Safeguarding, in UK government guidance, is about protecting children from all forms of harm – not just one single risk.

Core government definition

Government statutory guidance explains that safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children includes:

  • Protecting children from abuse and maltreatment (including physical, emotional, sexual abuse and neglect).
  • Preventing harm to children’s health or development (physical and mental).
  • Ensuring children grow up with safe and effective care.
  • Taking action to help all children achieve the best outcomes.

Put simply, safeguarding protects children from being harmed, from the risk of significant harm, and from situations that could seriously damage their health, development or safety – whether at home, in education, online or in the community.

Examples of what safeguarding protects children from

Government and national guidance highlight that safeguarding aims to protect children from:

  • Physical abuse (hitting, shaking, poisoning, burning, etc.).
  • Emotional abuse (constant criticism, humiliation, intimidation, exposure to domestic abuse, etc.).
  • Sexual abuse and sexual exploitation (including online grooming, sexual violence, and harassment).
  • Neglect (persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and emotional needs).
  • Exposure to domestic abuse, violence, or other serious harm in the home.
  • Harm and exploitation online (grooming, sexual image sharing, bullying, radicalisation).

So, according to the government, safeguarding is about protecting children from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and all kinds of harm to their health, development, safety and wellbeing.