Safeguarding Statement

Safeguarding Statement

What is Safeguarding?

Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from

harm.

Safeguarding means:

Protecting children from abuse and maltreatment

Preventing harm to children's health or development

Ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care.

What does Safeguarding Cover?

Safeguarding covers numerous topics, many of which are interconnected, including:

Bullying

Child Exploitation

Domestic and Sexual violence/abuse

Mental health and wellbeing

Self-harm

Neglect

Prevent (Preventing Violent Extremism)

Substance Misuse

Violence Against Women and Girls (including FGM)

E-Safety

Safeguarding at WMPS

Who is responsible for Safeguarding?

Everyone has a responsibility to keep children and young people safe.

All organisations that come into contact with children should have specific safeguarding policies

and procedures in place. This includes voluntary and community organisations, faith groups,

private sector providers, as well as schools, hospitals and sports clubs.

The Oak Partnership Child Protection Statement

Our Child Protection Policy applies to all staff, governors and volunteers working in all phases of

the Academy.

There are five main elements to our policy:

1. Ensuring we practice safe recruitment in checking the suitability of staff and volunteers to work

with children.

2. Raising awareness of child protection issues and equipping children with the skills needed to

keep them safe.

3. Developing and then implementing procedures for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected

cases of abuse.

4. Supporting pupils who have been abused in accordance with his/her agreed child protection

plan.

5. Establishing a safe environment in which children can learn and develop.

We recognise that because of the day-to-day contact with children, Academy staff are well placed

to observe the outward signs of abuse.

The school will therefore:

 Establish and maintain an environment where children feel secure, are encouraged to talk

and are listened to.

 Ensure children know that there are adults in the school whom they can approach if they

are worried.

 Include opportunities in the curriculum for children to develop the skills they need to

recognise and stay safe from abuse.

We will follow the procedures set out by the Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership and take

account of guidance issued by the Department for Education to:

 Ensure we have a designated senior person for child protection who has received

appropriate training and support for this role.

 Ensure we have a nominated governor responsible for child protection.

 Ensure every member of staff (including temporary and supply staff and volunteers) and

governing body knows the name of the designated senior person responsible for child

protection and their role.

 Ensure all staff and volunteers understand their responsibilities in being alert to the signs of

abuse and responsibility for referring any concerns to the designated senior person

responsible for child protection.

 Notify Social Services if there is an unexplained absence of more than two days of a pupil

who is subject to a child protection plan.

 Develop effective links with relevant agencies and co-operate as required with their

enquiries regarding child protection matters including attendance at case conferences.

 Keep written (paper or electronic) records of concerns about children, even when there is no need to refer the

matter immediately.

 Ensure all records are kept securely, separate from the main pupil file and in locked

locations

 Develop and then follow procedures where an allegation is made against a member of staff

or volunteer.

 Ensure safe recruitment practices are always followed.

We recognise that children who are abused or witness violence may find it difficult to develop a

sense of self-worth. They may feel helplessness, humiliation and some sense of blame.The

school may be the only stable, secure and predictable element in the lives of children at risk.

When at school their behaviour may be challenging and defiant or they may be withdrawn.

As an academy we actively engage with external support an in addition offer our own individual

pastoral support plans to help children who have witnessed or experienced trauma.