Safeguarding

Our approach

Safeguarding is embedded throughout life at Newman School.

We promote a culture in which pupils are listened to and supported to communicate their feelings, experiences and concerns in ways that are appropriate to their individual communication needs.

Our safeguarding practice includes:

• appropriately trained and knowledgeable staff;
• clear procedures for identifying and reporting concerns;
• monitoring attendance and responding to unexplained or concerning absence;
• safer recruitment practices;
• appropriate filtering and monitoring of technology;
• maintaining a safe school environment;
• individual support plans that help staff understand pupils’ needs and appropriate approaches;
• working closely with parents, carers and external professionals; and
• ensuring pupils’ voices are heard and their views are taken seriously.

Working together

Effective safeguarding depends upon strong partnerships.

Newman School works with parents and carers, children’s services, health professionals, the Police, local authority services and other agencies to help protect children and young people and provide appropriate support when concerns arise.

Where necessary, information may be shared with relevant professionals in accordance with safeguarding legislation and guidance when doing so is necessary to protect a child.

Operation Encompass

Newman School supports Operation Encompass.

Operation Encompass is a partnership between schools and the police that helps us provide timely support to pupils who may have been affected by domestic abuse.

Where the police attend an incident of domestic abuse and a child is connected to the household, the school may receive a confidential notification before the start of the next school day. This information is shared only with trained safeguarding staff and allows us to offer appropriate care, understanding and support.

The purpose of Operation Encompass is not to judge families. It is to make sure that children receive the support they may need following a difficult experience.

Online safety

The online world brings many opportunities, but it can also create risks.

We teach pupils how to stay safe online, use technology responsibly and seek help if something worries them. Our staff also monitor and respond to concerns relating to online bullying, harmful content, exploitation, inappropriate contact and other online risks.

Safeguarding Within Venn Academy Trust

Newman School is part of Venn Academy Trust, which is committed to exemplary safeguarding practice across all its schools.

The Trust supports its schools through a Trust-wide safeguarding and attendance network, professional development for safeguarding practitioners, regular quality assurance and auditing, safer recruitment processes, filtering and monitoring arrangements and the sharing of new safeguarding guidance and legislation.

This provides an additional layer of support and scrutiny while ensuring safeguarding arrangements reflect Newman’s pupils, context and individual needs.

Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)

The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) manages allegations or concerns about adults who work or volunteer with children. If there is a concern that a member of staff or volunteer may have behaved in a way that has harmed, or could pose a risk of harm to a child, the LADO provides independent advice and oversees the process to ensure concerns are managed fairly, consistently and in line with statutory safeguarding guidance.

Prevent and safeguarding from radicalisation

Protecting pupils from the risk of radicalisation is part of our wider safeguarding responsibility.

The Prevent strategy aims to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. It focuses on early support for people who may be susceptible to radicalisation and applies to all forms of terrorism and extremism. Prevent duty guidance

At Newman School, staff are trained to recognise concerns, respond proportionately and seek advice where needed. We promote respect, inclusion, critical thinking and British Values through our curriculum and wider school life.

If we have a concern that a pupil may be vulnerable to radicalisation, we will follow safeguarding procedures and work with the appropriate agencies to ensure the right support is available.