Safeguarding and online safety
The security, safeguarding and wellbeing of our children is our primary responsibility.
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The security, safeguarding and wellbeing of our children is our primary responsibility.
The Designated Lead for Child Protection and Safeguarding is the Headteacher. In his absence, Mr Towler (Deputy Headteacher) or Mrs Shorten (AHT) take responsibility as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads. Our senior leadership team (SLT) are also able to take responsibility, if necessary. All staff have level 2 (or above) safeguarding training at regular intervals. We follow the ESCB guidance published annually by Essex Local Authority (see here).
A link to our current Safeguarding and Child Protection Local Arrangements can be found here, as well as information on how we ensure Site Security, respond to local emergency incidents and manage Safeguarding at Lft Westerings. This is regularly updated, to reflect guidance in 'Keeping Children Safe in Education'. The school works with Essex Safeguarding Children Board.
Lift Westerings is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all its pupils. We believe that:
- All children have the right to be protected from harm;
- Children need to be safe and to feel safe in school;
- Children need support which matches their individual needs, including those who may have experienced abuse;
- All children have the right to speak freely and voice their values and beliefs;
- All children must be encouraged to respect each other’s values and support each other;
- All children have the right to be supported to meet their emotional and social needs as well as their educational needs – a happy healthy sociable child will achieve better educationally;
- Schools can and do contribute to the prevention of abuse, victimisation, bullying, exploitation, radicalisation, extreme behaviours, discriminatory views and risk taking behaviours; and
- All staff and visitors have an important role to play in safeguarding children and protecting them from abuse.
What does that look like at Westerings?
All children currently attending Lift Westerings do so safe in the knowledge that their wellbeing is our number one priority. Whether our unique curriculum, our rigorous training of staff, or simply the culture we have created at Westerings, each and every child has the right to be protected from harm.
Curriculum:
Our curriculum is bespoke. It has been carefully constructed over the years to be challenging, aspirational and contextualised for our pupils and our locality. In our curriculum, we embed many opportunities for children to learn about what keeps them safe, and how to share concerns as and when they arise.
Culture:
Safeguarding is not just a 'process', it's an integral part of everyday life at Westerings. Our children are regularly involved in events and opportunities which contribute to the development of a strong safeguarding culture. These range from Bikeability courses in Upper KS2, swimming safety lessons in Y3 and Y6, first aid training in Y5, road safety in various year groups... and much, much more!
Conduct:
We have strict processes and procedures that focus on high-quality training for staff, early intervention and support for pupils and families, tight monitoring and record keeping, and a joined-up approach with local agencies. All staff are Level 2 Safeguarding trained as a minimum expectation. Regular safeguarding updates are embedded to our training schedule to ensure our processes and procedures are always closely followed.
Hear directly from our pupils!
Take a look at this short video, where our children talk through the different values, procedures or learning that creates a culture of safety at Westerings.
We have a suite of policies relevant to safeguarding. Here is a link to our statutory information including safeguarding and online safety policies.
Security
The school has secure external fencing to its perimeter. Additional internal fencing ensures the safety of children whilst on the school premises. There are 20+ High Definition CCTV cameras on the academy site which operate 24 hours a day. Our best security device, however, remains the ears and eyes of the people who work at the school.
An automated barrier to the academy premises ensures agreed access only. School gates are opened at key times throughout the day (e.g. student drop-off or hometimes), but teaching staff supervise the main gate and key positions around the entry areas at 8.40am to ensure only students or expected visitors access site. The gates are then closed prior to 9.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. Access at all other times are by intercom system only.
Within our school:
- Doors can be locked from the inside.
- Entry systems have been installed on the two main entrance doors. Access can only be gained by staff, or by buzzing, when entry will then be given.
- A ‘signing-in’ system is in operation for all visitors and parent helpers to the school, who are required to wear identity lanyards (colour coded to reflect level of DBS clearance).
- All visitors/parent helpers in the academy engaged in frequent and/or regulated activities are DBS checked.
- All professionals have to provide identification.When the academy is closed, there is an extensive alarm system in place which alerts the keyholders.
- All staff wear ID badges to enable them to be identified. We have emergency plans and procedures in place in the event of key events (e.g. Lockdowns and emergency evacuations) which may be viewed upon request.
All staff have been trained on how to report safeguarding and technical concerns, such as if:
NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children): nspcc.org.uk
Childline: childline.org.uk Contact: 0800 1111
