Home - School Agreement

Date of issue: September 2024

Date of review: September 2025

Ratified by Academy Governing Council on:

Co-op Academy Oakwood is committed to safeguarding every student. We acknowledge that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and ensure all of our staff are trained to be vigilant and aware of the signs and indicators of abuse and understand and follow safe working practices.

The viewpoints and voice of students is of paramount importance to our Academy and we will always listen to their wishes, thoughts and feelings, as well as identifying and supporting their needs. We will work alongside students to develop trusting, consistent and professional relationships and show we care by advocating the early help processes where possible. We will identify any difficulties or concerns early in order to act preventatively. We will always provide support and advice for families and parents/carers, whilst acting in the best interests of the student at all times and doing what matters most. Safeguarding also includes ensuring we work in an open and honest way, enabling our students to feel safe by providing a secure learning environment, are equally protected regardless of any barriers they may face and are able to grow and develop in the same way as their peers.

Co-op Academy Oakwood safeguards students by:

• Maintaining a secure site and ensuring that all visitors to the Academy are recorded, monitored and clear about how to raise a safeguarding concern should one arise.
• Ensuring that safer recruitment practices are followed to prevent those who pose a risk to children gaining access to our students.
• Filtering and monitoring all internet traffic into the Academy to ensure that students cannot be exposed to harmful material and communication.
• Ensuring that all staff employed by the Academy have received Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance which is recorded in the Single Central Record
• Providing regular training and briefings for all staff in child protection and ensuring that all staff and visitors know who our designated safeguarding officers and designated senior lead are.
• Ensuring that admission and attendance procedures are robust to protect students, ensure that they are safe and prevent students from going missing from education.
• Empowering young people to identify risks both within the Academy and in their community; ensuring that they have the skills and confidence to help and protect themselves and others.
• Making sure that all students understand the importance of reporting concerns about themselves and peers and giving them the confidence to discuss sensitive issues.
• Providing pastoral and inclusion support to ensure that all students have access to guidance and advice, and when needed referrals for additional agency support to meet their needs.
• Sharing information when appropriate with other agencies and services to ensure that students, children and their families have support to meet their needs and prevent students from harm or further harm
• Taking immediate action and contacting the appropriate agencies when we believe that a student is in danger or is at risk of harm.

Co-op Academy Oakwood is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all of our pupils. We expect our staff, governors, wider professionals, volunteers and all other stakeholders to share this commitment. All of our policies are underpinned and linked to our safeguarding policy through this commitment.

Vision and Values 

At Co-op Academy Oakwood we encourage everyone to follow the 6 Rs and the ‘Ways of Being Co-op’ within a safe environment where education can prepare all children to be ready for life.

The Staff and governors atCo-op Academy Oakwood will:

● Nurture all children in a safe and stimulating environment

● Provide for them a style of education that inspires the will to learn

● Prepare them for making wise choices throughout their lives

● Enable them to face their lives with courage and compassion

The Staff and governors at Co-op Academy Oakwood believe:

● Each human being is special, gifted and unique

● We should value others for who they are – not just for what they do

● We should balance high self-esteem with respect for others

● Good relationships are fundamental for both our own individual good and for the good of the community as a whole

The Staff and governors at Co-op Academy Oakwood provide:

● Structured learning that provides children with a wide range of skills

● A wide-ranging rich curriculum

● Frequent opportunities for all children to express themselves creatively

● Encouragement to communicate well and listen to others

● A respectful dialogue with all stakeholders

The Staff and governors at Co-op Academy Oakwood will enable all children to:

● Value the beauty of the natural world

● To wonder at the mystery of life and its possible origins

● To feel the need to distinguish between good and bad, right and wrong

● To see how they can promote their own health and well-being

● To be ready for their wider role as citizens

We expect children at school to:

We expect families to:

• Ensure their child attends every day
• Be proactive in supporting their child attending every day
• Bring their child on time with everything they need
• Engage in their child’s learning
• Help their children be ready to learn
• Read with their child regularly
• Engage with staff
• Bring any issues to the attention of school staff
• Show respect to all members of the school community
• Speak with respect to all members of the school community
• Engage with home learning

Signed: