Safeguarding Advice

We recognise our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children. We make every effort to provide a safe and welcoming environment underpinned by a culture of openness where both children and adults feel secure, able to talk and believe that they are being listened to. We maintain an attitude of “it could happen here” where safeguarding is concerned.

Safeguarding determines the actions that we take to keep children safe and protect them from harm in all aspects of their school life. As a school we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all of our pupils.

The actions that we take to prevent harm; to promote wellbeing; to create safe environments; to educate on rights, respect and responsibilities; to respond to specific issues and vulnerabilities all form part of the safeguarding responsibilities of the school. As such, this overarching policy will link to other policies which will provide more information and greater detail.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. As such it does not rest with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and his deputy to take a lead responsibility in all of the areas covered within this policy.

Some areas, such as Health and Safety, are a specialist area of safeguarding and a separate lead for this area is in place in the school.

Safeguarding processes are intended to put in place measures that minimise harm to children. There will be situations where gaps or deficiencies in the policies and processes we have in place will be highlighted. In these situations a review will be carried out in order to identify learning and inform the policy, practice and culture of the school.

All students in our school are able to talk to any member of staff to share concerns or talk about situations which are giving them worries. The staff will listen to the pupil, take their worries seriously and share the information with the safeguarding lead. In addition, we provide pupils with information of who they can talk to outside of school both within the community and with local or national organisations who can provide support or help.

As a school, we review this policy at least annually in line with DfE, HSCB, HCC and any other relevant guidance.

Key Safeguarding Contacts

Designated Safeguarding Lead – Tim Nash (07435 809561) tim.nash@crestwood.hants.sch.uk

Deputy Safeguarding Lead - Andrew Whittick (07780 393583) andrew.whittick@crestwood.hants.sch.uk

Safeguarding Governor – Angela Wright (Chair of Governors) angela.wright@crestwood.hants.sch.uk

All Senior Leaders, Year Leaders, Assistant Year Leaders and Pastoral Support Workers have all done County run child protection training.