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Safeguarding policy

Policy statement  

Newcastle City Learning (NCL) is strongly committed to practices that protect children, young people and adults from abuse, neglect or significant harm. Staff recognise and accept their responsibility to develop the awareness of the risks and issues involved in safeguarding.  NCL also recognises that it has a responsibility to protect staff from unfounded allegations of abuse.  NCL is committed to working with existing local safeguarding boards and other health and social care partnerships to ensure the safeguarding of all its learners and staff.  

Definition  

This policy has been implemented to protect all children, young people and adults who attend provision at Newcastle City Learning. The Children Act (1989) defines a child as any person under the age of 18 years, or young learners with special education needs or disabilities (SEND) 

In relation to children and young people, The Education Act 2002 (Section 175) makes explicit the responsibility of governing bodies for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children as part of fulfilling their common law duty of care towards the child/young person for whom their organisation is responsible. In addition, arrangements must be made in accordance with any guidance issued by the Secretary of State. 

Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) is statutory guidance from the Department for Education issued under Section 175 of the Education Act (2002), the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations (2014) and the Non-Maintained Special Schools (England) Regulations (2015). Schools and colleges must have regard to it when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children/young people. This means that they should comply with it unless exceptional circumstances arise. KCSIE is updated annually.  This policy is in line with the September 2025 version and reflects the latest guidance on child-on-child abuse, online safety, and the role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead. 

KCSIE (2025) defines safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children/young people as: 

  • Protecting children from maltreatment, whether that is within or outside the home, including online. 
  • Preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development. 
  • Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care. 
  • Taking actions to enable all children to have the best outcomes. 
  • Providing help and support to meet the needs of children as soon as problems emerge. 
  • Protecting children from maltreatment, inside or outside the home, including online. 

Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND) 

Learners with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) or certain medical or physical health conditions can face additional safeguarding challenges both online and offline. Staff should note the additional barriers that can exist when recognising abuse and neglect for those with SEND.  

Children and Young People 

College staff are particularly important as they can identify concerns early, provide help for children/young people, promote welfare, and prevent concerns from escalating.  All staff have a responsibility to provide a safe environment in which learning can take place and be prepared to identify those who may benefit from early help.  Early help means providing support as soon as a problem emerges at any point in a child/young person’s life.  Any staff member who has any concerns about a child/young person’s welfare should follow the NCL Safeguarding Reporting Process. The Designated Safeguarding Lead will provide support to staff to carry out their safeguarding duties as they are most likely to have a complete safeguarding picture and be the most appropriate person to advise on the response to safeguarding concerns. The Teachers’ Standards 2012 states that teachers should safeguard children/young people’s wellbeing and maintain public trust in the teaching profession as part of their professional duties.  

Adults 

An adult is anyone 18+ years.  For adult learners, the policy and procedures have been developed in response to guidance issued on the protection of adults considered vulnerable and/or at risk in the DfES/NIACE publication “Safer Practice, Safer Learning “ (2007). The guidance applies to all education providers of post-16 learning and skills. 

The Care Act (2014) Section 14.2 states: The safeguarding duties apply to an adult who: has needs for care and support (whether the local authority is meeting any of those needs) and; is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect; and because of those care and support needs is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of abuse or neglect.  

Any Adult at Risk’ is used to describe a vulnerable adult, and being vulnerable is defined as in need of special care, support, or protection because of age, disability, risk of abuse or neglect.  

Please note that for funding purposes, an adult is a learner aged 19 or above at the point of enrolment. 

Responsibilities  

NCL has a trained Designated Safeguarding Lead from the senior management team who is responsible for all safeguarding matters within the service.  A Deputy Safeguarding Lead from the senior management team is also trained and covers in the absence of and supports the Designated Safeguarding Lead.  

The Designated Safeguarding Lead and nominated staff will meet regularly to discuss any areas of concern and identify actions to be taken.  Regular supervision sessions will be accessed by the DSL and deputy as and when required. 

Key legislation, guidance and strategies to underpin Safeguarding and Prevent  

The Children Act 1989 and amended 2004  

The Equality Act 2010  

Safeguarding and vulnerable groups act 2006, amended 2012 

Keeping Children Safe in Education, update 2025  

The Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 

The Prevent Duty Revised Prevent Duty Guidance, July 2015  

The Care Act 2014 

Continuous Professional Development and Training  

 NCL has a duty to promote safeguarding issues and measures to staff and ensure they:  

  • Receive initial training and regular safeguarding updates. Online training is available, and all new members of staff will undertake this within 4 weeks of joining the service as part of the induction process.   
  • Analyse their own practice against established good practice by ensuring that support plans and actions for individual learners are consistently applied and staff can identify risk to ensure their practice is likely to protect them from false allegations.   
  • Recognise their responsibilities and report any concerns about suspected poor practice or possible abuse to their Line Manager or the Designated Safeguarding Lead. 

