Education Reference Group - Keeping Bristol Safe Partnership

Local Safeguarding Partnership 

The Local Safeguarding Partnership in Bristol is called the Keeping Bristol Safe Partnership (KBSP). To find out more about the partnership please consider visiting the website for:

• local multi-agency policies, 
• local safeguarding news, and 
• multi-agency training opportunities. 

What does this mean for me?

As an education professional, statutory guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education states:

• Governing bodies, and their senior leadership teams (especially their designated safeguarding leads), should make themselves aware of and follow their local arrangements.
• If named as a relevant agency, schools and colleges, in the same way as other relevant agencies, are under statutory duty to co-operate with the published arrangements (under the Children Act 2004).
• All education settings are named as relevant agencies in Bristol.

How do I engage?

1. We will send out information about future meetings for those signed up to our mailing list.
2. You can also attend our free professional networks. These aim to cascade local safeguarding updates and news to the workforce and feedback salient information to strategic partners. 
3. If you have an emerging need or a practice concern and would like to raise it to the attention of the Education Reference group or the KBSP you can use the form to the right.

You can also feedback on agenda items and minutes for meetings. We respectfully request that you consider the working capacity of colleagues who represent your phase who are volunteering their time. 

Education Reference Group

The Keeping Bristol Safe Partnership (KBSP) Education Reference Group is a multiagency reference group, to promote the safety and welfare of children in schools, colleges, and other educational settings and is made up of education professionals (from different phases and sectors) and professionals from statutory agencies working with the education sector to ensure that appropriate policies, practices, procedures, and infrastructure are in place.

The group oversee safeguarding arrangements strategically in the education sector across the city. This involves: 

• Translating the KBSP priorities into practice as well as incorporating sector specific strategies from the annual s.175 Safeguarding Audit.
• Making key decisions around safeguarding in education on a local basis.
• Considering any sector learning where a statutory safeguarding review has taken place.
• Support communication between the KBSP and the wider education workforce. 

Membership & Meetings. 

There are phase and sector representatives who are comprised of Head Teachers, Designated Safeguarding Leads and Governors who sit on the group. The meeting is supported by the Safeguarding in Education team as well as other Local Authority Officers. 

The group meet 6 times a year (every Bristol school term). 

The meeting’s agenda, minutes and briefing notes are available to the workforce. You are invited to engage and submit questions, feedback and queries. 

Access the KBSP Members Area to find materials, minutes of meetings, who your phase representative is and the group's Terms of Reference. For log in details please email the safeguardingineducationteam@bristol.gov.uk. 

Recent Updates

The following strands of work have been identified as Focus Areas for 2025-6:

• Serious Youth Violence – using the Education Endowment Fund research as a key underpinning guide to be focused collaborative work in specific and identified geographical locations – with links to YJPB
• Attendance and Safeguarding – including CCE and CSE risks strand - Children missing education and the preparedness of schools to support children to return
• Attendance and SEND – severe absence and meeting the needs for child who currently fall into EHE group - exploring Inclusion in practice