Applies to: Liberty in the Wild Ltd Alternative Provision and any future registered Independent Specialist School provision operated by the company .

Policy Owner: Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) 
DSL: Liz Crowford 
DSL: Kamilla Woodburn-Minott 
Proprietor: Liberty in the Wild Ltd (Directors) 

Review Frequency: Annual or sooner if statutory guidance changes 

This policy applies to all aspects of Liberty in the Wild including The Wilderness, The Woodland, The Wild Meadow, Wild at Home and any associated outreach or alternative provision services.

1. Aims

Liberty in the Wild aims to ensure that:

• appropriate action is taken in a timely manner to safeguard and promote children’s welfare
• all staff are aware of their statutory responsibilities with respect to safeguarding
• staff are continuously trained in recognising and reporting safeguarding concerns
• all safeguarding concerns are managed in a child-centred, trauma-informed and professional manner
• children and young people feel safe, heard and supported within the provision

2. Legislation and Statutory Guidance

This policy is based on the Department for Education’s statutory guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE)and Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023), alongside the Governance Handbook.

Liberty in the Wild complies with this guidance and the arrangements agreed and published by local safeguarding partners.

This policy is also based on the following legislation:

• Section 175 of the Education Act 2002
• The School Staffing (England) Regulations 2009
• Part 3 of the Schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014
• The Children Act 1989 and 2004
• The Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003
• The Serious Crime Act 2015
• The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
• The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
• The Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015
• UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018

The following safeguarding partners are identified within statutory guidance:

• the Local Authority
• the Integrated Care Board (ICB)
• the Chief Officer of Police

3. Definitions

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children means:

• protecting children from maltreatment
• preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development
• ensuring children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
• taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes

Child protection forms part of safeguarding and refers to activities undertaken to prevent children suffering, or being likely to suffer, significant harm.

Children includes everyone under the age of 18.

4. Equality Statement

Liberty in the Wild recognises that some children have an increased risk of abuse and additional barriers to recognising or disclosing concerns.

We are committed to anti-discriminatory practice and ensuring all children receive equal protection regardless of:

• SEND or disabilities
• mental health needs
• race or ethnicity
• religion or belief
• sexuality or gender identity
• family circumstances
• language barriers
• looked-after status
• social or economic disadvantage

We recognise that pupils with SEND, SEMH needs and communication differences may require additional safeguarding support and adapted approaches.

5. Roles and Responsibilities

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

This policy applies to all:

• staff
• volunteers
• contractors
• visitors
• Directors

5.1 All Staff

All staff will:

• read and understand Part 1 and Annex B of KCSIE
• receive safeguarding and online safety training
• understand Liberty in the Wild safeguarding systems and procedures
• know how to identify signs of abuse, neglect and exploitation
• understand early help processes
• know how to make referrals
• understand confidentiality expectations
• understand child-on-child abuse risks
• understand online safety and filtering expectations

All staff must maintain an attitude that:

“It could happen here.”

5.2 Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs)

At Liberty in the Wild, Mrs Liz Crowford and Mrs Kamilla Woodburn-Minott are the Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs).

Mrs Liz Crowford takes lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection across the provision.

During operational hours a DSL will always be available to staff.

The DSLs will be provided with:

• appropriate safeguarding training
• time and resources
• supervision and support
• opportunities for continual professional development

The DSLs will:

• manage safeguarding concerns and referrals
• liaise with external agencies
• oversee safeguarding records
• support staff
• manage early help processes
• oversee online safety and filtering arrangements
• support multi-agency safeguarding arrangements

5.3 Independent Safeguarding Consultant

An appropriately appointed independent safeguarding consultant or advisor will act as the case manager where allegations involve the Directors.

5.4 Directors

The Directors are responsible for:

• ensuring safeguarding systems are effective
• ensuring staff receive appropriate safeguarding training
• ensuring safeguarding policies are reviewed annually
• ensuring safer recruitment procedures are followed
• ensuring filtering and monitoring systems are effective
• ensuring safeguarding culture remains embedded across the provision

6. Confidentiality and Information Sharing

Liberty in the Wild recognises that timely information sharing is essential to safeguarding children.

Staff must understand that:

• fears about sharing information must not prevent safeguarding action
• UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 do not prevent safeguarding information sharing
• safeguarding concerns must never be kept secret
• children must never be promised confidentiality where safeguarding concerns exist

All safeguarding information will be handled securely and proportionately.

7. Recognising Abuse and Taking Action

All staff and volunteers must follow safeguarding procedures immediately where concerns arise.

7.1 Immediate Risk of Harm

If a child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm, or is in immediate danger:

• a referral must be made immediately to Children’s Social Care and/or the Police
• the DSL must be informed as soon as possible

Anyone can make a referral.

Liberty in the Wild will ensure referrals to Children’s Social Care are made without delay and, where appropriate, within one working day of concerns being identified.

7.2 If a Child Makes a Disclosure

Staff must:

• listen carefully
• remain calm
• avoid leading questions
• reassure the child
• explain next steps honestly
• record concerns accurately using the child’s own words
• report immediately to the DSL

Staff must never promise secrecy.

