Government cuts put children at greater risk, warns watchdog The changing guidance, legislation and inspection criteria have left some teachers confused about what to do for a child they are concerned about. This report and the accompanying practical tips for schools come at a time when local authorities and other support agencies are under financial pressure which is impacting on support services, and many families are facing greater challenges in the current economic climate. As a result, many schools are now dealing with the impact of these changes on children's lives and their increased need for support. It is the latest controversial intervention by the Children's Commissioner for England, who is married with two grown-up step-children but who has no children of her own. Dr Atkinson, a former council children's services chief who was appointed by Labour despite the objections of a cross-party group of MPs, claimed in 2010 that the killers of James Bulger should not have been tried in an adult court. She has also called on ministers to outlaw smacking and to ensure that children are only arrested or jailed as a "last resort." The latest report from her office, published on Tuesday, is aimed at spreading "best practice" about child protection among all primary schools. But it pointedly made reference to Government cuts and reforms, and warned they are making the situation worse. The study said schools had lost services to train and support pupils in looking after their peers, as a result of council cuts. "Cutbacks were having an impact on provision for vulnerable children through loss of services," school surveys found. Thresholds for some external agencies [to intervene in children's care] were much higher than schools would like, exacerbated by shrinking funds. Meanwhile the "pace of change" in the law and official guidance about safeguarding had left schools "finding it hard to keep up" and led to "uncertainty" in the workforce about important topics such as "vetting and barring procedures." To compensate, the Office of the Children's Commissioner commissioned the NSPCC, together with the consultants Youthworks, to study best practice in primary schools and look at how they work with external agencies. It recommended an culture led by senior teachers in which child protection was a priority, staff were approachable and pupils encouraged to come forward with any worries and in which all concerns were recorded. A Department for Education spokesman said: "We welcome today's report which shows excellent examples of safeguarding practice in our primary schools. No child should become victim to abuse or neglect and we all have a duty to keep them from harm. Schools have a vital role in keeping children safe and raising concerns with the right professionals as they arise. Teachers must stay ever vigilant in protecting pupils and spotting signs of problems at home. We are revising Working Together to Safeguard Children, and guidance to schools, so that professionals are clear about their responsibilities and what they need to do to keep children safe.