Safeguarding & eSafety
Return to Key InformationMary Astell Academy is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all pupils, staff and visitors and promoting a climate where pupils and adults will feel confident about sharing any concerns they may have about their own safety or the well-being of others.
Our school is committed to promoting the welfare of all children by working in partnership with parents and carers, the Local Authority (LA), Prosper Learning Trust and multi-agency partners in early help and child protection, in accordance with the agreed Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures and practices.
Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) in School is Nicola Gill (Assistant Headteacher). Nicola is supported by the wider Safeguarding Team who are Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSL):
- Andrea Spowart (Headteacher)
- Francesca Brown (Deputy Headteacher)
- Sarah Bendelow (Assistant Headteacher)
- Rob Candler (Assistant Headteacher)
- Paul Jamieson (Assistant Headteacher)
- Leanne Wilson (Safeguarding Officer)
- Sunshine Douglas (SEN HLTA)
- Claire Rarity (Therapeutic Pastoral Support and Interventions)
- Christine Kelly (Inclusion Hub)
- Scott Rutherford (Teacher)
The nominated Safeguarding Local Advisory Committee (LAC) Member is Jonathan Morris, who is also the chair of the LAC.
Any safeguarding concerns should be directed to Nicola Gill. During school hours, she can be contacted on 0191 267 4447. Outside of school hours, please direct safeguarding concerns to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) on 0191 277 4636. In an emergency situation, the police should be contacted on 999.
Training
All staff at Mary Astell Academy complete regular training on all areas of safeguarding and child protection. This includes all staff completing comprehensive safeguarding training with our safeguarding partner, Clennell Education Solutions. All staff then receive an annual refresher.
The DSL and the DDSL complete annual refresher training with Clennell Education Solutions, along with targeted contextualised training with the Local Authority and participate in local safeguarding network groups.
Operation Encompass
Mary Astell Academy is an Operation Encompass School, which is a national scheme that operates jointly between schools and police forces. Operation Encompass is the reporting to schools, prior to the start of the next school day, when a child or young person has experienced domestic abuse. As a school we have ensured that a member of our staff, (Designated Safeguarding Lead) known as a Key Adult, has been trained in the Operation Encompass procedures allowing us to then use the information that has been shared, in confidence, to support the child/ren in our care.
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 identifies children who experience domestic abuse as victims of domestic abuse in their own right.
We are keen to offer the best support possible to all our pupils and we believe this will be extremely beneficial for all those involved.
Lockdown Policy
As part of our health and safety policies and procedures PLT has a Lockdown Policy. Please note that PLT Lockdown Policy will not be publicly shared.
This plan is made in case of the rare event that it is necessary to seal off one of our academies so that it cannot be entered from the outside. This will ensure that pupils, staff and visitors are safe in situations where there is a hazard in the school grounds or outside in the near vicinity. A lockdown is implemented when there are serious security risks on the premises. This could be due to, for example, a nearby chemical spillage, proximity of dangerous animals, serious weather conditions or attempted access by unauthorised persons intent on causing harm or damage.
In a lockdown situation any incident or development will be communicated to parents and carers as soon as is possible and in line with advice from Emergency Services. We understand that in a lockdown situation parents and carers will be concerned. However, in the unlikely event that this situation arises in one of our academies we ask that:
- parents/carers do not contact the school as this could tie up telephone lines that are needed for contacting the emergency services
- parents/carers do not attempt to come to the school, unless specifically asked to do so, as they could put themselves and others at risk
- parents/carers should wait until the school has contacted them about when it is safe to come and collect their child(ren), and where this will be from
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