Safeguarding Statement.
McFRY Education Consultancy
Last updated: September 2026
1. Our commitment
McFRY Education Consultancy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
The welfare and best interests of the child are central to the way McFRY works. Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, and any concern about a child's safety or welfare will be taken seriously.
2. McFRY's work with families
McFRY provides education consultancy services to parents and families, including advice about school choice, boarding and school placement.
Most communication will normally take place with a parent or person with parental responsibility. However, understanding the individual child is an important part of finding the right school, and there may be occasions when I speak with or meet a child or young person as part of the consultancy process.
Where this happens, communication will be appropriate to the child's age and circumstances and conducted with the knowledge and agreement of their parent or carer.
3. Working with schools
When visiting or communicating with schools, I will respect and follow the school's safeguarding and visitor procedures.
Where McFRY is made aware of a safeguarding concern relating to a child connected with a school, information may be shared with the school's Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) where appropriate.
4. Responding to safeguarding concerns
If information received during McFRY's work gives rise to a concern that a child may be at risk of harm, the concern will not be ignored.
Depending on the circumstances, appropriate action may include:
discussing the concern with the parent or carer, where it is safe and appropriate to do so;
raising the concern with the Designated Safeguarding Lead at the child's school;
seeking advice from or making a referral to the relevant local authority children's social care service; or
contacting the police or emergency services where a child is believed to be in immediate danger.
Current government guidance emphasises acting immediately on concerns rather than waiting for certainty.
5. Confidentiality and information sharing
Information shared with McFRY will normally be treated confidentially and handled in accordance with the McFRY Education Consultancy Privacy Notice.
However, confidentiality cannot be promised where information indicates that a child may be at risk of harm.
Where it is necessary to protect a child, relevant information may be shared with a school, local authority children's social care, the police or another appropriate safeguarding organisation.
Only information relevant to the safeguarding concern will be shared, and an appropriate record will be kept of the concern, action taken and decisions made.
Government safeguarding guidance is clear that data protection law should not be treated as a barrier to appropriate information sharing where this is necessary to safeguard a child.
6. Professional boundaries
McFRY aims to maintain clear and appropriate professional boundaries when working with children and families.
Communication with children and young people will only take place where there is a legitimate reason connected with the consultancy service and in an appropriate manner.
Personal social media accounts will not be used to communicate privately with children or young people.
7. Safeguarding practice
McFRY will keep safeguarding knowledge and practice under review and have regard to relevant current safeguarding guidance, including:
The current versions are KCSIE 2026, effective from 1 September 2026, and Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026, updated in March 2026.
8. Raising a safeguarding concern
If you have a safeguarding concern relating to McFRY Education Consultancy or information shared during McFRY's work, please contact:
Jenni Wright-McFry
McFRY Education Consultancy
hello@mcfryeducation.co.uk
If a child is in immediate danger, contact the emergency services on 999.