The Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (LSCP) – as a statutory multi-agency partnership – seek annual assurance from all statutory-age education settings that their safeguarding responsibilities, as set out under sections 157 and 175 of the Education Act 2002, are being met. We do this so that the assurance around safeguarding practices of maintained and non-maintained education settings are captured.
Note that this is separate to the Lincolnshire County Council’s Safeguarding in Schools Self-Assessment Audit, which must be completed by all maintained settings and is facilitated by the Safeguarding in Schools Team. All schools that purchase the Safeguarding in Schools package are able to complete the Safeguarding Audit and it is considered good practice.
If you complete the Safeguarding in Schools Self-Assessment Audit, you have an option to provide assurance simultaneously to the LSCP via that return (and a separate return form will not need to be completed).
Assurance is provided to the LSCP by completion of an online form which is made available every year from the end of the Easter break until the end of the Summer holidays.
The returns window for academic year 2024-25 has now closed. If you are unsure whether a return has been submitted for your setting and would like to check, or have any questions, please do get in touch – LSCP@lincolnshire.gov.uk.
Please note that if you completed the LCC Safeguarding in Schools Self-Assessment Audit 2024-25 and answered 'Yes' to Question 8.2, this provides the LSCP with your assurance, and you will not need to complete a separate LSCP return form.
To assist you in providing your assurance to us, you can utilise any of the following methods:
- Complete the Safeguarding in Schools self-assessment audit tool (this must be completed by all maintained schools)
- Complete your own trust's safeguarding audit, which should be available to view on request
- Utilise other proof that safeguarding is monitored regularly, and that effectiveness is evaluated, evidence of which should be available on request
- Utilise our minimum standards safeguarding checklist.
Our assurance return must be provided by a non-teaching member of your Governing Body or Board of Trustees (or Head Teacher or equivalent if your setting does not have a Governing Body or Board of Trustees).
Academy Trusts or Federations can provide this assurance on behalf of all of their schools if appropriate and have one overarching governing body or board.
Completed audits should not be sent with the assurance.
If you cannot provide assurance to the LSCP, we will ask you to let us know your intended action plan, and this will be referred to the Local Authority Education Team.
Any questions regarding our LSCP Safeguarding Assurance, these can be sent to: lscp@lincolnshire.gov.uk
If you have any questions regarding the Lincolnshire County Council Safeguarding in Schools Self-Assessment Audit, please contact: SafeGuardingInSchool@lincolnshire.gov.uk.
