AYA College recognises that all staff and Governors have a full and active part to play in protecting our pupils from harm and that the welfare of our students is our primary concern.

We listen to any concerns or worries our students have and act accordingly to support them and make sure they are well cared for. Our links to outside agencies, and our safeguarding team’s commitment to our pupils’ welfare, provide the extra layer of protection some children require.

Our safeguarding team all have regular external training to allow them to do their job with skill, knowledge and confidence. All staff working in the school have safeguarding training annually. This covers general safeguarding requirements, a deeper focus on a topic that is relevant at the time and a section on the Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance and Child Safeguarding Policy. This gives all the staff the confidence they need to notice potential problems and raise any concerns in a timely and appropriate way.

We believe it is important to work in partnership with parents, carers and outside agencies to help our pupils achieve their full potential. There are occasions when our concern about a child may mean that we have to consult other agencies.  Whilst we would always aim to work in partnership with parents, there may be exceptions to this when concerns are raised for the protection of a child.

To promote a safe environment for pupils, our recruitment policy includes all checks on staff and regular volunteers’ suitability, including Criminal Records Bureau checks in accordance with current legislation.

Our Child on Child Abuse Policy (including sexual violence and sexual harassment between children) can be found in the downloadable section. Copies of all policies are also available from the school upon request.

Every single person who comes into contact with children and families has a role to play. The links provided below are useful resources and support from the Croydon Local Authority: