Principles

Section 175 of the Education Act 2002 gives maintained schools and colleges a statutory duty to promote and safeguard the welfare of children, and have due regard to the DCFS guidance ‘Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education’ and the Children Act 1989 and 2004 Guidance.

Treviglas Community College recognises that it has a duty to ensure arrangements are in place for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and we will carry out this duty through our teaching and learning, pastoral care and extended college activities. All members of the college community (including volunteers and governors) will at all times establish and maintain a safe and stimulating environment where children feel secure, are encouraged to talk to adults they can trust and are listened to. Through training, all staff (teaching and nonteaching) will be able to recognise the signs of abuse and understand their responsibilities when a child may be at risk of harm. Training of all staff (except the designated person) will be updated every three years. The college will ensure that it provides written referrals on the correct form (CAF) and recognises the importance of attendance at all meetings called when there is a concern
regarding the safeguarding of a student.

Staff Recruitment

In line with the guidance ‘Safer Recruitment’, the Headteacher and Chair of Governors have completed Safer Recruitment training. All staff including volunteers who have access to children in our college have been carefully selected and screened and all have had an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check prior to commencing work. All details of all appointments/checks are held in a central record. Staff will be inducted into the college and training will be given with regard to child protection. No member of staff will hold student information on personal devices, including mobile telephone numbers; staff will not share personal data with a student, including mobile telephone numbers or private email addresses, nor will staff engage in social networking with a student or groups of students.

Designated member of staff

The designated senior member of staff for all matters relating to Child Protection and Safeguarding in this college is: Shirley Robins who reports to Mrs Karen Ross, Deputy Headteacher.

Our designated member of staff is fully trained and receives updated training every 2 years.

The designated person ensures all confidential records are kept securely. It is the responsibility of the designated member of staff to have discussions with Social Care when concerns arise regarding the safety of a student in this college. All such students are closely monitored, including attendance, and where extra concerns arise these are always passed on to the appropriate agencies. The Designated Person ensures that all staff are trained with regard to Safeguarding and Child Protection.

Designated Governor

Our college has a designated safeguarding governor, Mrs Anne Drackford, who will act as the link person between the governing body and the designated officer. The governor will review safeguarding procedures/practices including access to training through termly meetings with the safeguarding officer. The governors will ensure that sufficient time is given to carry out the duties including accessing training. Where safeguarding concerns arise regarding a member of staff, the governor will liaise with the Chair of Governors.

Children with Statements of Special Educational Needs

We recognise that statistically children with behavioural difficulties and disabilities are most vulnerable to abuse. All staff that support these students will be extra aware of the need for vigilance for signs of abuse.

Parents

This college believes in working closely with parents and there is an opendoor policy so that parents can feel able to visit at any time to discuss concerns. Email is used extensively by parents to contact members of staff directly including the Headteacher.

This college is fully signed up to the Safeguarding of Children and the Policy is in place and can be found on the website as can all other policies e.g. SEN – Behaviour and Attendance etc.