Safeguarding Arrangements

SAFEGUARDING ARRANGEMENTS –  SEPTEMBER 2024

LEADERSHIP

Umara Qureshi (Head of School) and Oliver Smith (Assistant Headteacher) are the Designated Safeguarding Leads, Rachel Gavigan is the Deputy Safeguarding Lead.  Oliver Smith (Assistant Headteacher) is the Designated Teachers for Looked After Children (LAC). Samantha Salamone (Assistant Headteacher) is the Senior Mental Heath Lead.    Carrie Barden-Marshall (Student Support Centre Manager), Cat Parry (SENDCO) and Nathan Brown (Assistant Headteacher) are Designated Persons. Elaine Rabbit is the link governor for safeguarding.  Chiltern Learning Trust lead Safer Recruitment and the Single Central Record (SCR).

SAFEGUARDING POLICY

The safeguarding policy is reviewed annually by Chiltern Learning Trust’s board of trustees, due for review Autumn 2024.   Each member of Cedars school staff has marked the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and the updated version (September 2024) of ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education: Information for all School Staff as ‘read’ on ‘Policy Viewer’.  This information is tracked and recorded on a staff training spreadsheet by Claire Powell. The Safeguarding Policy and Appendices are on the school website. There is an information board outside the staffroom.

SINGLE CENTRAL RECORD

Chiltern Learning Trust maintain the SCR. All staff, volunteers and contractors are entered on the SCR and appropriate DBS checks made, this is all done via an electronic portal. If any evidence of a criminal record arises, the school is advised and the Headteacher or Head of School carries out a risk assessment at a meeting with the relevant member of staff. These risk assessments are filed on the personnel record of the staff member. A decision to employ the staff member would be made as a result of the risk assessment outcome.

SAFER RECRUITMENT

6 members of the Leadership Team and 2 staff members are trained in safer recruitment.  A safeguarding statement is included in every job advert and safeguarding questions are specifically used at interview. Appropriate checks are carried out to gain references and to check the barring lists.

MULTI-AGENCY WORKING

The safeguarding team and wider pastoral team work closely with a wide range of other agencies making EHA, single agency and Children’s Services referrals. Representatives from the school attend multi agency meetings.  Regular meetings are held to bring together professionals and to offer support to families.  Provision can be made for students to be taught in alternative supported areas if there are specific educational or medical needs. In this way, very few students are not able to attend school and to take exams. There is also on-going liaison with health agencies and GPs.

PROVIDING FIRST AID

There are 2 First Aid at Work trained member of staff and 11 who are emergency first aid at work trained. We also have a dedicated medical room. Key staff are also trained in the use of EpiPen administration, and managing conditions such as asthma, anaphylaxis, seizures and administration of emergency medication. There is a clear process for students who feel unwell and policies for how to deal with specific conditions. An IHCP (Individual Health Care Plan) will be put in place if needed for long-term medical conditions. Care plans are reviewed by the 0-19 school nursing team to ensure appropriate care.  Risk Assessments may be completed by first-aid trained staff to manage risk as necessary.

HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING

The school has policies and procedures in place to safeguard the welfare of all members of the community.   Serious incidents are logged on Smart Log and analysed.

MEETING THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS

Students with long term medical needs are supported by the SEND team, Year Offices and SSC team. Referrals are made to access medical needs support from the county service.   Provision can be made for students to access learning in an alternative environment such as the SSC or Learning Support.   The Supporting Pupils with Medical Conditions guidance outlines the responsibilities to meet the needs of students with medical conditions. The Single Equality Policy & Objectives sets out the school’s commitment to meeting the needs of students with specific needs. Adaptations are made when student need is identified.

EMOTIONAL WELLBEING

The Student Support Centre acts as a hub for internal and external support groups and for work to support the emotional wellbeing of all students, whilst underpinning their education.  Group and individual support sessions are delivered on exam stress, raising resilience, anger management and social media awareness.  Trained staff offer 1:1 support on many issues including anxiety, low mood, low self-esteem, bereavement and self-harm; also providing strategies and tools to help and empower, this is delivered in a nonjudgmental safe space.  There is a close link with the wider pastoral team to ensure a proactive response in supporting students who may be experiencing life difficulties in and outside of school. 

DRUG AND SUBSTANCE MISUSE

The school’s behaviour and drug policies state clearly that alcohol, tobacco, e-cigarettes and illegal drugs/substances must not be brought into school.  Support will also be offered to those students thought to be at risk of possible substance misuse through Drug and Alcohol Support Services or other identified organisations.

DEALING WITH CHILD-ON-CHILD ABUSE AND BULLYING

The school has a student led group who discuss any issues related to abuse or bullying and to organise Anti-Bullying Events, the group links to the school councils.   The behaviour policies, assemblies and tutor programme all reinforce that any form of bullying or child on child abuse is not acceptable.   Students who are victims or perpetrators are supported by their year team, Student Support Centre and Safeguarding Team.

EDUCATIONAL VISITS

All visits have to be authorised following a specific written procedure, based on Evolve and checked by the school’s EVC. Parents and carers are invited to meetings to discuss arrangements for residential visits. Contact arrangements are in place using school mobile phones.

INTERNET SAFETY

Internet safety is taught in RSHE lessons, as part of the tutor programme and in assemblies for all year groups.  Internet safety is highlighted during the national internet safety week. The topic is also covered by the IT team for all year groups taught. All staff, students and parents must sign an acceptable use of IT document.  Stephen Birtles and Dave Anderson are the Schools Tech for Learning Leads.

SCHOOL SECURITY

The school has access via reception with doors activated by the staff on reception. There are security gates to both the front and rear of the school with a video phone link to Reception, these are closed during school day.  The site is covered by over 60 CCTV cameras both inside and outside.  The perimeter is securely fenced.

STAFF TRAINING

New staff receive safeguarding training in their first month at the school. All staff have to complete e-learning modules ‘Level 2 Safeguarding’ and ‘Prevent Duty - Extremism and Radicalisation’.  All staff have training on safeguarding as appropriate with Pastoral Teams receiving enhanced training. Students who work with younger students as peer mentors or in-class support are also given training. Claire Powell keeps a record of the staff and student training courses completed. Designated teachers update their training every 2 years. Temporary staff receive details of the safeguarding arrangements and associated policies.  Volunteers and contractors are made aware of the arrangements.  All authorised staff wear photograph identification with a green lanyard.

VISITORS

All visitors to the school are required to sign in at Reception.  Visitors authorised on the Single Central Record are issued with a photograph identification visitors’ badge with an amber lanyard.   For all other visitors a photograph identification badge is issued worn on a red lanyard, an information leaflet of school safeguarding and health & safety procedures is issued.  Visitors without DBS wearing a red lanyard will be accompanied by a staff member (wearing a green lanyard) at all times.  Staff are encouraged to challenge any person not wearing school issued identification.

ROLE OF THE GOVERNING BODY

The safeguarding governor has regular meetings with the Designated and Deputy Safeguarding Lead to monitor safeguarding issues. A written record of the meeting is presented to the LGB Governors meeting.

PARTNERSHIPS WITH PARENTS

We work with parents and carers to offer appropriate support to ensure the welfare and safety of our students. The year teams are the first point of contact. Information is given to parents and carers via information evenings, newsletters, publications and via the school website.