Safeguarding

Definition of Safeguarding

Keeping children safe in Education, DfE, defines safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children as:

“Protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of children’s health or development; ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes. ‘Children’ includes every one under the age of 18.”

You can find a copy of the national guidelines here:

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Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023

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Department for Education Guidelines – Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Between Children in Schools and Colleges

Safeguarding Leads

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Safeguarding Leaflet for Parents

Safeguarding Responsibility

Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play in safeguarding children.

School staff and volunteers are particularly important as they are in a position to identify concerns early and provide help for children, to prevent concerns from escalating.

Schools and their staff form part of the wider safeguarding system for children working with social care, the police and health services both to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm.

At Grange Academy we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our pupils. We endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where all of our children are respected and valued.

Every school is required to have a designated safeguarding lead or (DSL).

At Grange Academy, this role is undertaken by Mrs Thomas – Designated Safeguarding Lead and Mrs Morris-Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL).

The DSL has a duty and responsibility to follow the law as outlined in the school’s ‘Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy’.

At times the DSL and DDSL have to undertake difficult conversations and would be negligent in their role if they did not follow up on any potential safeguarding concerns identified.

The responsibilities of our Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead are:

Making sure all staff are aware of how to raise safeguarding concerns and of school procedures
Ensuring staff receive regular Safeguarding training and updates
Ensuring all staff understand and can recognise the symptoms of potential child abuse and neglect
Referring any concerns to Children’s Social Care (Formerly Children’s Social Services) or other external agencies
Monitoring children who are the subject of Child Protection plans (CP), Child in Need plans (CIN) and Team Around the Family plans (TAF)
Maintaining accurate and secure child protection records
Working closely with external agencies to support children and their families

Below are the school policies related to Safeguarding and Child Protection.

DBS Policy
Behaviour Policy
Online Safety Policy
Whistle Blowing Policy
Child Protection & Safeguarding Policy
Staff Code of Conduct
Children Missing in Education Statutory Guidance
Safer Working Practice Guidance
Acceptable IT User Agreement

Operation Encompass

Our school is part of Operation Encompass.

This is a police and education early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children and young people who experience Domestic Abuse. Operation Encompass means that the police will share information about Domestic Abuse incidents with our school PRIOR to the start of the next school day when they have been called to a domestic incident.

Our parents are fully aware that we are an Operation Encompass school. The Operation Encompass information is stored in line with all other confidential safeguarding and child protection information.

The DSL has also led training for all school staff and Governors about Operation Encompass, the prevalence of Domestic Abuse and the impact of this abuse on children. We have also discussed how we can support our children following the Operation Encompass notification. We are aware that we must do nothing that puts the child/ren or the non-abusing adult at risk.

The Safeguarding Governor will report on Operation Encompass in the termly report to Governors. All information is anonymised for these reports. The DSL has used the Operation Encompass Toolkit to ensure that all appropriate actions have been taken by the school.

Early Help

Every family goes through challenging times at some point, and it is ok to ask for help. ‘Early Help’ means working with you and your family so that small problems don’t become big problems, and help you be the very best family you can be.

Early help is for everybody, for families with children and young people of any age. It is about helping as early as possible. It is about looking at what help you need as a family before you start to struggle. The earlier we can get the support, the better the outcome.

If you think you would like to access early help or for further advice, please contact the following number or take a look at the attached web-link. If you have any questions or worries please do not hesitate to come into school and speak with Mrs Thomas or Mrs Morris.

Bedfordshire Early Help: 01234 718700

Click here for Bedford Borough Positive Parenting Information Leaflet

Early Help

Prevent Duty

Pupils are encouraged to express and discuss their ideas, thoughts and feelings through a variety of lessons and activities and have access to a range of opportunities that promote respect and empathy for others.

As part of the Prevent duty under s.26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, we are aware of the importance of building children’s’ resilience to radicalisation by promoting fundamental British values and enabling them to challenge extremist views.

At Grange Academy, we build pupils’ resilience to radicalisation by providing a safe environment for debating controversial issues and helping them to understand how they can influence and participate in proactive and positive decision making.

Grange Academy is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all its pupils.

As a school, we recognise that safeguarding against radicalisation is as important as safeguarding against any other vulnerability.

At Grange Academy, all Staff have completed Prevent Duty training, which is regularly updated.

As part of internet safety, we ensure suitable filters are in place to keep children away from extremist materials.

Photographs and Videos

Whilst lots of parents and carers really enjoy seeing photos and videos of their children’s school life, we are very mindful of our duty of care towards all our pupils. We take the issue of safeguarding very seriously and this includes the use of photographic and video images.

Any photographs or videos taken by parents, carers, friends and relatives at school events, productions or open events are for the enjoyments of individual families. They must not be used in a way that could potentially place a child at risk. This would include publishing images or putting them on the internet including social media networking sites. This message is emphasised before concerts and events in school.

We understand in some circumstances a parent or carer may not wish their child to be photographed or videoed in this way or within school by staff. If this is the case, then please inform the school and update via the schools’ photo permission form.

Online Safety

For more online safety support click here.

Useful Guidance and Support

Below are a list of useful websites and links that offer support services both locally and nationally.

Website Links

Wellbeing Support Services List
Getting Help in Bedford
NSPCC
CEOP
National Online Safety
Safeguarding Network

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Grange Academy is a Unicef Gold Rights Respecting School and Gold Artsmark School. Ofsted rated ‘Good’ (May 2022).
Telephone: 01234 407100 – Office Email: grange@biltt.org

Grange Academy is part of Bedford Inclusive Learning and Training Trust
Company Number: 08156641

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