Safeguarding
At Ashley we believe that all children have the right to be safe in our society. Therefore, we recognise that we have a duty to ensure arrangements are in place for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children by creating a positive school atmosphere; through our teaching and learning; pastoral support and care for both pupils and school personnel; training for school personnel; and working with parents.
The words 'safeguarding ' and 'child protection' are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings. Safeguarding is what we are doing for all our children; child protection refers to the policy and procedures we have for referring and supporting children at risk of serious harm, or who have been seriously harmed. The definition of safeguarding is given in 'Keeping Children Safe in Education'. There are four key elements:
- protecting children from maltreatment;
- preventing impairment of children's health or development;
- ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and
- taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.
Our safeguarding subcommittee meets monthly and ensures that our policies and practices are constantly monitored, reviewed and supported to enable our children and staff to work in a safe and positive environment. The following members of the school safeguarding subcommittee have their training updated on a bi-annual basis:
Mrs V Hopkins - Assistant Headteacher / Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mrs M Rebbeck - SENDCo / Deputy DSL
Mr S Crinall - Assistant Headteacher / Deputy DSL
Mrs L Athersuch - UKS2 Phase Leader / Deputy DSL / Online Safety Lead
Mrs J Hart - HLTA/ ELSA/ Health & Wellbeing Coordinator / Deputy DSL
Mrs A Wood - Wrap Around Care Manager / Deputy DSL
Mr M McCarthy - LGC Member (Safeguarding)
If you need to contact a DSL please email DSL@ashley.surrey.sch.uk
Safeguarding Practices Across the School
All of our school personnel are trained to follow the latest safeguarding guidance. Training for current members of staff is done on an annual basis, with updates at staff meetings. New members of staff are trained within their first term of joining the school. The wellbeing of our children and staff is of the utmost importance across our school.
Please visit our policies page for our safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures.
We are supported by our academy trust - Good Shepherd Trust Safeguarding
Staff have annual training in safeguarding and child protection. At each staff meeting, Safeguarding is always an agenda item. This keeps staff upto date and current with their training, it also enables us to discuss any aspects of safeguarding as a school regularly.
All staff members have undertaken safeguarding training including FGM and CSE, online safety training and Radicalisation Training.
All staff have completed Prevent e-learning course.
The DSL and DDSL's have all undertaken further safeguarding training including Operation Encompass and attend termly DSL meetings.
The school submit a Safeguarding Audit to Surrey Safeguarding Children's Board (SSCB) Annually. This document is completed by the DSL, Deputy DSL and the Safeguarding/Child protection Governor.
If you would like to access some further training for yourself and/or your child please click on the link below. The link will take you to the Think you Know website.
“Thinkuknow is the education programmer from the National Crime Agency's CEOP (Child Exploitation Online Protection) command. Thinkuknow aims to empower children and young people aged 5-17 to identify the risks they may face online and know where they can go for support.”
ThinkuKnow
All staff have read, signed, understand and follow Keeping Children Safe in Education Part 1. All Governors have read, signed, understand and follow Keeping Children Safe in Education Part 2. To read Keeping Children Safe in Education please click on the link below; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2 Further information - The two documents, Working Together to Safeguard children and What to do if you are worried a child is being abused, can be found on the DfE website.
Operation Encompass is a scheme run jointly between schools, Surrey Police and Surrey County Council. Operation Encompass has been designed to provide early reporting on any domestic incidents that occur outside of school and might have an impact on a child. Operation Encompass will ensure that the Key Adult (Mrs Hopkins) or the Deputy Key Adult (Mrs Athersuch) is informed the next morning that there has been a domestic incident or if a child has been reported missing. This means that the Key adult or the Deputy Key Adult can ensure that the child is supported whilst they are in school.
Senior staff and LGC members have undertaken Safer Recruitment training. We follow the procedures when recruiting any new member of staff including volunteers.