Title: ESGF Update for councillors

Date: 27^th October 2025

Author: Denise Kong, Chair of the East Sussex Governor Forum

Networking this term

The Chairs’ network was pleased to host one of the ESCC safeguarding team as a speaker. She gave a presentation on the safeguarding updates for the year, which had been given on two occasions earlier in the term specifically to safeguarding link governors. There was a lot of information to assimilate, such as updates to national guidance, which governors were asked to ensure that their schools were aware of. Being able to present to three different groups was a great opportunity, in light of the amount of information available.

Revised guidance, eg around paediatric first aid, seemed to be generally well covered by schools. However, there was further work to be done on other areas, such as ensuring that schools were supported in implementing anti-bullying policies, and this might be an area of work for the ESGF in the future.

Bringing together good practice - induction

ESGF led governor networking identified that there was work to be done around new governor induction. Members had talked with new governors who felt they were not receiving sufficient support from their boards.

ESGF governors wrote a set of slides to present at a discussion session aimed at clerks , chairs and governors. From the tips and questions shared at this session, a resource pack for governor induction has been produced, based on a standard checklist, but enhanced to include further good practice tips.

The session on induction followed on from the series of sessions on Belonging that were facilitated by the ESGF last year, in bringing governors together to share and record good practice.

Topics for discussion

These were suggested by governors: Continuing Professional Development on the new Relationships and Sex Education policy; Special Educational Needs and Disabilities; supporting schools with phone use and mental health issues related to digital life; issues and advice around gender questioning students; minimising EHEs as part of the safeguarding agenda