Introduction
This policy is written in accordance with the statutory guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) and demonstrates Gramacri Limited’s commitment to promoting the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people participating in our lessons, clubs and educational activities.
This policy also aims to raise awareness of the responsibilities of adults working or volunteering with children and young people, including the importance of maintaining appropriate professional conduct at all times.
Gramacri Limited acknowledges its responsibility to respond appropriately to allegations, concerns, disclosures or suspicions of abuse and to work cooperatively with schools and relevant safeguarding agencies where appropriate.
Policy Statement
The policy and procedures are in place to help staff:
- promote safe and appropriate practice;
- reduce the risk of harm, abuse or inappropriate conduct;
- understand safeguarding responsibilities;
- know how to respond appropriately if a safeguarding concern arises.
These procedures will enable Gramacri Limited to:
- promote good practice and safer working procedures;
- support a safeguarding-aware culture across the organisation;
- ensure that safeguarding concerns, allegations or suspicions are responded to appropriately and proportionately.
Definitions
The policy and procedures relate to both the safeguarding of children and staff members.
Children
A child is defined in the Children Act 1989 as:
“Anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday even if they are living independently, are a member of the armed forces or are in hospital.”
Staff members
All staff of the Company, irrespective of seniority, tenure and working hours, including all employees, directors and officers, consultants and contractors, casual or agency staff, trainees, homeworkers, fixed-term staff and volunteers (“Staff”).
Related Policies
This policy should be read alongside the following Gramacri Limited policies:
- Staff Code of Conduct
- Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
- Equal Opportunities
- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
- Data Protection & Data Security
- Grievance Policy
- Health and Safety
- Anti-Slavery
- Ethical Sourcing Policy
Responsibilities
Gramacri Limited recognises the importance of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people participating in our services, as well as supporting staff in maintaining appropriate professional conduct at all times.
Safeguarding at Gramacri Limited is considered everyone’s responsibility. Gramacri Limited aims to promote a safe, respectful and supportive environment in which children and young people are listened to appropriately and staff understand their safeguarding duties and reporting responsibilities.
Gramacri Limited recognises the importance of safeguarding when using digital educational resources and online platforms. Our digital platform is used solely as a repository of teaching materials to support in-person lessons delivered within schools.
Gramacri Limited will work to:
a. take reasonable steps to promote and support the safety and welfare of children and young people participating in our services;
b. promote safeguarding awareness and safer working practices across the organisation;
c. provide information to help staff understand the different types of abuse and possible safeguarding indicators;
d. provide information and guidance to help staff understand how to raise safeguarding concerns appropriately;
e. provide information to ensure staff understand professional boundaries and the standard of behaviour expected when working with children and young people;
f. ensure that all staff are familiar with this policy and associated safeguarding procedures;
g. ensure that all staff are aware of their safeguarding responsibilities and know where to access additional safeguarding guidance;
h. ensure that employees and volunteers working directly with children are subject to appropriate safer recruitment procedures, including DBS checks and references where applicable;
i. undertake additional checks, including overseas criminal record checks where appropriate, where staff have lived or worked outside the UK;
j. provide safeguarding training, support and appropriate supervision for staff and volunteers;
k. maintain a Code of Conduct for staff and volunteers working with children and young people;
l. share safeguarding concerns with relevant agencies and school safeguarding teams where appropriate and necessary;
m. work cooperatively with schools to support a safe environment for children and young people and to follow relevant school safeguarding procedures communicated to staff;
n. ensure that the Senior Designated Person (SDP) of Gramacri Limited understands their responsibility to refer safeguarding concerns or allegations to the appropriate statutory agencies where necessary;
o. recognise that diversity, beliefs and values may influence the identification and response to safeguarding concerns;
p. respond appropriately and proportionately where safeguarding concerns, allegations or suspicions arise.
