Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as –

protecting children from maltreatment, preventing the impairment of their mental and physical health or development, ensuring that they 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 include everyone under the age of 18.

 

Keeping children safe in education - GOV.UK

To read more about our policy of Safeguarding, click here.

 

Looking after and supporting the development of the whole child

Waseley Hills works as a collective team to prevent impairment of children’s mental health and development. We pride ourselves on our whole school approach to safeguarding, promoting a positive open culture and embodying a trauma informed style of interaction . We fully recognises our responsibilities for safeguarding children and young people and we work with the Local Authorities and other agencies to ensure the safety of children and young people in our care. As a school, we work to create a culture of vigilance, reporting concerns and fostering our professional curiosity. All staff within the school are aware that safeguarding the students in our care is everyone’s responsibility and that we always work in the best interests of the child, listening to the voice of the child wherever possible. All staff, governors and volunteers are encouraged to harbour an attitude that ‘it could happen here’ and they are made aware, and reminded of, the protocols to follow should they have a concern about a child or young person’s safety or well-being.

Mrs Meredith is the Designated Safeguarding Lead who is a member of our Senior Leadership Team and is responsible for ensuring the safety of both students and staff. The Senior Designated Deputy Safeguarding Leads are Mrs Masters and Mrs McLeod and the Designated Deputy Safeguarding Leads are Mrs Joshi, Mr Blount, Mrs Williams, , Mrs Ashley, Miss Ralph, Miss Burke – Martin, Miss Green, Miss Moore and Mrs Stanford all of whom support Mrs Meredith in her duties. Mrs Meredith is also our Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for extremism and radicalisation and the lead for Online Safety. Please contact Mrs Meredith or Miss Joshi should you have any on line concerns.

Throughout the academic year, we raise the profile of safeguarding and safer schools with assemblies on Bullying, Sexual and Gender Identity, Online Safety, Diversity, Domestic Abuse, Abusive Relationships, Child on Child Abuse, Mysogyny, Sexual Harassment and many more. This ties in closely with our SMSC, tutor time and Learning 4 Life (PSHE) programme.

Waseley meet every half-term with the local policing team where we share information to ensure the safety of all our staff, students and their families. Waseley Hills have a great working relationship with both West Midlands and West Mercia Police who offer support to school, individuals, families and the community.

Each safeguarding concern is treated with dignity and respect, and we work closely with families, external agencies, and the students themselves to ensure they feel safe, nurtured and receive the appropriate level of support to allow them to achieve their full potential.

Our Student Leaders have safeguarding as an agenda item for their meetings and use this as an effective platform to share student voice and air concerns as well as plan student led awareness weeks and celebrations of difference such as Men’s Mental Health, Jeans for Genes and Pride.

The safeguarding Governor is Chris Passey and he has an integral role in ensuring the safeguarding arrangements at Waseley HIlls are effective and robust. He meets with Mrs Meredith at least once a term and works closely with the school.

It is important that should there be any concerns that you call the school or email on safeguarding@waseleyhills.crst.org.uk Any immediate concerns about a child’ safety or wellbeing, you should call the police on 999.

Students can use the anonymous email SHARE@waseleyhills.crst.org.uk

Any concerns about the Principal should be raised with the CEO, Guy Shears.