SENse Learning - Safeguarding Policy (shortened)

This Safeguarding Policy is made accessible to all Parents, Students, Local Authorities, Schools and SENse Learning associates. Person responsible for ensuring that these policies are implemented and reviewed in line with the review dates: Sophie Amos, Operational Director

Policy reviewed:

September 2025

Next Review date

September 2026

Introduction & Purpose

This is the shortened Safeguarding and Prevent Policy for SENse Learning. The full policy can be found as a separate document. The policy is followed by all members of the organisation and promoted by those in the position of leadership within the organisation. SENse Learning recognises that it has an explicit duty to safeguard and protect children, young people and adults at risk from abuse as defined in the Children’s Act 2004, section 175 of the Education Act 2002, Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023, Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025 (DfE) and the Prevent Duty as outlined in the Counter- Terrorism and Security Act 2015.

SENse Learning knows that being a young person makes them vulnerable to abuse by adults. The purpose of this policy is to make sure that the actions of any adult in the context of the work carried out by the organisation are transparent and safeguard and promote the welfare of all young people.

Safeguarding looks at preventative action and covers the full range of measures in place to protect children, young people and adults at risk from potential dangers, including the safer recruitment of staff, and is therefore a preventative approach.

The term ‘safeguarding’ is defined by the Children’s Act 1989 and The third Joint Chief

Inspectors Report on Arrangements to Safeguard Children (2008) as:

'The process of protecting children from abuse or neglect, preventing impairment of their health and development, and ensuring they are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care that enables children to have optimum life chances and enter adulthood successfully.'

Everyone at SENse Learning, whether head office staff or associates, have an awareness of safeguarding issues through regular training and briefings, some of which are listed below.

We enable our associates to be aware that these behaviours put children in danger. All associates are aware of the principle Designated Safeguarding Lead, Jenni Griffiths, who is the expert within our organisation and is there to support head office and associates.

Roles and Responsibilities

Safeguarding Leads

Pathway Leads

  • Jacqueline Lawrence (Reintegration Lead),

  • Kathryn Burgon-Watson (EOTAS and Complex Needs Lead),

  • Fiona Jordan (Vocational and Independence Lead)

  • Michelle Batchelor (Assessment Lead)

The prevent lead for SENse Learning is Jenni Griffiths, Pastoral Manager.

Procedures

  • All staff and associates have annual safeguarding training, online safety, and prevent training. All DSL’s also update their Prevent and radicalisation training annually. Training also includes understanding risks and how to respond to harms outside the home.

  • Associates and staff know it's their responsibility to report and record and have clear guidelines around how to do this. They are reminded of their responsibilities and the processes at every INSET day. Reporting of safeguarding concerns is done via the students home page on Learn Trek. This concern will be sent automatically to the DSL’s who will respond. If an associate believes a child or young person is in need of immediate help or protection they should contact emergency services and also phone through to a DSL.

  • The DSL's have undergone the correct training and know the procedures for reporting a concern. They are aware of the different local authority threshold documents.

  • Associates are all made aware of their responsibility to report any concerns around the practice of a professional and how to do this. We have a low level concerns and whistleblowing policy that all associates are required to follow. The organisation knows it is their responsibility to keep all children and young people safeguarded and knows their duty in reporting a concern to the relevant bodies.

  • SENse Learning has a Safer Recruitment policy which covers in detail the actions that we take. As of 2023 all employees of SENse Learning that are undertaking interviews will have completed Safer Recruitment training.

  • The safeguarding policy covers our procedures around students missing from sessions and what actions should be taken. SENse Learning are committed to improving attendance and work in conjunction with parents/carers, students, on roll schools and local authorities to ensure we are following the Working Together to improve school attendance 2024 guidance.

  • SENse Learning associates are all provided with a policy and procedure around lone working and are expected to follow this to keep themselves safe whilst working.