Staying Safe action plan

The DCSF published the action plan in February to accompany its earlier Staying Safe document. Most of the media attention and the DCSF announcements focused on out-of-school activities but, as with the Children's Plan and the original Staying Safe document, the scope is much wider than schools.

The action plan includes a number of items that are likely to affect schools in some areas. They are:

• the publication of a new cyber bullying pack

• guidance on how to deal with the bullying of children with disabilities

• a consultation on alcohol and young people

• the publication of a play strategy

• development of materials for safety education to be taught in schools through PSHE

• the DCSF's continued 'support' of parents of children who are bullied

• implementation of the Forced Marriage Act 2007. This may have implications for schools which 'lose' pupils to suspected forced marriages, as its provisions extend outside the UK

• guidance on bullying outside schools. There will have to be careful consideration of how far schools are expected or encouraged to take on a duty of care for events beyond their control

• the Youth Strategy which will focus on helping young people to engage with positive activities. This may overlap with the development of extended schools

• a review of the effectiveness of sex and relationships education in schools

• a review by the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) of the impact of their £100m investment in sporting activity