Safeguarding at St Edmund Arrowsmith

St Edmund Arrowsmith CHS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare both physical and emotional, of every student both inside and outside of the school premises.  We implement a whole-school preventative approach to managing safeguarding concerns, ensuring that the wellbeing of pupils is at the forefront of all action taken.

Our Safeguarding policy sets out a clear and consistent framework for delivering this commitment, in line with safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.  It will be achieved by:-

• Creating a culture of safer recruitment by adopting procedures that help deter, reject or identify people who might pose a risk to children.
• Teaching pupils how to keep safe and recognise behaviour that is unacceptable.
• Identifying and making provision for any pupil that has been subject to abuse.
• Ensuring that members of the governing board, the headteacher and staff members understand their responsibilities under safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance, are alert to the signs of child abuse and know to refer concerns to the DSL.
• Ensuring that the Headteacher and any new staff members and volunteers are only appointed when the appropriate checks have been satisfactorily completed.

All staff are clear and understand their roles and responsibilities in remaining vigilant at all times to spot signs and indicators of abuse and risk to students.  Staff are able to recognise these indicators and are clear on the school’s processes and systems to support effective early identification and intervention.  Staff receive routine and regular safeguarding and child protection training to adequately equip them to support students.

We recognise the importance of providing an environment within our setting that will help children to feel safe and respected, enabling them to talk openly and feel confident that they will be listened to.  We know that all adults within our school, including permanent and temporary staff, volunteers and governors, have a full and active part to play in protecting our students from harm.

We will work with parents and carers to build an understanding of our responsibilities to ensure the welfare of all children, including the need for referrals to other agencies where appropriate.  We make all decisions with the child at the centre.

We are committed to safeguarding the welfare of our students; it is our highest priority.  We work hard to develop and maintain a culture of vigilance to ensure that signs and symptoms of abuse are recognised and acted upon and that the opportunity for those wishing to cause harm to children is drastically reduced as a result.

St Edmund Arrowsmith CHS works with a range of partner agencies and professionals alongside the local Safeguarding Partnership to ensure effective and coordinated, multi-agency support is offered to students and families in need.