SPALDING GRAMMAR SCHOOL
SAFEGUARDING POLICY
What is Safeguarding?
The following definition is taken from ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children 2013’:
Safeguarding children - the action we take to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and families has a role to play.
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as:
 protecting children from maltreatment;
 preventing impairment of children's health or development;
 ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care;
 taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.
Safeguarding at SGS
Effective safeguarding systems at SGS are such that:
 the child's needs are paramount, and the needs of each child should be put first, so that every child
receives the support they need before a problem escalates;
 all staff who come into contact with children and their families are alert to their needs and any risks of
harm that individual abusers, or potential abusers, may pose to children;
 all staff share appropriate information in a timely way and can discuss any concerns about an individual
child with colleagues and, where appropriate, local authority children's social care;
 all staff are able to use their judgement so that the right solution can be found for each individual child;
 all staff contribute to whatever actions are needed to safeguard and promote a child's welfare and
where necessary take part in regularly reviewing the outcomes for the child against specific plans and
outcomes;
 The school will make changes to procedures where necessary, as informed by evidence and
examination of data.
At SGS safeguarding has two clear dimensions:
1. Ensuring Child Protection policies are in place to protect students from identified risk(s), and that
Child Protection procedures are known and followed by all staff.
At this school we cannot guarantee the safety of any student; but we can do our best to look out for warning
signs that a student is at risk, and we need to know how then to respond. We need to be aware of the
potential pitfalls and to know and understand our professional responsibilities towards the students in our
care.
2. Providing safe and effective care and guidance to prevent any student coming to harm and to
promote the well-being of all students.
Equally we cannot guarantee all students’ present or future well-being; but we should be aware of all the
strategies in place at this school to promote students’ well-being. We have professional responsibilities to
promote the welfare of students at this school.
SGS Roles and Responsibilities for Safeguarding
This Safeguarding Policy applies to all adults, including volunteers, working in our school. It is an over
arching policy which demonstrates how we are working to provide a safe, caring and supportive
environment for all students. Allocation of roles and responsibilities for safeguarding at SGS are detailed in
Appendix 1. The policies, procedures and protocols supporting safeguarding at SGS are detailed in
Appendix 2.
All adults working in our school are well-placed to safeguard and promote the welfare of students, and to be
vigilant about safeguarding and student welfare. All adults have all been properly vetted and cleared as
suitable to work and support students in our care. They are all trained to undertake their safeguarding
responsibilities effectively, with access to further CPD.
Learning about Personal Safeguarding and Well-being at SGS
The school educates students about key safeguarding and well-being issues in many ways. The School
Aims clearly set out our commitment to providing a school where students can flourish in a safe learning
environment “to provide for the welfare, development and equality of opportunity and access to all staff and
students in a caring atmosphere and stimulating environment which fosters good relationships, enjoyment
and hard work”. The Aims are supported by our Code of Conduct promoting “respect and consideration for
people, for property and for yourself.” We encourage students to feel confident to talk to adults in our school
knowing that they will be listened to and taken seriously. We work to ensure students feel safe in a secure
environment where they do not endure bullying, racism or sexual harassment and where their medical
needs are met.
Students are encouraged to discuss related issues in PaCE (Personal and Careers Education). Topics
include themes such as Drugs, Alcohol, Relationships and Sex Education, Stranger Danger and e-safety.
Students learn to look after themselves physically, emotionally and to be aware of mental health issues.
These themes are also addressed in Assemblies and Flexydays.
Students are encouraged to become independent self-managers through formal learning and the wider
school ethos. They learn how to make informed and sensible choices, enabling them to stay safe and
promote their own well-being. They are trusted to behave in school, and given many opportunities to make a
positive contribution to the school community, and suggest solutions.
Personal safety and well-being are discussed and explained, and safe practices adopted in subject areas
such as in Free Learning Block, PE, Science, DT, Art and ICT. The school ensures appropriate and agreed
staff/pupil ratios are maintained and risk assessments carried out for on-site and off-site learning.
