Trainees Facing an Allegation of Abuse

Guidelines on Practice and Procedure

University of Exeter

GraduateSchool of Education

September 2006 (updated August 2009)

It is intended that both trainees and schools, when dealing with issues of abuse allegations against the trainee, use these guidelines in conjunction with other guidelines on dealing with allegations of abuse.

These guidelines are intended as a starting point rather than an exhaustive list of what to do in every eventuality. Further details should be sought from teaching unions and LEAs as necessary.

This is not intended to be a legal document and draws on advice from teaching unions and LEAs.

Trainees are advised to join a Teaching Union in order to access the help, support, advice and legal representation that they offer.

Being Safe at School.

Safety issues in schools are many and complex. There are those surrounding health and safety procedures, those regarding school fieldwork visits, those regarding the protection of pupils from abuse and many others that during the course of your training you will become familiar with through your school based work, professional studies programmes and in conversations with teachers and lectures.

One particular area that we would draw your attention to is that of your own safety and ways in which you can ensure that you are not the subject of false allegations of abuse. You will receive training on professional classroom behaviour and adhering to those guidelines is an important way of protecting yourself. However we are aware that sometimes pupils may misinterpret your behaviour, or maliciously make an allegation of abuse against you.

The following pages offer guidelines in the event that an allegation is made against you. They are not intended to alarm you nor to suggest that this is a frequent occurrence but rather to reassure you that should such an eventuality occur there are clear ways of dealing with it. All partnership schools have received copies of this advice as well as further suggestions regarding their own course of action.

Information for trainees:

  • Please ensure that you follow all the procedures and guidelines offered to you for ensuring your own safety in the classroom and the school’s environs, as well as those offering safety guidelines for pupils.
  • Please find out who is the ‘designated teacher for child abuse incidents. Each school has one of these for dealing with issues of child abuse; in many cases it is the head teacher but is often a named senior teacher. All staff in the school should be able to tell you who this is.
  • If you accidentally touch a pupil in any way, please ensure that you immediately speak to your principal school based tutor about it and record it in detail as soon as is convenientunofficially in your diary or log book. It is good practice to apologise to the pupil.
  • If you are responsible for causing an accident to a pupil, or accidentally damage them in some way, please follow the school’s accident procedures and ensure that it is properly recorded. (School administration staff may be a good point of contact for this if your PST can’t advise you)
  • If a pupil accuses you of abuse directly, you should:
  • ensure that at the first convenient moment you record in writing the details ofwhat was said and report the allegation to the ‘designated teacher’;
  • contact the university via your UVT or programme director, or if the situation needs an immediate response and these are unavailable, the Partnership Director at the ITE Partnership Office 01392 264717.
  • If you become aware of an allegation that has been made against you (or you are told of one by the head teacher or ‘designated teacher’), and the head teacher or designated teacher decides to investigate the allegation you should follow the guidelines below.
  • Contact the university (as above)
  • Contact your teaching union for guidance, advice support and representation.
  • If you believe that there are grounds for finding the allegation to be true you should not make a statement until you have sought advice
  • If you believe there are no grounds for finding the allegation to be true you may declare your innocence
  • If the allegation is demonstrably false because the immediate circumstances show that it is not possible for the allegation to be true, then you should provide that evidence. The school can then conclude its investigation.
  • Trainees should not be suspended from the classroom unless this is the course of action that is recommended by the LEA or ACPC (Area Child Protection Committee)
  • Trainees should not be allowed to discuss the issue with the child or his/her parents
  • Trainees should not be encouraged to apologise to the child or his/her parents unless advised to do so by legal representation.
  • You may not be aware of the investigation until the process is underway. If you are formally called to account, then you should seek advice from a solicitor and/or your teaching union.
  • When an allegation is made, in the first instance schools will make an initial assessment of the situation and are likely to respond in one of four ways:
  • Where the pupil has suffered, is suffering, or is likely to suffer significant harm there should be an immediate referral via the LEA to the ACPC (Area Child Protection Committee). These bodies will deal with involvement with social services and the police as they deem necessary.
  • Where the child has alleged that a criminal act has been committed this will be referred to the ACPC and the police.
  • Where the allegation represents inappropriate behaviour or poor practice by a trainee (which does not fall into one of the above categories) it may be considered by the university and the school’s own disciplinary procedures.
  • Where the allegation is apparently without foundation and is demonstrably false, the investigation will close.
  • Where the allegation is not taken forward by the school (perhaps at the request of parents who ask for nothing else to happen, or who are unwilling to purse it further) you should be informed orally and in writing of the allegation and that no further action is being taken. You may have a Union representative or a friend with you for this.
  • The document which has been most useful in compiling this guidance, and conforms to teachers’ and head teachers’ union guidelines can be read in full at


Information for schools

  • Please read the guidance for trainees
  • Please ensure that all trainees are briefed on classroom routines that should be followed in order that both trainee and pupils are safe
  • Please ensure that the trainee is aware of child protection procedures and of who the ‘designated teacher’ is.
  • If you receive and allegation of abuse against a trainee, please deal with it in the same way as you would for a member of staff.
  • LEA advice is that, as the child is the ‘trigger for action’, they will deal with trainees in the same way as they would a member of staff and will advise as necessary. Please phone them as and when you would do so for an allegation made against a member of staff.
  • If you are investigating a trainee, please inform the Partnership Director at the ITE Partnership Office (01392 264717) as soon as you are able within confines of the investigation.
  • Trainees have been encouraged to join a teaching union and should be encouraged to phone them prior to responding to any allegation.
  • Trainees should not be suspended from the classroom unless this is the course of action that is recommended by the LEA or ACPC
  • Trainees should not be allowed to discuss the issue with the child or his/her parents
  • Trainees should not be encouraged to apologise to the child or his/her parents unless advised to do so by legal representation
  • Whilst obviously we want to protect children and appreciate that this is your first priority, please remember that false allegations against trainees can destroy their confidence and a change of placement may lead to the trainee not successfully achieving QTS. Please be as supportive towards them as you would to your own staff.
  • We will not automatically change a trainee’s placement following an unsubstantiated allegation of abuse.
  • If the allegation is proven then the trainee will be dealt with in line with recommendations from the investigating body, the school’s own discipline procedures or the university’s policy on Termination of Training, as appropriate.
  • The document which has been most useful in compiling this guidance, and conforms to teachers’ and head teachers’ union guidelines can be read in full at

The following are useful extracts and website references:

The following website contains some useful information and a flow chart reminding what happens after an allegation has been reported to the headteacher.

Devon LEA has a useful flow chart for schools, which can be found on page 360 of the document located at

You are also reminded of the ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ (1999) which can be found at

These documents may for useful discussions in the Professional Studies Programme in schools regarding child protection issues.