Safeguarding

The school is committed to creating and maintaining a safe learning environment for children and young people, identifying where there are child welfare concerns and taking action to address them, in partnership with families and other agencies.

All staff, volunteers and students are checked by the Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) to ensure their suitability to work with children, that they are appropriately qualified, they are who they say they are and have the right to work in the UK.

Our Safeguarding Policy forms part of a set of documents and policies which relate to the safeguarding responsibilities of the school. We follow the Cheshire West and Chester Local Safeguarding Children Partnership’s procedures.

Operation Encompass

Our school is part of Operation Encompass. This is a police initiative, which supports children and young people who have witnessed or experienced Domestic Abuse. Operation Encompass has been designed to provide early reporting to schools of any domestic abuse incidents that occur outside of school, which might have an impact on a child in school. This is communicated through a secure email or telephone call to school following an incident.  The project ensures that the designated safeguarding lead is available to liaise with children’s services and the police and to use the information that has been shared in confidence. In this way we aim to support each child who has been involved in, or witnessed a domestic abuse incident.

The Curriculum

The school will also contribute through the curriculum through:

- a carefully structured RSE curriculum that meets the needs of all pupils across the setting;

-a fully developed PSHCE curriculum;

-a focus on the development of communication and self advocasy;

-a focus on physical development and independence;

-a curriculum that supports the development of understanding around key areas of safeguarding e.g. safe use of the internet;

-an adapted environment that enables pupils to rehearse and practice personal safety;

-target setting that prepares for adulthood from the earliest point;

-enrichment activities, assemblies, trips and theme days that enable a more focused exploration of key safeguarding themes;

Central to safeguarding is the voice, knowledge and understanding of all stakeholders involved. Beyond the work within the curriculum we ensure safeguarding is central to practice at Hebden Green through:

-a focus in the Pupil Council;

-Pupil surveys and other feedback;

-Parent survey and newsletters;

-staff bulletins, surveys and extensive training;

-specific staff and governor training.

To find out more about the ways we keep our pupils safe please read our policies or contact our Designated Safeguarding Lead or a member of the Safeguarding Team.

The Safeguarding Team:

Stacey Sawicki: Designated Safeguarding Lead - Stacey is also our PREVENT, Online Safety and our Designated teacher for Looked after Children

Helen Ashley (Head teacher): Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Danielle Lamb and Lesley Ellison (Members of the Safeguarding Team)

Ashley Roberts: Safeguarding Governor

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