Safeguarding
We recognise that the welfare of the child is paramount and we take our responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of the children and young people in our care seriously.
An agreed definition of safeguarding is: "All agencies take all reasonable measures to ensure that the risks of harm to children’s welfare are minimised. Where there are concerns, all agencies take action to address those concerns, working to agreed local policies and procedures in full partnership with other local agencies" – Joint Chief Inspectors’ Report, 2002.
Concerns
If you have a concern about a child, particularly if you think s/he may be suffering or at risk of suffering harm, it is your responsibility to share information promptly with the Designated Safeguarding Lead for Child Protection (DSL) or one of the Deputies:
Designated Safeguarding Lead: Pauline Sweetman (Headteacher)
Deputy DSL: Alice Smith (Family Support Worker)
Safeguarding Governor: Gaynor Brown
Please phone us on 01202 424585 with any concerns and ask to speak to the Designated Safeguarding Lead, Pauline Sweetman about a safeguarding matter. If she is unavailable, you will be directed to our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, Alice Smith.
If reporting a concern, please provide as much information as possible.
If you have a concern during school holidays or out of school hours, please phone one of the numbers below.
If you have a serious concern because you think a child may be being abused, (physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect or sexual abuse) you should contact Children’s Services direct on 01202 228866 or if out of office hours, please contact the Out of Hours Service on 01202 657279.
For all emergency situations please call 999 and ask for the police.
Operation Encompass
Our school is part of Operation Encompass. This is a police and education early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children and young people who experience Domestic Abuse. Operation Encompass involves the police sharing information with key adults within the school about Domestic Abuse incidents. The key adults will ensure that all appropriate actions are taken within school and in line with confidential safeguarding and child protection procedures.
Please find more information here.
Volunteers and Visitors
All volunteers and visitors to our school are introduced to the school’s policies and procedures for Child Protection and Safeguarding. As part of their visit they will be expected to read our summary of our Child Protection procedures.
We use the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to undertake criminal record checks.The School Staffing (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 make it mandatory for an enhanced criminal record check to be obtained for all newly appointed school staff. Parents, governors and other volunteers who help regularly in the classroom and with activities associated with the school will require a DBS check because of the frequency of their volunteering activity and the contact they have with children, but others will not.
Allegations against our staff
If there is an allegation of abuse about a member of staff, please contact our Headteacher, Mrs Pauline Sweetman, on 01202 424585.
For any questions relating to governance at the school please contact: governance.manager@twynhamlearning.com
If you still have an unresolved issue and are concerned about the welfare of a student then please contact the Chair of Trustees at lynda.clarke@twynhamlearning.com
