Preventing and responding to child-on-child abuse
Governmental guidance:
- KCSiE (Part 5)
- Behaviour in schools
- Sharing nudes and semi-nudes: advice for education settings working with children and young people
- Searching, screening and confiscation at school
- Use of reasonable force in schools
Other regional/national guidance:
- National Police Chief Council Guidance: when-to-call-the-police--guidance-for-schools-and-colleges
- Children and the law | NSPCC Learning
- Regional Guidance: Bullying
- Regional Guidance: Harmful Sexual Behaviour
Template child-on-child abuse procedure: Available as an Appendix in the Local Authority Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy template; available here.
Risk assessment templates:
There are national templates available for free to specifically support schools in their response to child-on-child harmful sexual behaviour.
Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse: Safety Planning in Education Guide: supporting children following incidents of harmful sexual behaviour . Update: 19th June 2025: Free CSA Webinar to help use the guide
Harmful Sexual Behaviour Support Service | SWGfL
Local services
- Purple Leaf | Working to Eradicate Sexual Violence (children who have experienced and are at risk of sexual harm)
- Axis Counselling
- Climb (For young people who are at risk of entering the Criminal Justice System)|
Whole School Approach: Tools and Guidance
- Farrer & Co: Addressing child-on-child abuse: a resource for schools and colleges
- Contextual Safeguarding Network: Beyond Referrals (Harmful sexual behaviour)
- Anti-Bullying Alliance: A whole-school and setting approach
Further specific training:
- Brook Traffic Light Tool: Sexual Behaviours Traffic Light Tool – Brook . Now available from Shropshire Council Early Help (free)
- Harmful Sexual Behaviour Online Video Training | South West Grid for Learning
- Harmful sexual behaviour in schools training | NSPCC Learning
- Purple Leaf (Local): Managing child-on-child problematic sexual behaviour in schools
- Anti-Bullying Alliance: Free CPD online training