Safeguarding
At Edward Worlledge Ormiston Academy we view safeguarding as everyone’s responsibility. All staff, governors, volunteers and visitors should play their part in keeping children safe. A child-centred approach is key; a clear understanding of the needs and views of the children is critical.
Meet our Team
- Lead Officer for Safeguarding and Child Protection – Mr Craig Honey (Principal)
- Deputy Lead Officer for Safeguarding and Child Protection – Mrs Pamala Branch (Family Liaison Officer)
- Deputy Lead Officer for Safeguarding and Child Protection – Ms Michala Warner (Vice Principal)
- Deputy Lead Officer for Safeguarding and Designated Lead for Looked After Children – Mrs Hollie Blake (Assistant Principal)
- Deputy Lead Officer for Safeguarding – Miss S Freestone
We recognise our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all pupils. We strive to ensure that our academy is a caring, positive, safe and stimulating environment that promotes the social, physical and moral development every child.
We recognise the importance of providing an environment within our academy that will help children to feel safe and respected, and of enabling children to talk openly about anything that worries them and to feel confident that they will be listened to.
In order to achieve this, Norfolk Children’s Advice and Duty Service will share police information of all domestic incidents where one of our pupils has been present with the Designated Safeguarding Lead(s). On receipt of any information, the Designated Safeguarding Lead will decide on the appropriate support the child requires, this could be silent or overt.
All information sharing and resulting actions will be undertaken in accordance with the ‘Norfolk Joint Agency Protocol for Domestic Abuse – Notifications to Schools’. We will record this information and store this information in accordance with the record keeping procedures outlined in our policy.
The procedures contained in the academy’s safeguarding policy apply to all staff and governors and are consistent with those of the local safeguarding children board (LSCB).
Safeguarding arrangements in our academy are underpinned by two key principals:
- safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility; all staff, governors and volunteers should play their full part in keeping children safe; and
- a child-centred approach; a clear understanding of the needs and views of children.
We will follow the procedures set out by the Area Child Protection Committee or Local Safeguarding Children Board and take account of guidance issued by the DfE by:
- Ensuring that we have a designated senior member of staff with responsibility for Child Protection who has received appropriate training and support for this role.
- Ensuring that we have a nominated governor responsible for Child Protection.
- Ensuring that every member of staff (including temporary and supply staff and volunteers) and governing body knows the name of the designated senior person responsible for Child Protection and their role.
- Ensuring all staff and volunteers understand their responsibilities in being alert to the signs of abuse and responsibility for referring any concerns to the designated Child Protection Co-ordinator/Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.
- Developing effective links with relevant agencies and co-operate as required with their enquiries regarding Child Protection matters including attendance at case conferences.
- Keeping written records of concerns about children, even where there is no need to refer the matter immediately.
- Ensuring all records are kept secure and separate from the main pupil file.
- Following procedures where an allegation is made against a member of staff or volunteer.
- Ensuring safe recruitment practices are always followed and that adults working with children have an up-to-date DBS check.
If we are concerned that your child may be at risk of abuse or neglect, we must follow the procedures in our child protection policy. You can look at the policy on the school website or come into school and see a copy.
The procedures have been written to protect all pupils. They comply with our statutory responsibilities and are designed to support pupils, families and staff. The procedures are based on the principle that the welfare of the child is the most important consideration.
In almost all circumstances, we will talk to you about our concerns and we will also tell you if we feel we must refer our concerns to children’s social care. We will ask your consent to make a referral, but in some circumstances, we may need to make the referral against your wishes. We will only do this if we genuinely believe that this is the best way to protect your child, and the fact that you did not consent to the referral will be recorded.
If we think that talking to you first might in some way increase the risk to your child, we will report our concerns to children’s social care and take advice from them. We will normally tell you that a referral is being made and we will record the reasons why we decided to follow this course of action.
All child protection records are kept separate from your child’s general school file. Records are stored in a locked cabinet or drawer, and if stored on computer they are password-protected. The only staff who have access to the records are those who need to know about the concerns in order to protect and support your child.
Child protection is a very sensitive issue and it raises many questions and a range of strong emotions. We will do everything we can support our pupils and you can be assured that any action we take will be in the best interests of your child.
- We endeavour to make sure that all pupils at EWOA feel comfortable talking about their concerns. The message of sharing their worries and identifying a trusted adult is regularly incorporated into assemblies. For example, wellbeing, anti-bullying and e-safety. Any alleged bullying incidents are dealt with by SLT.
- Children can speak to their teacher or any trusted adult.
- Pupils know the key members of staff that are responsible for safeguarding in the school. They can also identify trusted adults within the school. They can speak to the Designated Safeguarding Leads Mr Honey, Ms Warner or Mrs Blake.
- Edward Worlledge has safeguarding posters with photos of the members of staff responsible for Safeguarding displayed around the school.
When starting at Edward Worlledge, all pupils and their parents, are asked to sign an ICT Acceptable Use Policy. This is tailored for each key stage and copies can be obtained on our policies page or from the academy office.
The academy’s digital safeguarding lead is Mr Craig Honey. Children and adults can report any online safety concerns by email to [email protected] or contact the academy office on 01493 603462.
Prevent is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorist or extremist causes. Many of the things we do in school to help pupils become positive, happy members of society also contribute to the Prevent strategy.
Find out more by clicking on the link below: https://actearly.uk/
Children and adults can take direct action to report harmful content online, by clicking on the RHC logo below:
Reports can be made 24/7 through the online reporting forms and helpline practitioners will review and respond to reports within 72 hours, between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday.
The helpline works to remove 8 different types of online harmful content:
- Bullying and harassment
- Impersonation
- Online abuse
- Pornography
- Self-harm or suicide content
- Threats
- Unwanted sexual advances
- Violent content
CEOP is a law enforcement agency and is there to help keep children and young people safe from sexual abuse and grooming online. This service to for children 16 and under or concerned adults.
Please note. CEOP is unable to respond to reports about bullying, fake accounts or account hacking.
Please click the link on the very top of every webpage.