Reading List

These official sources underpin the course and are useful for supervision, local safeguarding reviews and refresher learning. The course uses England guidance as the main framework; Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are signposted separately because procedures and legal routes differ across the UK.

England core guidance

• NICE NG55: Harmful sexual behaviour among children and young people
  The principal NICE guidance for recognising and responding to harmful sexual behaviour.
• Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026
  England's multi-agency safeguarding framework, covering protection, escalation and child-focused responses.
• Children's homes regulations, including quality standards: guide
  Official guidance on expectations for safety, protection, relationships, behaviour support and daily care in children's homes.
• GOV.UK: Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) (Secondary)
  Government guidance on respectful relationships, consent and unacceptable behaviour for secondary-age pupils.
• GOV.UK: Tackling Child Sexual Abuse Strategy
  Policy context on child sexual abuse, harmful sexual behaviour and online harm.
• YJB: Understanding harmful sexual behaviour, violence and misogyny by children
  2026 evidence summary used for prevention and recent research findings.
• SCCIF: children's homes
  Inspection framework setting expectations for safety, identity, boundaries and child-centred care.

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland signposting

• GOV.WALES: Safeguarding children
  Welsh signposting on safeguarding, including peer sexual abuse, exploitation and harmful sexual behaviour resources.
• gov.scot: Harmful sexual behaviour
  Scottish Government guidance and signposting on prevention and child protection.
• Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland: Co-operating to Safeguard Children and Young People
  Northern Ireland's core safeguarding policy framework.

For day-to-day practice, follow your home's safeguarding procedure and local authority route first. Use these documents for wider guidance.