Safeguarding

At The Orchard’s safeguarding and child protection is central to everything that we do. All staff including supply staff, volunteers, trainees etc are expected to safeguard and promotethe welfare of children as we know that for children to be successful learners in school. They must feel safe, secure and valued for who they are.

Staff will work together for the safety and wellbeing of children in their care in line with their statutory duties. They will promote the welfare of all children regardless of age, gender, disability, race, religion or belief.

Protecting Children from Abuse

The Orchard’s Special School will take any reasonable action to safeguard the welfare of all children. In cases where the school has reason to be concerned that a child maybe suffering significant harm, in the form or emotional, physical, sexual abuse or neglect then the school will follow the procedures set out by Trafford’s Safeguarding Children Partnership (TSCP) and inform First Response of their concerns.

Designated Safeguarding Leads

Safeguarding in central to everything that we do at The Orchard’s and we have robust policies and procedures in place to ensure that everyone is kept safe. There are a number of staff who work as part of the schools safeguarding team.

Designated Safeguarding Lead: Ms Helen O’Brien

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mrs Jane Cawood, Miss Imogen Bosmith & Miss Stephanie Clemmet.

If you have and queries or questions around safeguarding issues at The Orchard’s then please contact one of the names leads through the school office or via email:

Safeguarding Governor

The Orchard’s Safeguarding Governor is Sophie Fox. Her role is to:

• Maintain an up to date knowledge of national guidance concerning. For example, this could be knowledge around key legislation or particular topics.
• Review polices and procedures with the DSL.
• Ensure that all school policies consider potential safeguarding issues. For example how is safeguarding implemented during community visits?
• Ensure safer recruitment is robust and adhered to.
• Ensure staff have adequate and high quality training.
• Monitor the single central record with the DSL.

Operation Encompass

Operation Encompass is a police and education early information sharing partnership enabling schools to offer immediate support for children and young people experiencing domestic abuse. Information is shared by the police with a school’s trained Key Adult (Designated Safeguarding Lead ) prior to the start of the next school day after officers have attended a domestic abuse incident thus enabling appropriate support to be given, dependent upon the needs and wishes of the child.

The purpose of Operation Encompass is to safeguard and support children and young people who have been involved in, heard or witnessed a domestic abuse incident. Following such an incident, children will often arrive at school distressed, upset, worried and unprepared. Operation Encompass aims to ensure that schools trained Designated Safeguarding Lead (Helen O’Brien) is made aware early enough to support children and young people in a way that means they feel safe and included.

If you have any question or require any further information please speak to Head of School: Helen O’Brien or one of our Parent Support Advisors.

Radicalisation

Children can be exposed to different views and receive information from various sources. Some of these views may be considered radical or extreme.

Radicalisation is the process through which a person comes to support or be involved in extremist ideologies. It can result in a person becoming drawn into terrorism and is in itself a form of harm.

All organisations that work with children and young people have a duty to understand the process of radicalisation and to help prevent it.

All staff have completed the online ‘preventp training which explains more about radicalisation and how staff could identify this happening.

Safeguarding Documents

Safeguarding Resources