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Overview

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The purpose of this policy is to set out the TopMarks Tuition Cambridge Ltd’s (TopMarks) approach to safeguarding children and adults at risk or vulnerable adults. It applies to everyone working and volunteering for TopMarks or acting on our behalf and provides the framework to help us safeguard children with commitment and confidence.

 

Our approach to safeguarding

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Our approach to safeguarding is driven by a number of principles which are informed by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, relevant legislation and guidance, and by our values and understanding of best practice.

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• Principle 1 All children have a right to protection from harm and abuse, regardless of age, ability, gender, racial heritage, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, identity or additional vulnerabilities.

• Principle 2 The best interests of the child are paramount in all considerations about their welfare and protection, including when to maintain confidentiality and when to share information about them.

• Principle 3 Children have a right to participate in decisions about their lives. Their views, wishes, feelings and experiences are evident in our work with them.

•  Principle 4 Concerns or allegations that our staff or volunteers have abused or neglected a child or adult will be managed sensitively and fairly in accordance with these policies, relevant legislation and local procedures.

• Principle 5 Working together with children, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential to promoting children’s welfare/wellbeing and ensuring their protection. In some limited circumstances, it will not be appropriate to engage with parents and carers to protect the child.

• Principle 6 As part of working together we expect professionals to act on our concerns, and we will escalate our concerns in our efforts to be satisfied that the child has been protected, taking a stand in cases where we consider the protection of the child has not been taken seriously either within TopMarks or by those investigating child protection.

 

Definitions:

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Safeguarding children: This is the action we take to promote the welfare (or wellbeing) of children and protect them from harm. Child protection is part of the safeguarding continuum and focusses on the activity that is undertaken to protect individual children identified as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm.

Child: This policy is in respect of all children. A child includes babies, children and young people from pre-birth up to 18 years.

An adult at risk is ‘any person who is aged 18 years or over and at risk of abuse or neglect because of their needs for care and support’ (Care Act 2014 [England]).

 

 

We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:

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• valuing them, listening to and respecting them.

• adopting child protection practices through procedures and a code of conduct for staff and volunteers. 

• developing and implementing an effective e-safety policy and related procedures. 

• providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support and training. 

• recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made. 

• sharing information about child protection and good practice with children, parents, staff and volunteers.

• sharing concerns with agencies who need to know and involving parents and children appropriately.

• ensure that confidential, detailed and accurate records of all safeguarding concerns are maintained and securely stored.

 

Contact details

 

Nominated child protection lead Name: Phone/email: Mrs Tai Aina - tai.aina@topmarks-tuition.com

 

Deputy child protection lead(s) Name: Phone/email: Mr Sam Aina – admin@topmarks-tuition.com

 

 

This policy was last reviewed on/ in: …January 2022…

 

Signed: ……T. Aina...

 

Date: ……...14/01/22…