Review Process 

NCL’s Safeguarding Policy is monitored and reviewed annually. The review process includes analysis of monitoring data, consultation with and feedback from learners, customers, staff and other stakeholders to determine the impact of the policy and any action required.  The Designated Safeguarding Lead meets regularly with appropriate bodies both internal and external to ensure that information is shared with appropriate and relevant stakeholders.  

Responsibility for safeguarding and child protection   

Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families, has a role to play in safeguarding children. In addition to the responsibilities that all NCL staff hold, the Senior Management Team (NCLMT) carry specific responsibilities in the management of safeguarding across NCL.   

Senior Management Team responsibilities  

   Senior Manager, Designated Safeguarding Leads and the Deputy Safeguarding Lead are responsible for:    

  • Making referrals to children’s and adult’s social care services and the Channel programme and supporting staff who report safeguarding concerns.   
  • Making referrals to the DBS and reporting crimes to the police.    
  • Ensuring records of concerns, discussions, decisions, and rationale for the decisions are appropriately and accurately recorded. 
  • Liaising with NCL’s staff on all matters of safeguarding and child protection.   
  • Liaising with staff on matters of safety and safeguarding and making the referral decisions by liaising with the relevant agencies.     
  • Providing support, advice and expertise to all staff. 
  • Being the point of contact with other specialist agencies in relation to safeguarding and child protection concerns.   
  • Safeguarding training at the appropriate level for their role. They must also understand the views of children and be able to hold and share information securely.  
  • PREVENT awareness training   
  • Updating their knowledge and skills at regular intervals to keep up do date with any relevant developments/legislative changes. 
  • Ensuring NCL’s Safeguarding policies are known, understood and used appropriately.  
  • Ensuring that parents/carers are aware of NCL’s Safeguarding Policy and its contents.   
  • Linking with the local safeguarding children and adult boards and making staff aware of training opportunities and local policy. 
  • Ensuring that during college hours a Designated Safeguarding Lead or the Deputy should always be available for staff to discuss any safeguarding concerns. If not available in person, they must be available by phone or via Teams at all times.   

  • At all times a NCL Duty Manager will be available as a first point of contact for all safeguarding needs. The Learner Services team will have information of who is duty manager each day.  

Further Information   

Expert and professional organisations are best placed to provide up-to-date guidance and practical support on specific safeguarding issues, e.g. NSPCC offers information for schools and colleges on the TES website and its own website www.nspcc.org.uk   Schools and colleges can also access broad government guidance on the issues listed below via the GOV.UK website:    
 
•    Bullying including cyberbullying  
•    Children missing education 
•    Child missing from home or care  
•    Child sexual exploitation (CSE)  
•    Domestic violence  
•    Drugs  
•    Fabricated or induced illness  
•    Faith abuse  
•    Female genital mutilation (FGM) 
•    Forced marriage 
•    Gangs and youth violence  
•    Gender-based violence/violence against women and girls (VAWG)  
•    Hate  
•    Mental health  
•    Missing children and adults strategy  
•    Private fostering  
•    Preventing radicalisation 
•    Relationship abuse  
•    Sexting  
•    Trafficking 

Harmful sexual behaviour in schools training (NSPCC Learning)

Appendix 1 - 

Safeguarding Children and Adults – A quick guide for staff 

It is important that learners are protected from abuse, neglect or significant harm.  It is the responsibility of all Newcastle City Learning (NCL) employees to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and adults participating on courses and/or any other activities within NCL.  Employees should report any allegations or concerns regarding the welfare of these groups using the appropriate procedure.   

What is abuse and when is a person at risk? 

  • Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm. 

  • Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional maltreatment so as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on their emotional development. 

  • Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, including prostitution, whether or not the child/young person is aware of what is happening. 

  • Neglect consisting of the persistent failure to meet a child’ or young person’s basic physical and/or psychological needs and is likely to result in the serious impairment of their health or development. 

  • Psychological abuse including emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, verbal abuse, isolation, or withdrawal of services or supportive networks. 

  • Discriminatory abuse including racist, sexist, religious abuse or abuse that is based on a person’s disability. 

