Safeguarding information for families
Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.
At Co-op Academy Brierley, we work closely with families to keep children safe — and that means being open with you about what safeguarding involves, what we do, and what to expect if a concern is ever raised.
This page explains how we approach safeguarding and what it means for you and your child.
What does safeguarding mean?
Safeguarding is the action taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. In practice, this means:
- Protecting children from maltreatment — whether that happens at home, in school, in the community, or online
- Preventing harm to children's mental and physical health or development
- Making sure children grow up in circumstances that allow them to be safe and well cared for
- Taking action to give every child the best possible outcomes
Every member of staff at Co-op Academy Brierley has a responsibility to provide a safe environment in which your child can learn. Any member of staff who has a concern about a child's welfare will follow our child protection policy and raise it with the safeguarding team straight away.
Our Safeguarding Team
Every member of staff at Co-op Academy Brierley receives regular safeguarding training and is kept up to date with the latest guidance and procedures. All staff know what to do if they have a concern about a child — and any member of staff can be approached at any time.
We also have a dedicated safeguarding team, led by our Designated Safeguarding Lead Melanie Boffey, who are specifically trained in child protection and are responsible for managing any concerns that are raised.
What might a concern look like?
Our staff are trained to recognise when something might not be right. Children can be at risk of harm in many different ways — inside and outside school, and by people in their family, community, or peer group. Some of the things we look out for include:
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Abuse and neglect Physical, emotional or sexual abuse, or a child whose basic needs are not being met at home |
Domestic abuse A child living in a home where there is domestic abuse, which can affect their safety and wellbeing even when they are not directly harmed |
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Exploitation A child being exploited criminally or sexually — including being drawn into county lines, gangs, or sexual exploitation |
Online harm Bullying online, inappropriate contact with adults, or the sharing of harmful images |
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Peer-on-peer harm Bullying, harassment, or abuse between young people — including in relationships |
Radicalisation A child being drawn into extremist views or activity |
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Forced marriage or honour-based abuse A child being coerced into a marriage or facing abuse linked to perceived dishonour |
Changes in behaviour or attendance Unexplained absences, sudden changes in mood or behaviour, or a child who seems withdrawn or distressed |
What happens if a concern is raised?
If a member of staff has a concern about your child, or if a concern is raised by someone else, this is what happens:
- The concern is reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead or one of the Designated Safeguarding Deputies straight away
- The safeguarding team will assess the concern carefully and decide on the right course of action
- In most cases, we will speak with you as a parent or carer as part of this process
- Where necessary, we may need to involve external agencies — such as Children's Social Work Services — to make sure your child and your family gets the right support
- We will always act in the best interests of your child
We understand that being contacted about a safeguarding concern can feel worrying. Our aim is always to work with families, not against them. If you have any questions about how we handle concerns, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
Who to contact?
At Co-op Academy Brierley we want every child and family to feel confident reaching out for help. If you or your child has a concern, you can approach any member of staff — it doesn't matter who. A teacher, someone in the office, someone in the kitchen, a cleaner. Everyone knows what to do.
Further Support for families
These organisations can offer advice, guidance and support on a range of safeguarding topics:
- NSPCC - Advice and support on keeping children safe from abuse
- Parent Info - Practical guidance for parents on a wide range of topics including online safety, mental health and relationships
- CEOP- Report online child sexual abuse or exploitation directly to the police
- Thinkuknow - Online safety resources for children, young people and parents
- Childline - Free, confidential support for children and young people — 0800 1111, available 24 hours
- YoungMinds - Mental health support and advice for young people and their parents
- Rape Crisis - Support for anyone affected by sexual violence or abuse
- IWF Report Remove - Get harmful or intimate images of under-18s removed from the internet
- ACT Early - Share concerns about radicalisation or extremism
- We Stand - Support for children and families affected by child sexual abuse
- Refuge - support for women and children affected by domestic abuse