PARENT/CARER FRIENDLY SAFEGUARDING POLICY

CO-OP ACADEMY BEBINGTON

2025-2026

Version Number: 03

Date: September 2025

Review Date: September 2026

Co-op Academy Bebington

Parent Friendly Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy 25/26

Initial Child Protection Conferences Reviews Child Protection and Child in Need

The Safeguarding Team will attend Child Protection Conferences, reviews, Core Group (Child Protection) and Child in Need meetings and provide information about children/families that will inform plans.This information will be shared with all parents / carers and professionals who attend the meetings. Confidential child protection records will be kept separately from a young person’s academic records.

Confidentiality

Information and records about young people who are subject to Child Protection Child in Need or Early Help Plans will be shared to staff and professionals who attend meetings. All professionals are designated for safeguarding and child protection and information will be kept strictly confidential. School information will be kept on the CPOMS system. CPOMS is the system used in School to record safeguarding concerns, meetings and actions. CPOMS is only accessed by designated staff for safeguarding and child protection although all staff can report concerns which go directly to the Safeguarding Team to action.

The Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

A full copy of Co-op Academy Bebington’s Safeguarding Policy is available on the website. Please visit our website for further safeguarding information agencies and links. https://bebington.coopacademies.co.uk

Overview

This policy reflects the values and philosophy of Co-op Academy Bebington in relation to safeguarding. We believe that all young people should remain safe and free from harm. As such we are committed to playing a full and active part in the multi-agency response to child protection concerns. Additionally, we as an Academy have a legal duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of young people and to have a safeguarding policy.

Staff at Co-op Academy Bebington have day to day contact with young people and some direct work with families, which means that we have a crucial role to play in noticing signs of possible neglect and abuse.

Parents / carers need to be aware that if it appears to a member of staff that a young person may be at risk of or are suffering harm the Academy is required as part of the local safeguarding procedures to report the concern to Integrated Front Door or Social Care immediately. Parents / Carers may be informed that school is contacting IFD if deemed safe to do so.

Principles

• Young people have a right to be safe to be safe, to be listened to, valued and respected
• Parents and carers to be informed of any concerns regarding their child if sharing this information does not present any safeguarding risk
• Young people are best protected when parents / carers and the Academy work together
• All staff and volunteers are given appropriate training and support
• All staff and volunteers are subject to rigorous recruitment checks

Principles in Practice

        In order to ensure young people are effectively protected we ensure that: -

• The Academy has a Designated Safeguarding Lead, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and a nominated safeguarding trustee. Their training is updated regularly to ensure that they are fully aware of all current safeguarding procedures
• All staff are trained in safeguarding and child protection awareness throughout the academic year via inset and they also receive annual updates, as per policy and guidelines
• Relevant safeguarding information e.g. policy updates is shared in staff briefings
• Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy Safeguarding Lead receive safeguarding supervisions.
• A parent / carer friendly and student friendly safeguarding leaflet policy are provided for young people and their families
• The Safeguarding Policy is available on the Academy website
• The Safeguarding Policy is reviewed annually by the Designated Safeguarding Lead and central safeguarding team
• The Designated Safeguarding Lead oversees the matters pertaining to the Safeguarding Policy and practice within the Academy
• Parents /Carers will be informed of any concerns about their child (providing it does not compromise the child’s safety) and support will be offered if necessary.

Prevention

• The Academy will take positive action to prevent young people from suffering abuse and neglect through the development of an open culture that informs young people of their rights and encourage them to speak about any concerns
• Young people will learn about keeping themselves safe via the Academy’s PHSCE Policy
• The Safeguarding Team will consult with other agencies when there are concerns that a young person may be at risk of /is being/ has been abused or neglected

Child on Child Abuse

This form of abuse is when there is any kind of physical, sexual, emotional, financial abuse or coercive control exercised between children / young people both on and offline.

Physical and emotional abuse of children by other children will be dealt with through the Academy’s Climate for Learning Policy. The other forms of Child on Child abuse will be dealt with in line with the Safeguarding Policy and may involve external agencies such as Social Care and the police. Incidents of this nature will be recorded on CPOMS.