Summary & aims

1. We have regard for the statutory guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) issued under Section 175 of the Education Act 2002, (as amended) the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014, the Non-Maintained Special Schools (England) Regulations 2015 and the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2022 (as amended). This policy has been developed in line with legal obligations, including, where applicable, the Human Rights Act 1998, the European Convention on Human Rights, the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, the Children and Social Work Act 2017, the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty. We will adhere to the statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 and Keeping Children Safe in Education 2021 (KCSIE). We will follow the DfE of What to do if you are Worried a Child is Being Abused - Advice for Practitioners, and have regard to Sexual violence and sexual harassment between children in schools and colleges (September 2021). We recognise the NSPCC website also provides us additional information on abuse and neglect and what to look out for.

2. We provide early years provision and adhere to the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage 2021 (EYFS).

3. All child protection matters will be dealt with in line with the arrangements of Telford and Wrekin Safeguarding Partnership (TWSP) and West Midlands Child Protection and Safeguarding Procedures or, if relevant, the safeguarding partnership area children reside in or are under the care of or with designated responsibility.

4. This policy replaces the previous policy of September 2023.

5. We have a duty of care to all pupils and their families and staff. The safety and protection of all children is of paramount importance to all those involved in education. The aim of this policy is to make all within our setting feel safe, promote their welfare and have clear roles and responsibilities in place for that to happen. We are committed to inter-agency working to keep children safe. All of our community believe that our setting should provide a caring, positive, safe and stimulating environment, which promotes the social, physical and moral development of the individual child.

6. The governing body will ensure that all staff have read at least part one of KCSIE (or annex A if appropriate) and those working with children will also read Annex B of KCSIE. All members of the governing body and the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and their deputies will read all parts of KCSIE, relevant parts of Working Together to Safeguard Children and Part three: safeguarding and welfare of the EYFS. We will maintain a record of this. We recognise that best practice would be for all staff to be acquainted with all parts of KCSIE. The governing body will ensure that mechanisms are in place to assist staff to understand and discharge their role and responsibilities as set out in Part one (or Annex A if appropriate) of KCSIE.

7. Our policy and all supplementary policies are procedures are published on our website for all to view.