  • Child on Child abuse including sexual violence and harassment.  Low-level concerns that do not meet the harm threshold must still be recorded and addressed.  A Risk Assessment for Child on Child (Peer-on-Peer) harmful sexual behaviours must be completed by the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Deputy Designated Lead for all concerns. 

  • Financial abuse includes fraud, exploitation, pressure in connection with wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits.  

What to do if: 

A young person or adult discloses abuse to you 

  • Take the disclosure seriously and never dismiss the allegation of abuse.   

  • Provide a quiet and supportive environment to help the person feel at ease. Remember that an allegation of abuse or neglect may lead to a criminal investigation and asking leading questions or attempting to investigate the allegations yourself may cause problems for any subsequent court proceedings. 

  • Do not make promises regarding confidentiality. Explain to the person at the outset that you will need to report the disclosure and share the information with the Designated Safeguarding Lead.  The Designated Safeguarding Lead will, if possible, respect the wishes of the individual; however, information will be shared with external agencies where it is judged that a person is at risk of suffering significant harm, or if a crime has been committed. 

  • Report the disclosure to the Designated or Deputy Safeguarding Lead or Curriculum Manager as soon as possible and within 24 hours.  The Designated or Deputy Safeguarding Lead will identify the appropriate next steps and keep in contact with you to ensure that our duty of care is fulfilled.  They will advise you on making an alert via our on-line reporting platform - Tootoot. 

What to do if: 

You are concerned that a young person or vulnerable adult may be at risk 

  • Contact your Designated Safeguarding Lead for advice and guidance 

  • Make and keep a record of your concerns and forward to the Designated Safeguarding Lead within 24 hours 

  • Discuss your concerns with the person if appropriate 

  • Contact the police if appropriate, and if the person is in immediate danger. 

  • The Designated Safeguarding Lead will advise you on making an alert through Tootoot and recording the details. 

What to do if: 

A young person or adult accuses you or another member of staff of abuse 

  • Contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead for advice and guidance 

  • Make and keep a record of the accusation and actions taken and forward to the Designated Safeguarding Lead within 24 hours 

Actions to be taken by the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or Deputy DSL when a safeguarding concern Is reported –  

(For children and young people this is aligned with KCSIE 2025 statutory requirements) 

When a safeguarding concern is raised for a child/young person, the Designated/Deputy Safeguarding Lead will undertake the following actions in line with the expectations set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025: 

Gather and assess information 

  • They will collect all relevant information relating to the concern to make an informed and timely assessment of risk. This includes reviewing any existing records and speaking with appropriate individuals 
  • This aligns with their duty to manage referrals, and when appropriate identify children who may need early help and ensure timely and appropriate decision‑making. 

Determine and make referrals where required 

  • If the concern meets the threshold for referral, the Designated/Deputy Safeguarding Lead will make a prompt referral to the appropriate internal or external agency (e.g., Childrens/Adults Social Care, police, health services). 
  • This reflects the requirement for them to refer cases of abuse or risk of harm to relevant agencies without delay 

Share information appropriately and lawfully 

  • Only information that is necessary, proportionate, relevant and accurate will be shared, and always on a strict need‑to‑know basis, in line with safeguarding legislation and data‑protection principles. 
  • This supports the Designated/Deputy Safeguarding Lead responsibility for information sharing and managing child protection files.  

Work with others 

  • The Designated/Deputy Safeguarding Lead will communicate and coordinate with external safeguarding partners and internal staff as required. 
  • KCSIE highlights that DSLs must work with others, including local authority safeguarding partners and key internal staff.  

Record‑keeping and monitoring 

  • The Designated/Deputy Safeguarding Lead will ensure accurate and contemporaneous updates are made on Tootoot throughout the process, including actions, advice received, outcomes and ongoing monitoring. 
  • As per KCSIE, the Designated/Deputy Safeguarding Lead is responsible for holding and sharing information effectively, ensuring high‑quality record‑keeping.  

Providing appropriate updates 

  • Where appropriate and without breaching confidentiality, the Designated Deputy Safeguarding Lead may provide limited updates to the individual who raised the concern. This aligns with the Designated/Deputy Safeguarding Lead role in providing support to staff and maintaining professional information boundaries.  

Resolution and closure of records 

  • Once the matter is resolved, the Designated/Deputy Safeguarding Lead will complete the formal incident log on Tootoot, ensuring the record is factual, clear and compliant with statutory expectations. This supports the requirement for managing and retaining accurate child protection records.    

Updated March 2026