Education Scotland - Guidance on identifying and referring suspected child sexual exploitation: FOI release

Information requested

Any guidance or advice issued by Education Scotland to schools or local authorities on identifying and referring suspected child sexual exploitation, since 2013, and the dates on which any such guidance was issued or updated.

Response

Please find below details of the information you have requested.

Guidance published and shared on Education Scotland’s website.

2017 Safeguarding – Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)

2021 Safeguarding and Child Protection This page provides an overview of supports relating to safeguarding and child protection.

2024 Online abuse and exploitation

Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. I have for ease included links to our website that contain the information noted above. Please note dates of publication and dates last updated are noted on the web pages.

If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain the information from the links above, thenplease contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

Advice issued or shared by Education Scotland to schools or local authorities

09/11/2025 – Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Education Current Online Threats Presentation to ES Safeguarding in Education National Network

Focused on financially motivated sexual extortion and AI CSAM.

03/11/2025 – National Crime Agency Early Threat Notification for Safeguarding Professionals shared with ES Safeguarding in Education National Network for local
targeted dissemination

https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/publicationfiles/765-com-groups-early-threat-identification-notice/file

25/06/2025 – National Crime Agency Guidance for Professionals on AI Child Sexual Abuse Material (AI CSAM) shared with ES networks for local dissemination

ai-guidance-scotland-final.pdf

21/03/2025 – National Crime Agency Financially Motivated Sexual Extortion campaigninformation shared with ES networks for local dissemination

Education Scotland worked with the NCA to adapt a version of guidance for Scottish parents which was shared across networks for onward dissemination to schools.

Financially Motivated Sexual Extortion (FMSE): advice for parents and carers

06/11/2024 - Child Criminal Exploitation Training for Trainers (T4T) presentation delivered to Safeguarding in Education National Network

Presentation subsequently shared with attendees only to allow them to arrange their own local training.

Learning outcomes:
To have a better understanding of criminal exploitation.
To consider the signs and indicators of these types of behaviours.
To consider how to respond proportionately, effectively and confidently whilst also promoting safety and learning.
To consider how to record concerns accurately and use them to help prevent future harm.
To make sure harm prevention is promoted.

08/11/2024 - Scottish Government Practitioner Guidance – Criminal Exploitation shared with attendees at T4T Child Criminal Exploitation session

Criminal exploitation: practitioner guidance - gov.scot

28/11/2023 - Technology Assisted Harmful Sexual Behaviour Training for Trainers Presentation (T4T) delivered to Safeguarding in Education National Network

Presentation subsequently shared with attendees only to allow them to arrange their own local training.

The aim of the professional learning was to explore online problematic sexual behaviours, and ways that schools can respond to these behaviours within their current child wellbeing and protection processes.

Learning outcomes:

• To have a better understanding of young people's problematic online sexual behaviours.
• To consider the signs and indicators of these types of behaviours.
• To consider how to respond proportionately, effectively and confidently whilst also promoting safety and learning.
• To consider how to record concerns accurately and use them to help prevent future harm.

I trust this information is helpful.

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