The Abbey School is a community and all those directly connected (staff, governors, parents, families, pupils and volunteers) have an essential role to play in making it safe and secure, recognising our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children.

The Abbey School recognises the importance of providing an ethos and environment within the school that will help children to feel safe, secure and respected; encourages them to talk openly, and enables them to feel confident that they will be listened to. We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow our procedures to ensure that children receive effective support, protection and justice.

Our school core safeguarding principles are

• It is a whole school responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children as its paramount concern.
• All children (defined as those up to the age of 18) regardless of age, gender, ability, culture, race, language, religion or sexual identity, have equal rights to protection.
• All children have a right to be heard and to have their wishes and feelings taken into account.
• All staff understand safe professional practice and adhere to our code of conduct and other associated policies.
• All staff have a responsibility to recognise vulnerability in children and act on any concern in accordance with this guidance.

There are four main elements to our safeguarding policy

• Prevention ( e.g. positive, supportive, safe school culture, curriculum and pastoral opportunities for children, safer recruitment procedures);
• Protection (by following the agreed procedures, ensuring all staff are trained and supported to respond appropriately and sensitively to safeguarding concerns);
• Support (for all pupils, parents and staff, and where appropriate specific intervention for those who may be at risk of harm);
• Working with parents and other agencies (to ensure appropriate communications and actions are undertaken).

All members of staff have a responsibility to:

• Provide a safe environment in which children can learn.
• Ensure all children are able to develop appropriate strategies to recognise and respond to risk and build resilience.
• Identify and recognise children who may be in need of extra help, who are suffering, or are likely to suffer significant harm.
• Provide help for children, where appropriate and reasonable.
• Take appropriate action to prevent safeguarding concerns escalating and work with other services as needed.
• Safeguard children’s well-being and maintain public trust in the teaching profession as part of their professional duties.
• Maintain an attitude of ‘it could happen here’ where safeguarding is concerned and to always act in the best interests of the child.
• Respond to and refer any concerns about children or other members of the community in accordance with this policy.
• Contribute towards, read and adhering to the school policies.

All members of staff in The Abbey School, know what to do if a child tells them he/she is being abused or neglected. Members of staff know to maintain an appropriate level of confidentiality whilst at the same time liaising with relevant professionals such as the Designated Safeguarding Lead at the school and other agencies as appropriate.

Members of staff know they must never promise a child that they will not tell anyone about a concern or allegation as this may ultimately not be in the best interests of the child.

Report

The welfare and safety of children are the responsibility of all staff in school and ANY concern for a pupil’s welfare MUST always be reported to the:

Designated Safeguarding Lead:

• Mrs Nicola Kamara - nkamara@abbeyschoolfaversham.co.uk

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads:

• Mrs Frorath, SENCo - sfrorath@abbeyschoolfaversham.co.uk
• Mrs Cooper, Director of Student Welfare & Conduct - ncooper@abbeyschoolfaversham.co.uk
• Mrs Lucas, Deputy Headteacher - jlucas@abbeyschoolfaversham.co.uk

Safeguarding Policy

Our Safeguarding Policy can be accessed here: