Safeguarding

Writhlington School fully recognises its responsibilities for child protection. Our policy applies to all staff, governors and volunteers working in the school. We follow a child centred and coordinated approach to safeguarding as per the Keeping children safe in education statutory guidance September 2022.

There are five main elements to our policy:

• Ensuring we practice safe recruitment in checking the suitability of staff and volunteers to work with children.
• Raising awareness of child protection issues and equipping children with the skills needed to keep them safe.
• Developing and then implementing procedures for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases, of abuse.
• Supporting students who have been abused in accordance with his/her agreed child protection plan.
• Establish a safe environment in which children can learn and develop.

The Designated Safeguard Lead for Child Protection is Mr Mike Burr who will be able to help if you have specific questions about the school’s approach to Child Protection.

If we are concerned that your child may be at risk of abuse or neglect we must follow the procedures in our child protection policy.

In almost all circumstances we will talk to you about our concerns and we will also tell you if we feel we must refer our concerns to children’s social care. We will ask your consent to make a referral, but in some circumstances we may need to make the referral against your wishes. We will only do this if we genuinely believe that this is the best way to protect your child, and the fact that you did not consent to the referral will be recorded.

To contact a safeguarding lead please use our contact form or call main reception on 01761 433 581.

Every member of staff at Writhlington has a responsibility for supporting our students. Below is a list of key staff in the Pastoral Team. Please remember that the tutor should always be the first point of contact, however the pastoral team are happy to speak to you at any time.

All Pastoral staff are passionate about ensuring the welfare and safety of our students.There is a Level 3 trained member of staff attached to each year group as well as the DSL and DDSL.

In addition, we have the following staff to support us in ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of our students:

• Mrs S Smart (HLTA) – ELSA Practitioner
• Ms H Chambers (TA) – ELSA Practitioner

Other agencies who support us in this aim are:

• Speakeasy
• Off The Record
• CAMHS MHST
• Sporting Family Change
• School Nurse Service
• Youth Connect

> Child Protection Policy 

> Eradicating Sexualised Behaviour in Schools