Safeguarding
CHILD PROTECTION AND SAFETY STANDARDS
Safeguarding
The safety and wellbeing of our children is our number one priority at Thomas’s Battersea and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment to safeguard our pupils.
We strongly believe that Thomas’s Battersea should provide a safe, caring and positive environment for every child, one in which they can thrive and give of their best.
Our comprehensive child protection and safeguarding policies are lived and breathed every day, creating a culture of safeguarding throughout all aspects of school life. The school’s policies and procedures are continuously reviewed and developed in line with statutory guidance, ISI regulations, local authority requirements and best practice.
We recognise the importance of early intervention to avoid concerns escalating, while ensuring comprehensive support and care is in place for every individual child at each stage of their development.
Please read our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy for further information.
Safeguarding Contacts
If you have a safeguarding concern relating to a pupil at Thomas’s Battersea, please contact our safeguarding team will always listen carefully and respond appropriately to any concerns raised.
| Contact Details | |
|---|---|
| Designated Safeguarding Lead | Jon Akhurst |
| [email protected] | |
| Telephone | 020 7978 0900 |
| Out of school hours / school holidays | 020 7978 0622 |
Safeguarding is central to life at Thomas’s Battersea. It is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm.
Safeguarding means:
- Providing help and support to meet the needs of children as soon as problems emerge
- Protecting children from maltreatment, whether that is within or outside the home, including online
- Preventing the impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development
- Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
- Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.
Child protection is part of the safeguarding process.
It focuses on protecting individual children identified as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. This includes child protection procedures which detail how to respond to concerns about a child.
In England, the Department for Education is the government department responsible for all child protection policies. At a local level, local safeguarding partners such as the police, the local authority and designated safeguarding groups are in charge of managing any complaints or issues and ensuring that the principles of the Children Act are upheld.
What should I do if I am worried about a child?
If you have a safeguarding concern relating to a pupil at Thomas’s Battersea, please contact our safeguarding team whose details are above.
If you believe a child is at immediate risk of harm, do not wait. Call 999 to reach the Police straight away. They will assess the situation and take immediate action to protect the child.
What if I am not sure whether my concern is serious?
Many people worry that they might be mistaken. However, safeguarding is always about putting the child first.
If something does not feel right, it is always better to share your concern. Speaking up may help protect a child and ensure they receive the support they need.
Who is responsible for safeguarding?
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Teachers, school staff, families and the wider community all play an important role in keeping children safe.
At Thomas’s, all staff receive safeguarding training so they can recognise concerns and respond appropriately.
