Safeguarding Statement of Intent

The safeguarding of our children is our school’s highest priority. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility at Gladesmore Community School.

Keeping our children safe is our top priority.  Young people face different kinds of risks to their safety and wellbeing whilst growing up. We aim to educate our children to help keep them safe and assist them with problems if they arise. We also recognise that parenting is tough and that social media and the pandemic present additional challenges. Our safeguarding team is here to support pupils and parents / carers.   Safeguarding is considered to be so important at Gladesmore, that the Designated Safeguarding Lead, Mrs Jones, works with a team of dedicated staff (Meet the Safeguarding Team).   Our safeguarding team has experience in a wide variety of different settings, from education to the police and social work.  In addition, we have strong links with counsellors, mentors, support services, community groups, the police and other professionals who can assist children and parents and carers.   We have included some useful information on the Parenting, Wellbeing and Online Safety pages of this site.   Please do reach out if you are worried or in need of support. Children, parents, carers, we know that it can be challenging to come forwards when things are difficult, but please get in touch so that we can help. The Safeguarding leads can be contacted via email at the following address:  safeguarding@gladesmore.com Alternatively, if you would prefer to speak to a member of the safeguarding team please call the school's main office phone number on: 020 8800 0884.

Pauline Jones Assistant Head, Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

What is safeguarding?

Safeguarding helps us to protect the children in our school community.  By working with families and other organisations, we seek to not only keep young people safe but also to improve the lives of our young people.   Our work is wide-ranging, encompassing such things as: online safety, wellbeing, harassment, bullying, self-harm, working with families to resolve disputes, referring students to other professionals e.g. CAMHS and providing information about particular issues e.g. eating disorders.  

Our pupils benefit from an education programme which develops their understanding of how to keep themselves safe now and in the future.  This includes teaching our young people how to recognise and manage risk.  A key part of this safeguarding education is a weekly PSHE lesson with your child's form tutor. Over their 5 years at Gladesmore Community School, pupils are given the opportunity to learn about and discuss issues affecting their lives.  PSHE lessons are supported by a programme of assemblies, presentations and special events.  If you wish to know more about PSHE at Gladesmore, please visit the PSHE Curriculum page.  

Our safeguarding team works collaboratively with the other safeguarding professionals. All of our staff regularly undergo thorough safeguarding training. Training is bespoke, meaning that the training received by the hygiene team would be different to the training received by the teaching team. In addition, the safeguarding team completes additional high-level specialist training in all aspects of safeguarding including prevent, domestic abuse, sexual assault, neglect and early help.

Our Safeguarding Policy

Gladesmore Community School's Safeguarding Policy sets out expected practice in dealing with safeguarding issues.  It makes explicit the school’s commitment to the development of good practice and effective procedures, ensuring that safeguarding concerns and referrals are handled sensitively, professionally and in a way that supports and protects the needs of the child. The policy can be found in the policies and documents section.

• Prevention: by creating a positive school atmosphere and providing high quality teaching and pastoral support to pupils;
• Protection: by following agreed procedures and ensuring staff are appropriately recruited, trained and supported to respond appropriately and sensitively to Child Protection concerns;
• Support: by providing support for pupils and school staff and for children who may have been or are being abused.

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as:

• Protecting children from maltreatment;
• Preventing impairment of children’s health or development;
• Ensuring children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and
• Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

Child protection is a part of safeguarding and promoting welfare. It refers to the activity that is undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering, or are likely to suffer, significant harm.

Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families, staff and governors has a role to play in safeguarding children. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, staff consider what is in the best interests of the child.

What happens if I report a concern? 

Parents and pupils can sometimes be concerned about what will happen if they come to speak to us.  Each case is dealt with professionally and discretely. Our actions would vary depending on the nature of the concern.  However, please find below some information which may be helpful: 

• Referrals to the safeguarding team are not routinely shared with other members of staff unless there is a pressing need for other teachers to know, e.g. a medical concern; 
• Other pupils will not be made aware of what is happening.  If we need to investigate an incident, our top priority is always the welfare and safety of the victim. 
• Pupils' information and disclosures are handled discreetly and sensitively; 
• Where possible, we will always work with the family, keeping you informed;