Creating a strong safeguarding culture
Learn how to build and maintain a strong safeguarding culture.
Safeguarding is not just about having systems in place, it’s about the extent those systems shape behaviour and decision making.
Safeguarding should not just be a protocol that is to be followed, it should be a mindset that runs throughout the practice. It’s what you do every single day, not just a reaction when something goes wrong.
There are many elements that contribute to a positive safeguarding culture. While it cannot be summed up in a single definition, there are suggestions or areas of focus that can help to provide a child centred approach in keeping children safe:
- a safe and healthy environment where children can thrive and develop
- a place where staff are alert to potential concerns and raise them with their DSL
- a place where staff feel supported and valued, including through effective supervision
- a place that is inclusive and welcoming for staff, children, and families
- a place where concerns, even low-level concerns, are always taken seriously and always acted upon
- a setting where staff are well-trained, act professionally, and are supported by clear policies and procedures
- safeguarding reflects the local risk landscape, is dynamic, and anticipates and responds to emerging threats
What a strong safeguarding culture looks like in practice
There is no one approach or ‘gold standard’, but a culture of safeguarding is likely to include:
- an environment where the individual needs of all children are understood and respected
- children know how to speak up if they don’t feel safe and staff are trained in spotting signs of abuse in babies and infants
- staff feeling supported and heard, including through effective supervision
- staff taking personal responsibility to support and safeguard children
- staff feel confident with raising a concern, including raising concerns about poor practice
- low-level concerns, including ‘worries’ and ‘feelings’ are taken seriously and reported, recorded, observed, and acted upon if needed
- leadership are ready to act with clarity and care
Tips for creating and maintaining a strong safeguarding culture
The following tips have been produced by NSPCC Learning and DfE. A poster of these tips is available in the resources section. The poster is also available for those who complete the department’s safeguarding training which was produced in collaboration with NSPCC learning.
1. Model safeguarding in everyday interactions
To demonstrate what safe, respectful and supportive relationships look like in practice:
- warm, respectful, communication with children and families shows what ‘safe’ looks like
- use positive language, active listening, and reassurance
- respond promptly and calmly to any worries raised
Children learn from the behaviour they see around them – calm, confident adults create a sense of security.
2. Make safeguarding visible and understood by all
To help create an environment where children, families, and staff understand how safety is promoted and supported:
- ensure children are able to communicate their feelings to trusted adults in whatever way they can
- keep parent notices clear and accessible for example, DSL names and photos)
- use simple language with children to help them understand personal boundaries and consent (for example, “you can say no”, “your body belongs to you”)
Transparency builds trust and normalises conversations about safety.
3. Prioritise strong partnerships with families
To build trusting relationships that support children’s safety, wellbeing, and development:
- greet families personally at drop-off and pick-up
- keep communication channels open through daily chats, newsletters, or online systems
- share positive moments regularly – not just concerns
When families feel respected and included, they are more likely to share important information early.
4. Regular, reflective staff discussions – not just training
Training is essential, but an authentic safeguarding culture comes from ongoing conversations:
- hold short weekly ‘safeguarding moments’ in staff meetings
- include safeguarding in staff supervision sessions, to discuss any concerns and reflect on your setting’s systems and practice
- use scenarios or recent anonymised examples to help understanding
- encourage all staff to voice concerns, even if they think they are small
When staff discuss safeguarding routinely, it becomes part of the setting’s culture.
5. Empower staff at every level
To create a culture where safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility:
- make it clear that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility – not just the DSL’s
- support new or less confident staff through mentoring and supervision
- ensure all staff know what to report, who to report to, and how to record concerns
In a positive culture, everyone knows their responsibilities and feels supported.
6. Establish a ‘no blame’ reporting culture
To encourage staff to raise concerns:
- make sure staff know that raising a concern is always the right thing to do
- thank staff for bringing things forward, even if the concern turns out to be minor
- avoid judgement or negativity when someone is unsure
People will speak up more in environments where they know they will be heard and that they won’t be criticised for trying to keep children safe.
7. Make the environment physically and emotionally safe
Help children feel secure, supported, and able to thrive by:
- providing quiet areas for children who need space or calm
- ensuring all spaces are supervised but not intrusive
- keeping routines predictable and transitions smooth
A well organised environment reduces stress and helps children feel safe and secure.
8. Involve children in safeguarding in an age-appropriate way
To support children in understanding safety and expressing their feelings:
- encourage children to express their feelings through play, picture cards, or stories
- teach vocabulary for emotions (“I feel sad/scared/confused”)
- reinforce the idea of seeking help from trusted adults
Children who are able to express themselves are likely to feel safer and make adults aware of any concerns.
9. Review policies in a practical, user-friendly way
To ensure safeguarding policies are understood and applied in everyday practice:
- translate policies into simple ‘what this looks like in practice’ guides; this could be for staff or parents
- keep procedures clear and concise
- update staff with short reminders after reviews so they know of any changes
Staff engage more with safeguarding when policies feel usable – not overwhelming.
10. Celebrate safeguarding successes
Small celebrations help embed the positive culture:
- recognise staff who have handled a difficult situation well
- share anonymised examples of good practice
- praise teamwork in keeping children safe
Positivity encourages continuous motivation and buy-in.
