Safeguarding
Co-op Academy New Islington is committed to safeguarding every student.
We acknowledge that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and ensure all our staff are trained to be vigilant and aware of the signs of abuse and understand and follow safe working practices.
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children encompasses the following activities:
- protecting children from maltreatment;
- preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development;
- ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care, and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.
We are committed to anti-discriminatory practice and recognise children’s diverse circumstances. We ensure that all children have the same protection, regardless of any barriers they may face.
Safeguarding covers a wide range of issues, including (but not limited to):
- Child abduction and community safety incidents
- Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) including County Lines
- Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
- Children and the court system
- Children missing from education (CME)
- Children with family members in prison
- Cybercrime
- Domestic abuse
- Homelessness
- Mental health
- Modern slavery
- Preventing radicalisation
- Sexual violence and sexual harassment between children in schools and colleges
- Serious Violence
- So-called ‘honour’-based abuse, including Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage
Key responsibilities
The school will follow the principles established by the Children Acts 1989 and 2004 and related guidance, in particular the DfE’s publication Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023 (KCSIE 2023).
The academy has appointed a member of the leadership team (Jenni Topham) as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). Additionally, the academy has appointed two Deputy DSLs (Tabitha Smith and Jen Morris) who will have delegated responsibilities and act in the DSLs absence. The DSL has overall responsibility for the day to day oversight of safeguarding and child protection systems in the academy.
All members of staff have a responsibility to understand, identify and act on safeguarding concerns, and will maintain an attitude of ‘it could happen here’. Staff are expected to be aware of and follow a standard approach if they are concerned about a child: Be Alert, Question Behaviours, and Ask For Help. In all cases staff are instructed to take concerns seriously and refer in the first instance to the DSL, who will explore matters on a case-by-case basis.
Parents and carers also have a responsibility to talk to their children about safeguarding issues, support the school in their safeguarding approaches and identify behaviours which could indicate that their child is at risk of harm, including online. Parents and carers should raise safeguarding concerns with the designated teacher in the first instance.
Child protection procedures
Co-op Academy New Islington adheres to The Manchester Safeguarding Partnership procedures, which can be found on the Manchester Safeguarding Partnership website: manchestersafeguardingpartnership.co.uk.
Confidentiality and Information Sharing
The Trust has a duty to share relevant child protection information with appropriate agencies, as per the statutory guidance outlined in KCSIE 2023. The Head Teacher or DSL will disclose information about a pupil to other professionals on a ‘need to know’ basis, and in line with Trust policy and data protection legislation.
Our Trust has appointed an appropriately trained Data Protection Officer (DPO) as required by the UK General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) to ensure that our school is compliant with all relevant confidentiality and information sharing requirements. The Data Protection Officer for The Co-op Academies Trust is Tammy Pyszky.
Co-op Academy New Islington has appointed a GDPR Ambassador who will liaise with the DPO as and when required. The GDPR Ambassador is Ashleigh Kenny.
For Subject Access Requests and Freedom of Information Requests, please contact:
Data Protection Officer for Co-op Academies Trust: Tammy Pyszky
Email: tammy.pyszky@coopacademies.co.uk
Staff recruitment, induction, awareness and training
The Academy Governing Council and leadership team are responsible for ensuring that the academy follows safe recruitment processes outlined within our Trust’s policy and guidance. All staff members (including agency and third-party staff) will receive appropriate child protection training to ensure they are aware of a range of safeguarding issues. This training will include online safety and will take place at least annually. In addition, all staff will receive regular safeguarding and child protection updates.
Concerns/allegations in relation to members of staff and volunteers, suppliers and contractors
Co-op Academy New Islington recognises that it is possible for any colleague, including Governors, academy and central staff, Trustees, contractors, agency and third-party staff (including supply teachers) and visitors to behave in a way that gives rise to concern. Concerns and/or allegations should be referred immediately to the Head Teacher. Not reporting concerns about the conduct of a colleague that could place a child at risk will be investigated under our Trust’s Disciplinary Procedure.
Curriculum and staying safe
Our curriculum provides opportunities for helping children develop awareness and understanding to ensure their own protection and that of others. In an age-appropriate way they will be taught about power, relationships and sex education, online safety, online bullying, sexting, child exploitation
(CSE/CCE), youth generated images, female genital mutilation (FGM), preventing radicalisation, child on child abuse, consent, online safety, anti-bullying, unhealthy and abusive family relationships.
Security
Appropriate checks will be undertaken in respect of visitors (including volunteers and contractors) coming into school as outlined within guidance. Visitors will be expected to sign in and out via the office visitors log and to display a visitor’s badge whilst on site.
This document is a condensed summary of the Co-op Academy New Islington Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy. The school’s full policy on safeguarding and child protection, which includes a list of independent organisations offering support, along with a form for reporting any child protection cause for concern, can be found here.