Child-on-Child Abuse Policy (Summary for parents)

Date: October 2025
Review Date: October 2026
Coordinator: Kirsten Roy
Nominated Governor: Claire Farmer
Version: v10.25

Refreshed for KCSIE 2025 — signed off April 2026

This policy was refreshed on 2026-04-29 to align with current statutory guidance: KCSIE 2025, Online Safety Act 2023 (phased duties on user-to-user services), DfE Filtering and Monitoring Standards 2024, Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023 (preventive duty re sexual harassment, including third-party harassment), and emerging AI safeguarding considerations (DfE Generative AI in Education 2025, ICO Children’s Code).

Status: live — signed off 29 April 2026 by Proprietor and Governing Body.

Policy Statement and Purpose

At The Haven, we recognise that children can and do abuse other children. This behaviour is harmful, unacceptable, and a safeguarding concern. We are committed to creating a culture where child-on-child abuse is never tolerated, minimised, or dismissed as “banter” or “part of growing up.” Our purpose is to protect all learners, support those affected, and ensure a safe, respectful community across both online and in-person settings.

This policy outlines The Haven’s approach to prevention, identification, response, and monitoring of child-on-child abuse in line with statutory guidance.

Scope

This policy applies to:

• All The Haven staff, governors, contractors, and volunteers.

• All learners engaging with The Haven, whether online, hybrid, or through physical settings.

• All contexts in which The Haven learners may interact, including digital platforms, social media, in-person sessions, and third-party venues.

This policy should be read alongside The Haven’s:

• Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy v01.26

• Behaviour and Regulation Policy v10.25

• Attendance & Engagement v01.26

• Prevent Duty Policy v01.26_

• Staff Conduct Policy v10.25

Statutory Guidance

This policy has due regard to:

• Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2025.

• Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023.

• Sexual Offences Act 2003.

• Children Acts 1989 and 2004.

• Equality Act 2010.

• Independent School Standards (Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014, as amended).

• Online Safety Act 2023 (in force in stages 2024–2025; user-to-user service duties on content harmful to children).

Definitions

Child-on-child abuse: Any form of physical, sexual, emotional, or financial abuse, coercive control, exploitation, or bullying committed by one child against another. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Bullying (including cyberbullying, prejudice-based and discriminatory bullying).

• Physical abuse (e.g., hitting, kicking, shaking, biting).

• Sexual violence and sexual harassment.

• Harmful sexual behaviours (HSB).

• Upskirting (as defined in the Voyeurism Offences Act 2019).

• Initiation/hazing-type violence and rituals.

• Emotional abuse, coercion, or online harassment.

Aims

• To prevent child-on-child abuse through education, awareness, and culture.

• To ensure staff are confident in recognising and responding to signs of child-on-child abuse.

• To provide safe reporting routes for learners, both online and in person.

• To support victims and address harmful behaviour proportionally and restoratively.

• To work with parents/carers, safeguarding partners, and external agencies where required.

Objectives

• Prevention

  - Embed safeguarding and respectful relationships teaching across the curriculum.
  
  - Promote inclusion, empathy, and digital citizenship.
  
  - Encourage learners to speak up, knowing disclosures will be taken seriously.
  

• Recognition

  - Train staff to identify indicators, including changes in online behaviour, language, or engagement.
  
  - Ensure staff are alert to hidden forms of abuse such as coercion in digital spaces.
  

• Response

  - Any disclosure or concern is treated as a safeguarding matter.
  
  - DSL assesses risk, ensures immediate safety, and records incidents.
  
  - Responses will balance support for the victim, accountability for the perpetrator, and restorative opportunities where safe.
  
  - Serious incidents (e.g., sexual violence) will be referred to statutory agencies.
  

• Support

  - Victims will be listened to, believed, and supported with tailored interventions.
  
  - Perpetrators will also receive support to address underlying issues, recognising behaviour as communication.
  

• Partnership

  - Parents/carers will be engaged, unless doing so would place a child at further risk.
  
  - The Haven will liaise with children’s social care, the police, or other external partners as appropriate.
  

Roles and Responsibilities

• Governing Board: Ensure policy oversight, monitor compliance, and support safe culture.

• Principal/Proprietor: Ensure resources and systems are in place to implement this policy.

• DSL: Lead on child-on-child abuse concerns, coordinate responses, ensure training, and maintain records.

• All Staff and Volunteers: Remain vigilant, follow procedures, and embed preventative culture in daily practice.

• Learners: Encouraged to uphold a culture of respect, report concerns, and support peers.

Monitoring and Review

• Termly DSL-led checks: Review reported cases, ensure proportional responses, and spot patterns.

• Annual review: Carried out by DSL and Governing Board, ensuring consistency with KCSIE updates and statutory requirements.

• Immediate interim review: Triggered by significant safeguarding incidents or legislative changes.**

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