Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility at Westwood Academy.
Safeguarding
At Westwood Academy, safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do.
We recognise that many of our pupils have experienced challenges and barriers that can affect their wellbeing, education and life opportunities. Creating a safe, supportive and nurturing environment is therefore our highest priority.
We are committed to ensuring that every pupil feels safe, valued, listened to and respected. Through positive relationships, our staff help pupils develop trust, confidence and the support they need to thrive both academically and personally.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. All staff receive regular training and remain vigilant in identifying concerns, responding appropriately and ensuring that pupils receive timely support. We promote a culture where pupils feel able to share worries and ask for help when they need it.
We work closely with parents, carers and families, recognising that open, honest and respectful communication helps us respond quickly to emerging needs. We also work in partnership with external agencies, including Children’s Social Care, Early Help, health services, CAMHS, Youth Justice Services, Educational Psychologists and other specialist professionals.
Our aim is to remove barriers, promote wellbeing and help every pupil feel safe, secure and ready to succeed.
The NSPCC defines safeguarding as “the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm.”
Our safeguarding team
Our Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads are responsible for leading safeguarding across the academy.
They provide advice, guidance and support to pupils, families and staff, and work closely with external agencies where concerns are identified.
We believe every young person deserves the chance to discover their strengths and ambitions. Through carefully planned experiences, enrichment activities and personalised support, pupils develop confidence, resilience and the skills needed to thrive in education, employment and life.
We believe every young person deserves the chance to discover their strengths and ambitions. Through carefully planned experiences, enrichment activities and personalised support, pupils develop confidence, resilience and the skills needed to thrive in education, employment and life.
Our approach
We take all concerns seriously and respond promptly.
Our staff receive regular safeguarding training and understand that safeguarding can include concerns relating to neglect, physical, emotional or sexual abuse, online safety, mental health, child-on-child abuse, exploitation, domestic abuse, attendance, radicalisation and other risks to a child’s welfare.
We work in partnership with parents and carers wherever possible. However, where we believe a child may be at risk of harm, we will always act in their best interests and may need to seek advice or make a referral to other agencies.
Early help and support
We recognise that families can sometimes need support before difficulties become more serious.
Where appropriate, we work with pupils, parents, carers and external professionals to identify needs early and put the right support in place. This may include pastoral support, attendance support, mentoring, wellbeing services or multi-agency working.
Operation Encompass
Westwood Academy 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.
CEOP
If you are worried about online sexual abuse, grooming or inappropriate contact, you can make a report directly to CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection). CEOP is part of the National Crime Agency and helps keep children and young people safe online.
Useful links
Out of Hours emergency contacts
- Early Help & Safeguarding Hub: 01609 534852
- Emergency Duty team: 0300 131 2 131
- Child in immediate danger: 999
- Police non-emergency: 101
Other useful numbers for information:
- Childline: 0800 11 11
- The Samaritans: 116 123
- NSPCC: 0808 800 5000
Face up 2 it
CSE info website Face up 2 it
Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a form of sexual abuse that involves the manipulation and/or coercion of young people under the age of 18 into sexual activity.
Specific links to safety for the area:
Water Safety
Safety education – Network Rail
Road safety | North Yorkshire Council
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 Westwood Academy, 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.
Safe, Valued and Listened To
We create a nurturing environment where every pupil feels respected, supported and able to share worries with trusted adults.
Early Help and Trusted Support
Our trained staff identify concerns early and work with pupils and families to provide the right help at the right time.
Working Together to Keep Pupils Safe
We work closely with parents, carers and specialist agencies to remove barriers, promote wellbeing and help every pupil thrive.
