QTS Safeguarding and Child Protection 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does 'low-level concern' about a colleague's behaviour mean in the context of KCSIE?
- A concern that does not meet the harm threshold but falls below expected professional standards and must be recorded and reported (Correct answer)
- A concern that can be ignored unless it escalates
- A concern that only requires a verbal warning
- A concern exclusive to classroom performance
Correct answer: A concern that does not meet the harm threshold but falls below expected professional standards and must be recorded and reported
KCSIE requires schools to have a process for reporting and recording low-level concerns about adults' behaviour towards children, even when they do not meet the threshold for a formal referral.
Question 2: What is 'child criminal exploitation' (CCE)?
- When a child is manipulated or coerced into committing crimes for the benefit of others (Correct answer)
- A form of financial fraud involving children
- Online grooming for criminal purposes
- A category restricted to children over 16
Correct answer: When a child is manipulated or coerced into committing crimes for the benefit of others
CCE occurs when a child is exploited to commit crimes — such as drug running, theft, or carrying weapons — for the benefit of an exploiting adult or gang, often without recognising they are a victim.
Question 3: Which professional has legal responsibility for referring cases of suspected child abuse to children's social care?
- Any professional who believes a child is at risk, not just the DSL (Correct answer)
- Only the headteacher
- Only the DSL
- Only the police liaison officer
Correct answer: Any professional who believes a child is at risk, not just the DSL
While the DSL coordinates safeguarding, any professional who has reasonable cause to suspect a child is at risk of significant harm can make a referral to children's social care.
Question 4: What is 'Contextual Safeguarding' and who developed the framework?
- A framework developed by Professor Carlene Firmin that extends safeguarding to peer, school, and community contexts (Correct answer)
- A DfE-only framework focused on home environments
- A police framework for criminal investigations
- An Ofsted inspection framework
Correct answer: A framework developed by Professor Carlene Firmin that extends safeguarding to peer, school, and community contexts
Contextual Safeguarding was developed by Professor Carlene Firmin and recognises that abuse and exploitation can occur beyond the family home, in peer groups, schools, and communities.
Question 5: What is a Child Protection Plan?
- A formal plan put in place when a child is assessed as being at continuing risk of significant harm, outlining actions to protect them (Correct answer)
- A plan created by the school alone
- A plan for excluded pupils only
- A voluntary agreement between parents and school
Correct answer: A formal plan put in place when a child is assessed as being at continuing risk of significant harm, outlining actions to protect them
A CP Plan is a formal, multi-agency plan created following a Child Protection Conference when a child is assessed as being at continuing risk of significant harm.
Question 6: Under KCSIE, what must all staff do with regard to Part One?
- Read and understand Part One of KCSIE at the start of each academic year (Correct answer)
- Only the DSL needs to read KCSIE
- Read the full document only if they are a designated safeguarding lead
- Attend a two-day training course annually
Correct answer: Read and understand Part One of KCSIE at the start of each academic year
KCSIE requires all staff to read and understand Part One (and Annex A for those working directly with children) — not just the DSL — as a minimum annual requirement.
QTS Safeguarding and Child Protection 4
What does 'low-level concern' about a colleague's behaviour mean in the context of KCSIE?