Our statement
Football Skills School acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice and the FA, Local Authority, and NSPCC requirements.

The policy recognises that the welfare and interests of children are paramount in all circumstances. It aims to ensure that regardless of age, ability or disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, socio-economic background, all children:

• have a positive and enjoyable experience of sport at
• are protected from abuse whilst participating in our after-school clubs, holiday clubs or outside of the activity.

We acknowledge that some children, including disabled children or those from ethnic minority communities, can be particularly vulnerable to abuse and we accept the responsibility to take reasonable and appropriate steps to ensure their welfare.

Football Skills School employs freelance coaches who all have the following:

• Enhanced DBS certificate that is checked by Daniel Pitt and the local FA County. This will be shown to the school office to prove this.
• Coaches are qualified in all areas needed to work for Football Skills School.
• All coaches are FA First Aid qualified.
• Coaches are put through an interview stage, where they must attend with references which are followed up by Daniel Pitt before any coach can begin to work for the Football Skills School.
• All coaches complete a Child FA Safeguarding course prior to their interview.
• All coaches to show Daniel Pitt, passport for evidence of right to work in the UK.
• All coaches must have all these qualifications and certificates, with proof shown to Daniel Pitt in the interview before being employed by Football Skills School

Our Policy
What we’ll do!

As part of our safeguarding policy, we will:

• Promote and prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.
• Value, listen to and respect children.
• Ensure robust safeguarding arrangements and procedures are in operation.
• Adopt safeguarding best practice through our policies, procedures, and code of conduct for staff and volunteers.
• Ensure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities in respect of safeguarding and is provided with appropriate learning opportunities to recognise, identify, and respond to signs of abuse, neglect and other safeguarding concerns relating to children and young people.

Safeguarding statement:

• Football Skills School will provide effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures so that all staff and volunteers know about our policies, procedures and behaviour codes and follow them confidently and competently.
• All staff will receive FA safeguarding training. All staff must keep themselves up to date on safeguarding children issues and procedures as and when updates are delivered
• Football Skills School ensure appropriate action is taken in the event of incidents or concerns of abuse and support provided to the individual(s) who raise or disclose the concern.
• Football Skills School ensure that confidential, detailed and accurate records of all safeguarding concerns are maintained and securely stored.
• Football Skills School will record and store information securely, in line with data protection legislation and guidance.
• Football Skills School will prevent the employment or deployment of unsuitable individuals by recruiting and selecting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made.
• Football Skills School have appointed Daniel Pitt as nominated safeguarding lead for children and young people.
• Football Skills School develop and implement an effective online safety policy and related procedures.
  Football Skills School make sure that children, young people and their parents know where to go for help if they have a concern.
• The policy and procedures will be widely promoted and are mandatory for everyone involved in Football Skills School. Failure to comply with the policy and procedures will be addressed without delay and may ultimately result in dismissal or exclusion from the organisation.
• Football Skills School acknowledges that some children, including disabled children and young people or those from ethnic minority communities, can be particularly vulnerable to abuse and accepts responsibility to take reasonable steps to ensure their welfare.
• Everyone involved in providing activities for children will be given access to appropriate learning opportunities to recognise, identify and respond to signs of abuse, neglect and other safeguarding concerns relating to children and young people.

Contact details
Our Safeguarding/Welfare Officer/DSL
Name: Daniel Pitt
Tel: 07961 758836 / 07880 496632
Email: danielpitt@footballskillschool.co.uk / office@footballskillsschool.co.uk

Monitoring
This policy will be reviewed a year after development and then every three years, or in the following circumstances:
Changes in legislation and/or government guidance as required by the local safeguarding partnership, UK Sport and/or home country sports councils and the FA, Local Authority, and NSPCC as a result of any other significant change or event.

This Policy was formally adopted by Football Skills

School on: 01/09/14

This policy was last reviewed on: 01/09/24

Signed: D.J Pitt

In a safeguarding emergency, where a young person is at immediate risk of harm, call 999.

Contact numbers:

LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) Solihull: Designated Officer Sarah Harris – 07795 128638
LADO (Local Authority designated Officer) Birmingham: 0121 675 1669


LSCB (Local Safeguarding Children Board) Birmingham: 0121 303 1888 & CASS@birminghamchildrenstrust.co.uk
LSCB (Local Safeguarding Children Board) Solihull: 0121 788 4300/0121 605 6060

Email prevent@northants.pnn.police.uk or phone 101 then ext 341166)

Police: 101 (non-emergency) or 999 (emergency)

NSPCC: 0808 800 500