Safeguarding Quality Assurance Framework – 2023
Creative Education Trust believes that a child or young person should never experience abuse of any kind. We are responsible for promoting all children and young people’s welfare and keeping them safe. We are committed to practising in a way that protects them.
In this video, Director of Safeguarding Louis Donald talks about the 2023 Safeguarding Quality Assurance Cycle:
You can download the new Safeguarding Quality Assurance framework here:
The purpose of this policy is to outline a framework that fosters a culture and environment where children learning in our academies are kept safe.
Prior to the visit
Academies will be asked to complete the annual behaviour and safety survey.
The link for which can be found here: Behaviour and Safety Survey (1 group per year group)
Academies will be required to complete the Behaviour and Safety survey at least one week prior to the annual visit. The survey results will help to focus aspects of the on-site visit work, including the nature of questions that are asked to pupils and others. If leaders have not ensured that the survey is completed in time, the academy’s provision will be graded as red, until such time that survey completion enables a full assurance visit to take place.
At the start of a visit
In addition to providing access to the Single Central Register, leaders must have ready 3 specific safeguarding documents.
- records and analysis of sexual harassment and/or sexual violence
- a list of any referrals made to the designated person for safeguarding in the school and those that were subsequently referred to the local authority, along with brief details of the resolution
- a list of all pupils who have open cases with children’s services or social care and all pupils who have a multi-agency plan
You can download the templates here:
During the visit, the reviewer(s) will record an evidence base in relation to each focus area. At the end of the day, the reviewer(s) will agree on a range of statements in each focus area and decide whether or not the respective arrangements and practices are effective.
| A ‘green’ academy would be one in which no deficiencies in safeguarding practice or culture are evident, and all statutory requirements are met. There may, in addition, be one or more aspects of practice that are exemplary and worthy of sharing. |
| An ‘amber’ academy would be one in which weaknesses in some aspects of safeguarding practice or culture exist but are amenable to rapid improvement and where statutory requirements are met in full. |
| An academy designated as ‘red’ would be one in which arrangements for safeguarding pupils do not meet statutory requirements or give serious cause for concern, meaning that pupils feel unsafe and/or are experiencing harm or are at risk of harm. |
Useful tools for Quality Assurance
