Safeguarding

Safeguarding children and young people is central to everything we do at East Park Academy.

This section of the school’s website gives an overview of the policies, partnerships, programmes and mechanisms that are in place to safeguard the children and young people who attend East Park Academy. The full suite of current and ratified Safeguarding policies is available to interested parties on request. However, the key policies are freely available to all, and are clearly signposted, as appropriate, on this website.

At East Park Academy, we fully recognise our responsibility for safeguarding children and young people. It is difficult to accept, but every child can be hurt, put at risk of harm or abused, regardless of their age, gender, religion or ethnicity. That is why we do everything within our power to:

protect children from maltreatment.
prevent impairment of children’s health or development.
ensure that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care.
take action to enable all children and young people to secure the best outcomes.

The action we take at our school to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and families has a role to play and we recognise, and take our part very seriously in, this. We ensure that we operate a child-centred safeguarding system. We recognise that children want to: be respected; have their views heard; to have stable relationships with their teachers, built on trust; and to have consistent support for their individual needs.

Our school recognises that it has a duty to ensure arrangements are in place for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and we will carry out this duty through our teaching and learning, pastoral care and extended school activities. All members of the school community (including volunteers, Parent and Community Advisory Forum (PCAF) members and School Advocates) will at all times establish and maintain a safe and stimulating environment where children feel secure, are encouraged to talk to adults they can trust and are listened to. Through training, all staff (teaching and non-teaching) will be able to recognise the signs of abuse and understand their responsibilities when a child may be at risk of harm. Training of all staff will be updated annually. The School will ensure that it provides written referrals on the correct form (MARF) and recognises the importance of attendance at all meetings called when there is a concern regarding the safeguarding of one of our children.

Staff Recruitment

In line with the guidance ‘Safer Recruitment’, at least one person involved on an interview panel (e.g. the Headteacher and SLT) have completed Safer Recruitment training. All staff including volunteers have been carefully selected and screened and all have had an enhanced DBS check prior to commencing work. Details of all checks are held in a single central record. Staff will be inducted into the School and training will be given with regard to child protection.

Designated member of staff

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Julie Grice, Deputy DSLs are Amardip Samra (DHT), Julie Wagstaff (Family support leader), and Alan Rogers (Headteacher). Our designated members of staff are fully trained and receive updated training every 2 years.

The DSL ensures all confidential records are kept securely. It is the responsibility of the DSL to have discussions with Social Care when concerns arise regarding the safety of a pupil in this Academy. All such pupils are closely monitored, including attendance, and where extra concerns arise these are always passed on to the appropriate agencies. The DSL ensures that all staff are trained with regard to Safeguarding and Child Protection.

Safeguarding School Advocate

Our School has a Safeguarding School Advocate who will act as the link person between the Directors and the DSL. The Safeguarding School Advocate will review safeguarding procedures/practices including access to training through termly Manor MAT Safeguarding Network minutes/meetings. The Directors will ensure that sufficient time is given to carry out the duties including accessing training. Where safeguarding concerns arise regarding a member of staff, the Safeguarding School Advocate will liaise with the Support and Challenge School Advocate, Adam Pritchard – Director for the MAT.

Children with Statements of Special Educational Needs

We recognise that statistically children with behavioural difficulties and disabilities are most vulnerable to abuse. All staff who support these pupils will be extra aware of the need for vigilance for signs of abuse.

Parents/carers & families

This School believes in working closely with parents/carers and there is an open-door policy so that parents/carers can feel able to visit at any time to discuss concerns. Email is used extensively by parents/carers to contact members of staff directly including the Headteacher.

Our School is fully signed up to the safeguarding of children and the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy is in place and can be found on the website as can all other policies e.g. SEND, Behaviour and Attendance etc.