At Bailey Street AP Academy, the health, safety and well-being of every child is our paramount concern. Our aim is for pupils to enjoy their time as pupils in the PRU. We want to work in partnership with parents/carers and mainstream schools to help our pupils to achieve their full potential and make a positive contribution.

To promote a safe environment for pupils, our selection and recruitment policy includes all checks on staff suitability, including checks with the Disclosure and Barring Services, as recommended by Staffordshire County Council in line with current legislation.

In accordance with our responsibilities under section 175/157 of the Education Act 2002, and “Keeping Children Safe in Education “ 2022, we have a Designated Safeguarding Lead and also a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead for Child Protection, who are members of the senior leadership team, and have received appropriate training for this role. It is their responsibility to ensure all staff in contact with children receive child protection awareness training on a regular basis. We believe safeguarding and promoting our pupils’ welfare is everyone’s responsibility, and we work together as a team to achieve this. Additionally, we always listen to our pupils and take what they tell us seriously.

There are occasions when concern about a child may mean that we have to consult other agencies. Whilst we would always aim to work in partnership with parents/carers, there may be exceptions to this when concerns are raised for the protection of a child.

On very rare occasions, Social Care, whilst undertaking an investigation under S47 of the Children Act 1989, may want to speak to a child without parents’ knowledge. This decision would be made by the police and social care; we are required to work collaboratively with partner agencies and would therefore cooperate with direction given. This would, however, always only be done in situations where a child might be at immediate risk of harm. To gain consent at this point may increase the level of risk to the child or cause evidence of a crime to be lost.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead is Julie Roberts (01785 556439) who is supported by the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead’s: Sonia Lockett (01785 556439) Scott Cooksey (01785 556439) Sam Royle (01785 556439) and Susan Phung (01785 556439).

If you have any serious concerns about your child or any other pupil at Bailey Street Academy, please do not hesitate to contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Deputy Safeguarding Lead who knows who to contact for the best advice and help, and is experienced in using the appropriate degree of confidentiality.