7.3 Early Help

Where concerns do not meet statutory thresholds but indicate unmet need, Liberty in the Wild will consider an Early Help response.

The DSL will oversee:

• Early Help Assessments
• multi-agency planning
• family support arrangements
• safeguarding monitoring

Children and families will be involved wherever appropriate.

7.4 Online Safety and Filtering

Liberty in the Wild recognises the importance of safeguarding children from harmful online content and inappropriate digital interactions.

We will:

• educate pupils about online safety
• maintain robust filtering and monitoring systems
• regularly review filtering arrangements
• provide online safety training to staff
• support parents and carers with online safety guidance

Liberty in the Wild recognises its responsibilities under the Department for Education filtering and monitoring standards.

Filtering and monitoring systems will be reviewed regularly by the Directors to ensure they remain appropriate and effective.

7.5 Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies

Liberty in the Wild recognises that emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), generative AI platforms and live-streaming applications, may present both educational opportunities and safeguarding risks.

Any use of AI within the provision will be appropriately risk assessed and monitored.

Staff and pupils must not use AI tools to:

• generate harmful or explicit material
• create misleading or abusive content
• engage in bullying or harassment
• share inappropriate images or information

The use of emerging technologies remains subject to safeguarding, online safety and acceptable use expectations.

7.6 Mental Health

Liberty in the Wild recognises that mental health concerns can be indicators of safeguarding issues including abuse, neglect or exploitation.

Staff will remain alert to:

• significant behaviour changes
• withdrawal
• self-harm indicators
• anxiety
• emotional dysregulation
• attendance concerns

Mental health concerns will always be considered alongside wider safeguarding risks.

8. Child-on-Child Abuse

Liberty in the Wild recognises that children can abuse other children.

Child-on-child abuse will never be dismissed as:

• banter
• part of growing up
• harmless behaviour

All allegations will be taken seriously and responded to promptly.

This includes:

• bullying
• cyberbullying
• sexual harassment
• sexual violence
• physical abuse
• emotional abuse
• sharing of nudes or semi-nudes
• exploitation
• initiation or hazing behaviour

Victims will always be supported and protected.

9. Online Safety and Mobile Technology

Liberty in the Wild recognises technology as a significant safeguarding consideration.

The provision aims to:

• educate pupils regarding safe technology use
• support positive online behaviour
• minimise online risks
• respond appropriately to incidents

The four categories of online risk are recognised as:

• content
• contact
• conduct
• commerce

Staff personal devices must never be used to photograph or record pupils.

10. Pupils with SEND or Health Needs

Liberty in the Wild recognises that pupils with SEND, SEMH needs or health conditions may face increased safeguarding risks.

Additional barriers may include:

• communication difficulties
• social vulnerability
• cognitive understanding
• increased risk of bullying or exploitation

Additional pastoral and emotional support will be provided where necessary.

11. Multi-Agency Working

Liberty in the Wild recognises the importance of effective multi-agency safeguarding arrangements.

We will work collaboratively with:

• schools
• local authorities
• Children’s Social Care
• CAMHS
• police
• health professionals
• therapeutic services
• safeguarding partners

Where a pupil has been referred by a school or local authority, the referring SENCO and/or DSL may be involved in safeguarding processes where appropriate and lawful to do so.

This supports continuity, consistency and joined-up safeguarding practice.

12. Record Keeping

All safeguarding concerns, discussions, decisions and actions will be recorded accurately and securely using Safeguard My School, Liberty in the Wild’s safeguarding recording and monitoring system.

Records will include:

• a clear summary of concerns
• actions taken
• outcomes and decisions
• rationale for decisions

Safeguarding records will be:

• confidential
• securely stored
• shared appropriately
• transferred securely when pupils move provisions

Good record keeping is essential safeguarding practice.

13. Training

All staff will receive safeguarding training:

• during induction
• annually
• through updates and briefings
• relating to online safety and Prevent

All staff will receive Prevent awareness training in line with statutory duties.

DSLs will undertake advanced safeguarding training at least every two years and update knowledge regularly.

At least one member of every interview panel will hold safer recruitment training.

14. Safer Recruitment

Liberty in the Wild is committed to safer recruitment practices.

We will:

• complete enhanced DBS checks
• undertake barred list checks
• verify identity and qualifications
• complete right to work checks
• undertake overseas checks where appropriate
• maintain a Single Central Record (SCR)

No unchecked adult will work unsupervised with pupils.

15. Allegations Against Staff

All allegations against staff, volunteers or contractors will be taken seriously and managed fairly, consistently and promptly.

Liberty in the Wild will:

• work with the LADO where appropriate
• safeguard children throughout investigations
• support staff involved
• maintain confidentiality appropriately
• record all outcomes securely

Low-level concerns will also be recorded and monitored appropriately.

16. Monitoring and Review

This policy will be reviewed annually by the Directors or sooner where:

• legislation changes
• safeguarding guidance changes
• local safeguarding arrangements change
• incidents or learning reviews identify amendments are required