Responsibilities of Staff
All staff members are expected:
a. to follow this safeguarding policy and associated procedures at all times;
b. to participate in safeguarding training and maintain an appropriate working knowledge of safeguarding procedures relevant to their role;
c. to remain alert to possible signs or indicators of abuse or neglect;
d. to recognise key indicators of child abuse;
e. to know who the Designated Safeguarding Lead(s) (DSL) are within their allocated school(s);
f. if a child discloses information or if a safeguarding concern arises, to provide a written report to the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead and to the SDP of Gramacri Limited: Cristian Mattaliano. Where appropriate, the SDP may refer concerns to Social Care or other relevant agencies in accordance with safeguarding procedures;
g. not to promise confidentiality where a safeguarding referral may be required in order to protect a child’s welfare;
h. to maintain appropriate professional standards and conduct at all times in line with the Gramacri Limited Staff Code of Conduct.
All safeguarding allegations and incidents will be taken seriously and responded to appropriately and as promptly as reasonably practicable.
Recognising the Signs and Symptoms of Abuse
Gramacri Limited is committed to ensuring that managers, staff and volunteers receive safeguarding training appropriate to their role, including awareness of signs and indicators of abuse and neglect.
Abuse and neglect can take many forms and Gramacri Limited will consider the circumstances of each situation individually and appropriately.
Abuse in children includes:
Physical abuse
A form of abuse which may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child.
Emotional abuse
The persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and adverse effects on the child’s emotional development.
Sexual abuse
Involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening.
Neglect
The persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs likely to result in serious impairment of the child’s health or development.
Staff should also remain aware of other safeguarding concerns and risks including:
- child exploitation;
- cyberbullying and online abuse;
- criminal exploitation;
- County Lines;
- trafficking;
- modern slavery;
- domestic abuse;
- FGM;
- honour-based abuse;
- grooming;
- children missing education.
Abuse may occur through a single incident or repeated acts and may involve individuals from a range of backgrounds and positions of trust.
Responding to Safeguarding Concerns
Gramacri Limited recognises its responsibility to respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns, disclosures or suspicions of abuse or neglect.
Where concerns arise about the safety or welfare of a child, staff should:
a. reassure the child where appropriate;
b. listen carefully to what is being said;
c. record information as soon as reasonably possible;
d. remain calm and avoid showing shock or disbelief;
e. explain that concerns may need to be shared with appropriate safeguarding professionals;
f. avoid investigating, asking leading questions or making promises of secrecy;
g. explain, where appropriate, what will happen next.
If abuse is witnessed or immediate danger is suspected, priorities may include:
a. calling emergency services where required;
b. contacting the Police where a crime may have been committed;
c. preserving evidence where appropriate;
d. protecting the safety of those involved;
e. informing the school Designated Safeguarding Lead(s) and the SDP of Gramacri Limited.
Allegations Made Against a Member of Staff
Concerns or allegations relating to a member of staff may include situations where an individual has:
a. behaved in a way that has harmed or may have harmed a child;
b. possibly committed a criminal offence involving a child;
c. behaved towards a child in a way that suggests they may be unsuitable to work with children.
Where allegations are made against a member of Gramacri Limited staff:
- relevant witnesses may be asked to provide written reports;
- concerns may be referred by the SDP to the appropriate LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) or safeguarding agencies where required.
Where concerns relate to school staff or leadership, Gramacri Limited may report concerns to the appropriate safeguarding agencies, Social Care or OFSTED where appropriate.
Training
All staff and volunteers receive safeguarding training appropriate to their role. Safeguarding training will be refreshed periodically and additional safeguarding guidance may be provided where necessary.
Disseminating and Reviewing Policy and Procedures
This safeguarding policy and procedures will be communicated to staff and made available where appropriate.
Gramacri Limited will also take reasonable steps to ensure schools are aware of our safeguarding procedures by:
- making policies available where appropriate;
- discussing safeguarding arrangements during school onboarding or initial meetings;
- maintaining relevant safeguarding documentation.
This policy will be reviewed annually or earlier where required following legislative, operational or safeguarding developments.
Gramacri Ltd
info@gramacri.com
Date: 24/05/2026
Review date 24/05/2027
