At Unique Academy, safeguarding our pupils is not only a legal obligation but a moral and spiritual responsibility. All staff, volunteers, and visitors are expected to uphold this commitment at all times.
All members of staff have a statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all pupils at all times.
Safeguarding means:
Some common themes in Safeguarding include the following: Neglect, Emotional Abuse, Physical Abuse, Children Missing from Education, Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE), Bullying including Cyberbullying, Domestic Violence, Drugs, Fabricated or Induced Illness, Faith Abuse, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Forced Marriage, Gangs and Youth Violence, Mental Health, Preventing Radicalisation, Sexting and Trafficking.
Safeguarding applies to all children and young people under the age of 18 and is the responsibility of all adults—especially those working or volunteering with children.
The school aims to help protect the children in its care by working consistently and appropriately with all relevant agencies to reduce risk and promote the welfare of children.
Child protection is a key part of safeguarding. It refers to the specific actions taken to protect children who are suffering—or are at risk of suffering—significant harm. It involves working closely with children, families, and external agencies to ensure their immediate and long-term safety.
Safeguarding encompasses more than just recognising and identifying children at risk from harm and taking action to prevent this.
At Unique Academy, safeguarding is embedded in every aspect of school life. We aim to reduce risk and promote the welfare of our pupils through:
Safer Recruitment – All staff and volunteers are thoroughly vetted to ensure they are safe and suitable to work with children.
Safer Premises – Our school environment is secure and child-friendly, with clear procedures for drop-off and collection.
Online Safety – We educate children and families on how to stay safe online, both in and out of school.
Risk Assessments – All school trips, including residential visits, are carefully risk assessed to ensure student safety.
Curriculum – Our broad and balanced curriculum includes PSHE and other learning opportunities that empower children to stay safe and make positive choices.
Attendance – We closely monitor attendance to ensure that no child goes missing from education.
Partnership Working – We work with a range of external agencies to share information and keep children safe.
The school adheres to the following three DfE safeguarding documents:
All staff receive annual Child Protection and Safeguarding update training and are aware of the procedures for passing on concerns within school.