We welcome support from outside agencies. The School Nurses support students’ learning and run a DropIn Clinic. The Student Support team work closely with a range of outside agencies, the pastoral teams and
Attendance Officer liaise with our EWO.
We work hard to build open and honest relationships with parents and carers, involving them in all stages of
their child’s education in our school.
Appendix 1
Roles and Responsibilities for Safeguarding at SGS
At SGS certain adults have lead roles as listed in the table below. All adults have a professional duty to
safeguard and promote the welfare of students so play a vital role in all areas listed below.
Responsibilty
Designated Senior
Persons for Child
Protection
Lead
Jane Lutton
Amanda Stamp
Deputy DSP
Headteacher
tbc
Steve Wilkinson
Governors
Alan Faulkner
Safe recruitment and
selection
Internet/e-safety
Steve Wilkinson
All SLT
Governing Body
Debbie Haslam
Steve Wilkinson
All SLT
Shaun Barton
Site Supervisor
Governing Body
Kevin Arnold
Student Behaviour
All Staff
Data
Attendance Officer
Form Tutors
Debbie Haslam
Amanda Stamp
All FTs
Safeguarding vulnerable
individuals or groups of
student
Curriculum learning
Jane Lutton
Amanda Stamp
HoH
Suzanne Ingram
Amanda Johnson
HoS
Staff Conduct
Health and Safety
Comment
It is the responsibility of the Governing Body and SLT to
ensure the designated Child Protection coordinator is
properly supported and trained to follow locally-agreed
Child Protection procedures and to ensure all adults are
aware of our internal Child Protection procedures.
The Headteacher is responsible for ensuring all staff are
aware of their safeguarding responsibilities and receive
appropriate training and support. He will deal with
breaches of the Safeguarding Policy.
Governor responsible for Child Protection Policy.
Link Governors for student development including
Safeguarding Policy.
The school follows DCSF guidance DfE Keeping
Children Safe in Education - KCSE 2014. We keep a
single central record of all staff.
All Departments are responsible for H&S in their
specialist areas. Responsibilities of all adults for H&S
are specified in the H&S policy.
IT User Agreements for staff and students.
E-Safety policy
The SGS Behaviour Policy is underpinned by the Code
of Conduct. Both are available on the website. All adults
are responsible for implementing the BP fairly and
consistently.
Data protection is in place.
Attendance data is sent weekly to FTs and HoH.
The FT is the first point of contact for each student with
school. The FT will get to know each student better than
any other adult in the school.
Child Protection Policy is in place. It was updated April
2014.
Subject teachers are responsible for safeguarding
student and promoting their well-being. PSHEE,
Citizenship, CEIAG etc all contribute to students’ safety
and well-being.
Appendix 2
Policies, Procedures and Protocols supporting Safeguarding at SGS
Document
Child Protection Policy
Lead
Jane Lutton
Health and Safety Policy
Behaviour Policy 2011
Anti-Bullying Policy
Equality and Diversity
Policy
Student Code of Conduct
Staff Induction
Supply staff Guidance
Supervision rota
Guidelines for dealing with
pupils
within
the
Behaviour Policy
LOtC Risk Assessments
Site Security (visitors)
Shaun Barton
Cathy Lee
Cathy Lee
Cathy Lee
Updated: October 2015
Comment
This Policy will be available on the school website and
VLE.
Approved by Governors March 2009
Reviewed Dec 2013
Reviewed Dec 2013
Reviewed Dec 2013
Cathy Lee
David Morris
Victoria Kirkwood
Shaun Barton
Cathy Lee
Printed in each student’s Planner
Cathy Lee
Office staff/
Reception
Risk Assessment forms amended September 2011
Given the open nature of our site, it is the responsibility
of all adults to be vigilant. If any adult does not recognise
someone on site – they should ask if he/she has
permission to be on site.
Reviewed April 2014
Supervision rota amended September 2013
Reviewed Dec 2013