Infopath Academy is committed to providing a safe, caring, respectful, and protective environment for every child.
This Child Safeguarding and Protection Policy explains how the school works to protect learners from harm, abuse, neglect, bullying, harassment, unsafe behaviour, and any situation that may threaten their wellbeing.
Purpose of the Policy
The purpose of this policy is to ensure that every learner at Infopath Academy is treated with dignity, care, respect, and protection.
The school recognises that children learn best when they feel safe, valued, listened to, and supported. Safeguarding is therefore a shared responsibility of school leaders, teachers, staff, parents, guardians, visitors, and the wider school community.
Scope of the Policy
This policy applies to:
- Students
- Teachers
- Administrative staff
- Support staff
- School leaders
- Parents and guardians
- Volunteers
- Visitors
- Vendors or service providers
- Any person involved in school activities
It applies within the school premises, during school trips, online learning, school events, transport arrangements where applicable, and any official school-related activity.
Safeguarding Commitment
Infopath Academy is committed to:
- Protecting children from abuse, neglect, bullying, harassment, and exploitation
- Providing a safe and child-friendly learning environment
- Responding promptly to safeguarding concerns
- Encouraging children to speak up when they feel unsafe
- Treating every child with respect and dignity
- Promoting positive behaviour and safe relationships
- Training staff to understand their safeguarding responsibilities
- Working with parents and guardians to support child wellbeing
Meaning of Safeguarding
Safeguarding means taking reasonable steps to protect children from harm and promote their welfare.
This includes protecting children from:
- Physical harm
- Emotional harm
- Neglect
- Bullying
- Harassment
- Unsafe discipline
- Inappropriate contact
- Discrimination
- Cyberbullying
- Exploitation
- Any behaviour that may threaten a child’s safety or wellbeing
Staff Responsibility
All staff of Infopath Academy are expected to act professionally and responsibly around children.
Staff must:
- Treat students with respect
- Avoid harsh, humiliating, or unsafe treatment
- Report safeguarding concerns promptly
- Maintain appropriate professional boundaries
- Supervise students properly
- Respond to bullying or unsafe conduct
- Protect student confidentiality where appropriate
- Follow school procedures for handling concerns
- Staff must not engage in behaviour that puts a child at risk.
Student Safety
Students are encouraged to report any situation that makes them feel unsafe, uncomfortable, threatened, or harmed.
Students may report concerns to:
- A trusted teacher
- Class teacher
- School counsellor
- Principal
- Vice Principal
- Administrative staff
- Parent or guardian
- Any responsible adult in the school
No child should be punished for reporting a genuine concern.
Bullying and Harassment
Infopath Academy does not tolerate bullying, harassment, intimidation, threats, or humiliation.
Reports of bullying will be taken seriously and handled with care. The school will investigate concerns and take appropriate action to protect affected students and correct harmful behaviour.
Visitor and Access Control
All visitors to the school are expected to follow school security and visitor procedures.
Visitors may be required to report at the gate or reception, state their purpose, sign in, wear a visitor tag where applicable, and be directed to the appropriate office.
Visitors are not allowed to move freely around student areas without permission.
Photography and Media Use
Student photographs, videos, or media content should be used responsibly and only for approved school purposes.
The school will take reasonable steps to ensure that media use does not expose students to harm, embarrassment, or misuse.
Parents may be required to give consent for student photographs or videos to be used for school website, gallery, newsletter, or official communication.
Confidentiality
Safeguarding information must be handled carefully and confidentially. Information should only be shared with people who need it for the safety and protection of the child.
Reporting Concerns
Any safeguarding concern should be reported promptly to the school leadership or designated safeguarding contact.
Concerns may include signs of abuse, neglect, bullying, unsafe behaviour, emotional distress, repeated unexplained absence, or any situation that may affect a child’s safety.
School Response
When a safeguarding concern is reported, the school may:
- Listen carefully to the concern
- Record the information appropriately
- Protect the child from immediate risk
- Speak with relevant staff where necessary
- Contact parents or guardians where appropriate
- Investigate the issue sensitively
- Take corrective or protective action
- Refer serious matters to appropriate authorities where required
Parent and Guardian Responsibility
Parents and guardians are expected to support child safeguarding by:
- Providing accurate emergency contact information
- Informing the school of health or welfare concerns
- Reporting safety concerns promptly
- Encouraging children to speak up
- Supporting positive behaviour at home
- Cooperating with school safeguarding procedures
Safe School Environment
Infopath Academy will continue to maintain a school environment that supports safety, dignity, respect, discipline, care, and responsible supervision.
Policy Review
This policy may be reviewed periodically to strengthen child safety, protection, and wellbeing at Infopath Academy.