Editorial Policy and Content Governance Framework
TAP publishes practical guidance used by parents, schools, governors, and institutions navigating school-related concerns. This framework explains how TAP reviews, updates, and governs procedural content to ensure accuracy, clarity, and appropriate qualification.
Version 1.1 · April 2026
Owner: Anne-Rose Obidi, Founder
Last reviewed: April 2026
Status: Current - England only
Purpose
This document sets out the editorial standards, governance requirements, review processes, and correction procedures for all content published by The African Parent (TAP).
It applies to website content, downloadable resources, toolkits, FAQ pages, implementation materials, and any other public-facing content containing procedural, rights-based, institutional, or quasi-legal information.
The African Parent (TAP) provides information, tools, and implementation support to help families and institutions navigate school-related concerns, SEND, exclusion, safeguarding, discrimination, and parent engagement more effectively.
Because TAP content is used by parents, schools, governors, and institutions in active situations involving education systems and statutory processes, accuracy, currency, qualification of guidance, and clear editorial governance are essential operational standards.
Jurisdiction
All TAP procedural and rights-based content applies to England only unless explicitly stated otherwise.
Education, SEND, safeguarding, exclusion, and discrimination frameworks differ significantly across Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
The following statement must appear on all Category A and Category B content:
Disclaimer
The following disclaimer must appear prominently at the top of all Category A content and at the beginning of all downloadable resources containing procedural or legal information:
For lower-risk procedural content, the disclaimer may appear in the footer only.
Content Risk Categories
All TAP content must be assigned a risk category before publication.
High Risk
Content that directly interprets or explains legal rights, statutory timelines, formal statutory processes, institutional duties, or legal obligations.
Errors in Category A content could result in parents misunderstanding legal rights, missing statutory deadlines, escalating incorrectly, or compromising their position.
Examples include:
- 01exclusion law and process
- 02EHCP assessment rights and timelines
- 03Equality Act interpretation
- 04safeguarding obligations
- 05complaints escalation pathways
- 06tribunal or review processes
- 07LADO procedures
Review Requirement
Category A content requires review by a named reviewer with demonstrable expertise in education law, SEND law, safeguarding, exclusion, or Equality Act processes before publication and at every scheduled review point.
The reviewer must confirm in writing that the content accurately reflects the legal and procedural position in England at the time of review.
Medium Risk
Content that describes procedural strategies, institutional behaviour, communication approaches, advocacy structures, evidence gathering, or escalation planning.
Errors in Category B content are unlikely to create direct legal harm but may reduce the effectiveness of a parent or institution’s response.
Examples include:
- 01communication guidance
- 02meeting preparation
- 03observation tracking
- 04institutional translation boxes
- 05escalation planning tools
- 06governance implementation resources
Review Requirement
Category B content requires founder review or review by a named editorial lead operating under this framework.
Legal review is not required unless the content crosses into Category A territory.
Low Risk
Content that provides orientation, signposting, community guidance, brand information, or non-procedural support.
Examples include:
- 01welcome pages
- 02general newsletters
- 03mission statements
- 04non-procedural social content
Review Requirement
Category C content requires standard editorial review only.
Review and Update Schedule
Annual Review (September)
All Category A content must be reviewed annually following:
- 01KCSIE updates
- 02statutory guidance updates
- 03major education framework changes
Triggered Review
Category A and B content must be reviewed within 10 working days if:
- 01legislation changes
- 02statutory guidance changes
- 03tribunal or court decisions materially alter interpretation
- 04IPSEA guidance changes
- 05safeguarding guidance changes
- 06external review identifies inaccuracies
Biannual Review
Category B content is reviewed twice per academic year: January and September.
Version Control
All Category A and B content must display last reviewed date, version number, and review status.
Format: Last reviewed: (Month Year), Version (X.X), Status: Current - England only
TAP maintains an internal content register reviewed monthly.
Correction categories
- 01
Minor Corrections
Minor factual updates may be corrected immediately with version increment, updated review date, and correction logged internally.
- 02
Significant Corrections
Where inaccurate guidance could materially affect decisions or escalation pathways: content must be marked “Under Review” immediately, corrected within 10 working days, and the update logged in the content register.
- 03
Emergency Withdrawal
Content posing significant risk due to legal or procedural inaccuracy must be temporarily unpublished pending review. Archived content must not remain publicly accessible without clear archival labelling.
Social Content Governance
Social media content derived from TAP procedural resources carries the same risk category as the source material where procedural guidance remains identifiable.
- 01Posts containing procedural guidance must include: "England only. For specialist SEND advice: ipsea.org.uk"
- 02Translation boxes, red flag callouts, and scripts must link back to the source content wherever possible.
- 03Partial screenshots or cropped excerpts that remove essential context, legal qualification, or escalation conditions must not be published.
- 04Category A derived social content requires founder or editorial lead review before publication.
Responsibilities
Founder
Responsible for editorial governance, review oversight, content standards, legal review commissioning, content register maintenance, and annual framework review.
Editorial Leads or Advisors
TAP may appoint editorial leads or governance reviewers authorised to conduct operational reviews under this framework. Delegated reviewers operate within the standards defined in this policy.
Legal Reviewer
Reviews Category A content for legal and procedural accuracy. Provides update notifications where relevant framework changes occur.
This policy is reviewed annually in August before the academic year begins, or earlier where operational growth, legal changes, or platform expansion require revision.
Next review: August 2026
Version: 1.1
Owner: Anne-Rose Obidi
The African Parent