Leigh Academy Hartley fully recognises the responsibility it has under section 175 (Section 157 for Independent Schools and Academies) of the Education Act 2002 to have arrangements in place to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. In addition, Section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 places a statutory responsibility to ‘have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism’ (known as the Prevent Duty).

Through their day-to-day contact with pupils and direct work with families, staff have a crucial role to play in noticing indicators of possible abuse or neglect and referring them to the child’s relevant Social Care. We have a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) who is specifically trained and nominated within school. The DSL at Leigh Academy Hartley is Mrs Sophie Smith. Working alongside the DSL is the ‘Safeguarding Team’.

We follow the Kent Safeguarding Children Board (KSCB), our Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB), procedures and policies to share concerns regarding children’s welfare with our DSLs, with parents and with relevant external agencies. Part of our legal duty to safeguard our children, may also include us needing to consult specifically with and take advice from, the Police or Children’s Social Care, should the need arise.

By working closely together as a staff and with our partner agencies, we firmly believe that we will continue to offer a safe learning environment for all our children.

Please have a look at the information below to find out more about how we can all work together to keep our children, families and whole community, safe. For any queries that aren't answerable with the information below, please contact the school office, find one of the DSL team in person, or email dsl@hartley.latrust.org.uk