Child-on-Child Abuse

Our response to child-on-child abuse, including reports of sexual violence or sexual harassment

We will use the following guidance to assist in the managing of reports Sexual violence and sexual harassment between children in schools and colleges: advice for governing bodies, proprietors, head teachers, principals, senior leadership teams and designated safeguarding leads.

It is our aim to always recognise, acknowledge and understand the scale of harassment and abuse. We never downplay behaviours related to abuse that can lead to a culture of unacceptable behaviour, an unsafe environment and in worst case scenarios a culture that normalises abuse leading to children accepting it as normal and not coming forward to report it.

Where necessary, we will work with other professionals, agencies and partners in our response. This may include the relevant local authority children’s social care departments, the police, the NSPCC, the Anti-Bullying Alliance and online services, such as The UK Safer Internet Centre, Internet Watch Foundation and Thinkuknow.

We recognise that children may not find it easy to tell staff about their abuse verbally. Children can show signs or act in ways that they hope adults will notice and react. In some cases, the victim may not make a direct report.

The immediate response to a report

If a member of staff thinks, for whatever reason, that a child may be at risk of or experiencing abuse by their peer(s), or that a child may be at risk of abusing or may be abusing their peer(s), they should discuss their concern with the DSL (or deputy) without delay.

We will reassure all victims that they are being taken seriously, regardless of how long it has taken them to come forward and that they will be supported and kept safe. Abuse that occurs online or outside of our setting will not be downplayed and will be treated equally seriously. We will never give a victim the impression that they are creating a problem by reporting peer on peer abuse, including sexual violence or sexual harassment. Nor will we make a victim feel ashamed for making a report.