Under the Education Act 2002 (section 175/157), schools must “make arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children”.  We will endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued.

The academy will therefore be alert to signs of abuse and neglect and will follow the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) procedures to ensure that children receive appropriate and effective support and protection.

Parents/carers should know that the law requires all school staff to pass on information which gives rise to a concern about a child’s welfare, including risk from neglect, physical, emotional or sexual abuse. The staff will seek, in general, to discuss any concerns with the parent/carer, and where possible inform them of the referral to Social Care.  This will only be done where such discussion will not place the child at increased risk of significant harm.

In accordance with local Information Sharing protocols, we will ensure that information is shared securely and sensitively.  Information will only be shared with other services where it is deemed necessary and proportionate to ensure that children and young people are safe and receive the right service.

Definition

It is important to see safeguarding as the “umbrella” term for everything that is done to support children and young people, to keep them safe and promote their welfare. ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children – Dec 2023’ defines safeguarding as:

• Providing help and support to meet the needs of children as soon as problems emerge;
• protecting children from maltreatment, whether that is within or outside the home, including online;
• preventing impairment of children’s mental health and physical health or development;
• ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care;
• promoting the upbring of children with their birth parents, or otherwise their family network through a kinship care arrangement, whenever possible and where this is in the best interests of the child; and
• taking action to enable all children have the best outcomes in line with the outcomes set out in the Children’s Social Care National Framework

The welfare of the child is paramount (Children Act 1989/2004)

• All children irrespective of their age, cultural background, disability, gender, language, racial origins, religious beliefs, sexual orientation have the right to be protected from abuse

Teaching our pupils about safeguarding

Through our curriculum we teach children to stay safe and happy. We encourage the understanding that any problem or worry that they may have is legitimate, and to share their worries, big or small with their trusted adult; at home; school or with organisations such as the NSPCC or ChildLine.

Click here to access the NSPCC website

Click here to access Childline

Everyone’s Invited / Child on Child Abuse

Sexual Abuse within Schools: Child on Child Abuse, Sexual Violence and Harassment and Harmful Sexual Behaviour:

Our position as a trust and within all our academies is clear: sexual violence and sexual harassment are never acceptable, will never be tolerated and are not an inevitable part of growing up. Such behaviour will never go unchallenged or become accepted and we remain committed to working openly and transparently with to promote mutual respect.

Our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy has guidance within it around the indicators of child on child abuse and harmful sexual behaviour along with our response procedures. All relevant Safeguarding Policies are available on individual academy websites.

All students are taught the Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) curriculum.

The appropriate means for disclosing an allegation of abuse relating to another student is always to inform a member of the specific academy’s safeguarding team directly or a member of the Trust Safeguarding Directorate. In the event that an allegation is made against a member of staff, this must be sent to the Academy Executive Principal or directly to the Trust Safeguarding Directorate. We will always act on concerns raised.

Academy based contacts

All of the above named staff can be contacted on 01733 343581

Click here to view our Trust Safeguarding Policy 2024

Click here to view the DfE Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance 2024

Click here to view the DfE Working Together to Safeguard Children guidance 2023

Click here to visit the PSCB (Peterborough Safeguarding Children Board) website

Click here to view revised Prevent Duty guidance (March 2024)

Click here to view Peterborough City Council Child Missing Education (CME) Policy 

Click here to view Children Missing Education (CME) Statutory Guidance