarm Consensual and non-consensual making or sharing of nudes