WHAT IS SAFEGUARDING? 
Safeguarding is essentially about keeping children and young people safe from abuse or neglect. All those who come into contact with children and families in their everyday work, including people who do not have a specific role in relation to child protection, have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
WHY IS SAFEGUARDING IMPORTANT?
At Dormers Wells High School we understand that promoting the welfare of all the children who live and learn within our community is of upmost importance. This means ensuring that we create every opportunity for our students to grow, develop and achieve their own potential whilst being protected from harmful influences and actions either on the part of others or themselves. By doing this we will enable children to maximise their own life chances.
SIGNS
If you notice anything that concerns you, talk to your child to see if you can find out what is happening. If your child becomes distressed or you are not happy with the explanations, you could talk to our designated safeguarding staff at school, an adult you trust or call a helpline or children’s social care services.
Some signs to look for are:
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bruises or other injuries
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a change in behaviour – from quiet to loud, or from happy-go-lucky to withdrawn pain or discomfort
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fear of a particular person, or a reluctance to be alone with them
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secrecy around a relationship with a particular person
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reluctance to discuss where they go, or who they are with
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sexual talk or knowledge beyond their years
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being watchful, or always on edge
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losing interest in their appearance
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hobbies or family life
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having money and refusing to say where it has come from
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wetting the bed
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becoming clingy.
HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT WE SAFEGUARD ALL PUPILS?
It is our priority to promote the welfare of, and effectively safeguard, the children in our care by:
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valuing all our students as individuals
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listening to students and taking only decisions that are in their best interest.
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respecting our students as individuals and ensuring they feel safe to raise any concerns within our school community.
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ensuring that all adults entering the building sign in and have access to our visitor policy
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ensuring adherence to school policies on confidentiality and protection of personal information
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making sure all governors, staff, visitors and anyone else who is involved in the day to day life of Dormers Wells High School are aware of and committed to the safeguarding policy and child protection procedures
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recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
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adopting a code of conduct for all staff and visitors to school which includes digital safety and the use of mobile phones etc.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF WE FEEL THERE IS A SAFEGUARDING ISSUE?
As a school we are required to share information about concerns and student welfare issues with external agencies on a need to know basis. Should a child make a disclosure we will contact the appropriate agencies. If we are advised that a child may be put at further risk and adults should not be informed, we will follow this advice. Where allegations concern members of staff these will be dealt with in accordance with our Ealing child protection procedures.
reducing the impact of parental conflict on children