Purpose
To safeguard and promote the welfare of every child and young person at Evolution Education. Safeguarding is a fundamental responsibility of all adults and is central to our culture, daily practice and decision-making.
Scope
This policy applies to all staff, volunteers, contractors, visitors and partner organisations, and to all students attending Evolution Education (including KS3, KS4, Flexi Learning, virtual or remote learning and off-site activities).
Definitions
- DSL: Designated Safeguarding Lead with lead responsibility for safeguarding.
- DDSL: Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.
- Parent school: the referring school with which a student remains dual-rolled.
- Concern: any information that a child may be at risk of harm or may have been harmed, including contextual and community-based risks.
Responsibilities
- The Designated Safeguarding Lead is Eugene Dwaah, Chief Executive Officer.
- Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads are Lloyd Dwaah and Sacha Akinyemi. Centre-specific contact arrangements are kept current in the centre safeguarding annex.
- Evolution Education is responsible for identifying and responding to concerns, recording and reviewing concerns, risk management, liaison with families, communication with parent schools and the local authority, and implementing safeguarding decisions.
- For dual-rolled students, the parent school retains statutory safeguarding oversight, attendance monitoring, SEND and EHCP compliance, and placement decisions.
- Where applicable, Mayesbrook Park School provides governance oversight for KS4 Alternative Provision placements. Local Authority quality assurance also applies.
Procedures
Responding to a disclosure
Staff listen calmly and without judgement, reassure the child without promising confidentiality, record the concern accurately and promptly, and inform the DSL or a DDSL immediately.
Reporting a concern
All safeguarding concerns are logged on the provision's safeguarding and information systems (including Bromcom). The DSL or DDSL reviews concerns the same working day. Parent schools are informed the same day. Immediate escalation occurs where risk is significant.
Escalation and referral
The DSL escalates concerns to the parent school DSL. The parent school DSL determines referral to MASH or equivalent. Evolution Education cooperates fully with investigations and multi-agency processes.
Safer recruitment and training
Safer recruitment follows KCSIE requirements, including enhanced DBS with barred list checks, identity and right-to-work checks, references, and maintenance of the Single Central Record. All staff receive safeguarding induction, annual KCSIE updates, Prevent training and online safety training.
Site safety and communicating risk
Students are informed of expectations and relevant risks through induction, verbal briefings, clear explanations before activities, signage and mentoring. Fire safety and evacuation routes are explained at induction and reinforced.
Online safety, SEND and multi-agency working
Online activity is supervised, mobile phones are restricted in line with policy, and online incidents are logged and escalated. Safeguarding practice makes reasonable adjustments for SEND and emotional wellbeing needs. Evolution Education works with parent schools, Mayesbrook Park School, local authority safeguarding teams, CAMHS, Early Help, social care and the police as required.
Complaints and safeguarding
Safeguarding concerns are not managed through the complaints process. Immediate concerns must be reported directly to the DSL.
Monitoring
This policy is reviewed annually, audited through governance and local authority oversight, and reviewed following safeguarding incidents or changes in statutory guidance. Last reviewed: January 2026.
Review Cycle
This policy is reviewed at least annually, or sooner following changes in legislation, statutory guidance, or significant incidents. Next formal review: January 2027. Approved by the Proprietor / Leadership Team.
Related Policies
Child Protection and Safeguarding; Behaviour for Learning; Attendance; SEND; Complaints; Equality, Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination; Prevent; Online Safety; Safer Recruitment; Staff Code of Conduct; Low-Level Concerns; Whistleblowing; Health and Safety; First Aid; Data Protection; Curriculum; Admissions; Searching and Screening; Adaptive Teaching.
Legislation and guidance
This policy aligns with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2025, Working Together to Safeguard Children (2024), Ofsted Alternative Provision inspection expectations, DfE Alternative Provision guidance, the Education Act 2002 (Section 175), the Equality Act 2010, and related statutory frameworks.