Safeguarding

Safeguarding

Epinay Business and Enterprise School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and all staff and volunteers share this commitment. The ethos and values underpin the importance of our child centred approach, which ensures all children are safe and happy within an environment that promotes. social, emotional, physical and moral development of the individual child or young person.

We recognise that all adults, including temporary staff, volunteers and governors, have a full and active part to play in protecting our pupils and young people from harm, and that the child or young person’s welfare is our paramount concern.

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined in Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018) as:

  • A child centred approach which is fundamental to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every child. A child centred approach means keeping the child in focus when making decisions about their lives and working in partnership with them and their families.
  • All practitioners should follow the principles of the Children Acts 1989 and 2004 – that state that the welfare of children is paramount and that they are best looked after within their families, with their parents playing a full part in their lives, unless compulsory intervention in family life is necessary.
  • Children may be vulnerable to neglect and abuse or exploitation from within their family and from individuals they come across in their day-to-day lives. These threats can take a variety of different forms, including sexual, physical and emotional abuse; neglect; exploitation by criminal gangs and organised crime groups; trafficking; online abuse; sexual exploitation and the influences of extremism leading to radicalisation. Whatever the form of abuse or neglect, practitioners should put the needs of children first when determining what action to take.

At Epinay Business and Enterprise School, all staff have been trained to follow procedures and understand policies which have been outlined through the Keeping Children Safe in Education (2020) publication, local guidance issued from South Tyneside’s Safeguarding Children’s Board and Clennell’s Education Services. This includes when to make referrals to children’s social care, recommendations for children who will benefit from Early Help and referrals to health services.

The following roles have been appointed within school:

CHILD PROTECTION AND SAFEGUARDING

Designated Safeguard Lead

Lynne Murphy

Lead Governor for Safeguarding and Child Protection

Audrey Huntley

Mental health and Wellbeing Governor

Peter Haggerston

Deputy Designated Safeguard Lead

Chris Rue

E-Safety Lead

K.Simpson

Multi-Agency Key Worker

Ronice Jopling

Where we have any concerns about a child’s welfare; we will follow our safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and take appropriate action to address those concerns by working in full partnership with other agencies as outlined by the local authority and Keeping Children Safe in Education (2020) publication.

Sharing Information

On some occasions, we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a child or young person’s welfare. We will ensure that our concerns about our pupils are discussed with his/her parents/carers first unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child or young person’s welfare.

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Mrs L Murphy (Assistant Headteacher) who can be contacted on lmurphy@epinay.org

Site Information

A secure site is provided for our children and visitors are asked to adhere to all our safeguarding rules. Visitors should enter only through the main pedestrian entrance and sign in at Reception where they will be greeted by a member of the office team.

 

We work closely with Clennell Education Solutions for safeguarding advice and information.  Further details of Clennell’s services can be found on their website via the link below:

Clennell Education Solutions Website


PREVENT - ACT Early


 
Advice leaflets for parents/carers – click on the links below

The following safeguarding policies/documents are made available both electronically, click links below, or as a paper copy on request to the Head Teacher’s PA – Mrs S Stephenson

Specific Safeguarding Policies available are:

Specific Government Documentation are available by clicking on the links below:

 

Contact us

T: 0191 489 8949 E: sstephenson5@epinay.org