Safeguarding Supervision Protocol

LPI Education Ltd

Effective Date: July 2026 (WTSC 2026 & KCSIE 2026 aligned)

Next Review: July 2027

Version: 1.0

1. Purpose of This Protocol

This protocol sets out how safeguarding, leadership and SEND supervision is delivered by LPI Education Ltd. It ensures that all supervision practice:

  • promotes safe, reflective professional practice

  • supports DSLs, Headteachers, SENCos and staff working with children

  • aligns with Working Together to Safeguard Children (WTSC) 2026

  • aligns with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2026

  • maintains clear boundaries around confidentiality, information sharing and record‑keeping

  • supports professional curiosity and safe decision‑making

  • does not replace operational safeguarding procedures or statutory responsibilities

This protocol should be read alongside:

  • Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy

  • Secure Data Handling Protocol

  • Privacy Policy

  • The host school’s safeguarding policy

2. Scope of Supervision

Supervision may be provided to:

  • Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs)

  • Deputy DSLs

  • Headteachers and Principals

  • SENCos and Inclusion Leads

  • Pastoral staff

  • Safeguarding teams

  • Governors/trustees with safeguarding responsibility

  • Senior leaders involved in safeguarding decision‑making

Supervision may be:

  • 1:1

  • Group

  • In‑person or online

Supervision is professional, reflective and supportive; not managerial, investigatory or performance‑related.

3. Aims of Safeguarding Supervision

Supervision aims to:

  • strengthen safeguarding practice

  • support reflective thinking and professional curiosity

  • reduce emotional load and safeguarding fatigue

  • improve decision‑making

  • support compliance with WTSC 2026 and KCSIE 2026

  • promote lawful, necessary and proportionate information sharing

  • support DSLs with complex safeguarding contexts

  • support Headteachers and SENCos with strategic safeguarding dilemmas

  • ensure safeguarding concerns are escalated appropriately

Supervision provides a protected space to think, reflect and improve practice.

4. Professional Boundaries

To maintain safe and lawful supervision:

  • No identifiable pupil information is recorded

  • No identifiable staff information is recorded

  • No case notes, chronologies or operational records are created

  • Supervision does not replace DSL case management

  • Supervision does not replace statutory leadership responsibilities

  • Supervision does not override the school’s safeguarding policy

  • Supervision does not replace HR, investigatory or performance processes

Supervision supports professional reflection; it does not direct operational safeguarding outcomes.

5. Confidentiality

Supervision is confidential except where:

  • a safeguarding concern is disclosed

  • a child is at risk of harm

  • a supervisee’s practice poses a risk

  • information must be shared under statutory guidance

  • a crime may have been committed

  • the supervisee requests escalation

Information will be shared with:

  • the DSL

  • senior leaders

  • safeguarding partners

  • external agencies (where required)

All information sharing follows WTSC 2026 principles:

  • lawful

  • necessary

  • proportionate

  • in the best interests of the child

6. Information Sharing During Supervision

Supervision may involve discussion of safeguarding themes, dilemmas or patterns.

However:

  • identifiable details are not shared

  • operational case management remains with the DSL

  • supervision supports decision‑making but does not direct outcomes

  • any safeguarding concern raised must be reported to the DSL immediately

If a supervisee raises a concern about a child, the supervisor will:

  • pause the supervision session

  • follow the school’s safeguarding procedures

  • ensure the concern is recorded by the DSL

  • escalate if necessary

7. Record‑Keeping

LPI Education Ltd keeps minimal, thematic supervision notes, including:

  • date and time

  • attendees

  • themes discussed

  • reflective learning points

  • agreed actions (non‑case specific)

Supervision notes do not include:

  • names of children

  • names of staff

  • case details

  • chronology

  • safeguarding records

Retention:

  • Notes retained for 12–24 months

  • Securely deleted in line with the Secure Data Handling Protocol

Schools retain their own safeguarding records in line with KCSIE 2026 (child protection files until age 25).

8. Escalation Procedures

If a safeguarding concern arises during supervision:

  • The supervisor will immediately inform the DSL

  • If the DSL is not present, the supervisor will follow the school’s escalation policy

  • If a child is at immediate risk, emergency services will be contacted

  • The supervisor will not investigate or record case details

9. Roles & Responsibilities

Supervisor (LPI Education Ltd)

  • Provide reflective, supportive supervision

  • Maintain professional boundaries

  • Ensure safe information sharing

  • Escalate concerns appropriately

  • Keep minimal supervision notes

  • Follow WTSC 2026 and KCSIE 2026

  • Maintain confidentiality except where safety concerns arise

Supervisee (DSL, Headteacher, SENCo, staff)

  • Bring themes, dilemmas and reflections

  • Maintain confidentiality

  • Follow school safeguarding procedures

  • Escalate concerns immediately

  • Take responsibility for operational safeguarding decisions

10. Frequency of Supervision

Recommended frequency:

  • DSLs: every 4–6 weeks

  • Deputy DSLs: every 6–8 weeks

  • Headteachers: every 6–8 weeks

  • SENCos: every 6–8 weeks

  • Pastoral staff: termly

  • Group supervision: termly or half‑termly

Frequency may be increased for:

  • new DSLs

  • new Headteachers or SENCos

  • complex safeguarding contexts

  • periods of high demand

11. Online Supervision

Online supervision follows the same standards as in‑person sessions.

Additional expectations:

  • secure platform

  • no recording of sessions

  • private environment

  • encrypted communication

  • adherence to digital safeguarding policies

12. Role‑Specific Supervision Considerations

Headteacher Supervision

Supervision for Headteachers focuses on:

  • strategic safeguarding leadership

  • whole‑school culture

  • safer recruitment and allegations management (KCSIE Part 4)

  • governance and accountability

  • supporting DSLs

  • managing staff conduct concerns

  • whistleblowing dilemmas

  • online safety oversight

  • leadership wellbeing and resilience

Supervision supports reflective practice but does not replace:

  • line management

  • HR processes

  • investigatory procedures

  • statutory decision‑making

SENCo Supervision

Supervision for SENCos focuses on:

  • safeguarding risks linked to SEND

  • multi‑agency working

  • unmet need and vulnerability

  • attendance, behaviour and exploitation risks

  • transitions and alternative provision

  • mental health and neurodiversity safeguarding concerns

Supervision supports reflective SEND practice but does not replace:

  • DSL oversight

  • statutory SEND duties

  • case management

  • EHCP decision‑making

13. Leadership Safeguarding Pressures

Supervision may explore:

  • safer recruitment dilemmas

  • allegations management (KCSIE Part 4)

  • online safety governance

  • filtering and monitoring responsibilities

  • culture of safeguarding

  • multi‑agency escalation

  • staff wellbeing and safeguarding fatigue

Themes are recorded non‑identifiably and non‑case‑specifically.

14. Complaints or Concerns About Supervision

Concerns should be raised with:

  • the DSL

  • senior leaders

  • LPI Education Ltd (Director)

All concerns will be handled in line with KCSIE 2026 Part 4 (allegations management).

15. Review

This protocol will be reviewed annually or sooner if statutory guidance changes.

Signed: Jane McNally

Director, LPI Education Ltd