New guidance, cut to a tenth of its previous length, follows the coalition’s philosophy of reducing central prescription in favour of trusting decision-making to professionals in the front line. Ministers say they want to ‘create a culture that places trust in health professionals, teachers, early years professionals, youth workers, police and social workers, so they can get on with their vital work, without being hampered by unnecessary rules and targets’.

School governing bodies are among those with a duty to exercise their functions with a view to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children who are pupils, under Section 175 of the Education Act 2002.

Draft statutory guidance on what is expected of them in carrying out that duty is included in Working Together to Safeguard Children, one of three documents published for consultation. Responses can be made until September 4.

By David Gordon