Safeguarding at The African Parent
The African Parent works with families and institutions within education systems. This means safeguarding is not peripheral to our work. It sits alongside it.
We provide tools, guidance, and structured support to help parents navigate school systems. We do not operate as a safeguarding authority, and we do not replace the statutory responsibilities held by schools, local authorities, or safeguarding agencies.
Safeguarding responsibility remains with:
- schools and their Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs)
- local authority safeguarding teams
- relevant statutory services
Our role is to support clarity, documentation, and appropriate escalation so that concerns are taken seriously and acted on by the right bodies.
Our role and boundaries
The African Parent operates at the level of:
- helping parents structure concerns clearly
- supporting accurate documentation of what has happened
- guiding communication with schools and local authorities
- helping parents understand what should happen next within existing systems
We do not:
- investigate safeguarding concerns
- intervene directly with schools or agencies on behalf of families
- act as a reporting authority
- provide emergency or crisis response
This distinction is intentional and ensures that safeguarding concerns are handled by those with the legal authority and responsibility to act.
How we approach safeguarding in our work
Safeguarding considerations are embedded in how we design our tools and guidance. This includes:
- encouraging written records over verbal conversations
- supporting clear timelines of events and responses
- helping parents identify when a concern meets safeguarding thresholds
- directing parents toward formal reporting routes where appropriate
Where a situation described to us indicates potential risk of harm, we will direct parents back to the appropriate safeguarding channels rather than attempting to manage the situation ourselves.
If you have a safeguarding concern
If you believe a child may be at risk, the concern should be raised through the appropriate safeguarding routes without delay.
In most cases, this means:
- Contacting the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
- Following the school’s safeguarding or complaints procedure
- Contacting your local authority safeguarding team
- Escalating further if the response is not adequate
If a child is in immediate danger, contact emergency services.
Where we can support you
You may contact The African Parent if:
- you are unsure whether what has happened should be treated as a safeguarding concern
- you need help putting your concerns into clear written form
- you feel your concerns have not been taken seriously
- you need to understand how to escalate appropriately
We can help you prepare, structure, and document your concerns so that they are more likely to be acted on.
Contact
For support in understanding or structuring a safeguarding concern, contact:
safeguarding@theafricanparent.orgWhen contacting us, include:
- a brief description of the situation
- what has already happened
- what response you have received so far
- what you need help with
We aim to respond within two working days.
Confidentiality
Information shared with us is treated with care and respect.
However, where information indicates that a child may be at risk of serious harm, we will advise you to contact appropriate safeguarding services immediately.