Keeping Children Safe in Education 2022,  states that governing bodies and proprietors should ensure that their child protection policy includes:

• procedures to minimise the risk of child on child  abuse;
• how allegations of child on child abuse will be recorded, investigated and dealt with;
• clear processes as to how victims, perpetrators and any other child affected by peer on peer abuse will be supported; • a clear statement that abuse is abuse and should never be tolerated or passed off as “banter”, “just having a laugh” or “part of growing up”;
• recognition of the gendered nature of child on child abuse (i.e. that it is more likely that girls will be victims and boys perpetrators), but that all child on child abuse is unacceptable and will be taken seriously; and
• the different forms peer on peer abuse can take.

The guidance also states that Governing bodies and proprietors should ensure their child protection policy reflects the fact that additional barriers can exist when recognising abuse and neglect in this group of children (Children with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities) These can include being more prone to peer group isolation than other children. At Holy Trinity RC  Primary School we are committed to the prevention, early identification and appropriate management of child on child  abuse and to ensure that any form of child on child  abuse or sexually harmful behaviour is dealt with immediately and consistently. This will reduce the extent of harm to the young person and minimise the potential impact on that individual child’s emotional and mental health and wellbeing.