Please find below our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy, which is updated annually in conjunction with the Babcock Safeguarding Team and our Trust.
It is a legal requirement that each school should have a named Designated Person (DP) and in our school it is the Headteacher. Our Deputy Headteacher, Charlotte Sluman, and our SENCO, Becky Cartlidge, are our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads. Our Safeguarding Governor is Mrs Sarah Shelton.
The Headteacher’s principle consideration is the ongoing welfare, well-being and safety of our pupils. It is the school’s duty to report to outside agencies (i.e. Children’s Social Care) any incidents or concerns to ensure the safety of all pupils. We trust parents will see this as a positive course of action, and it is not meant to cause any upset or difficulty for anyone concerned.
We ensure that all appropriate safeguarding measures are applied in relation to everyone who works in the school, who is likely to be perceived by the children as a safe and trustworthy adult, including volunteers and staff employed by contractors.
Our school is also part of Operation Encompass which is run between all Plymouth schools, the Educational Welfare Service and the Devon and Cornwall Police. The project has been designed to provide early reporting of any domestic incidents that occur outside school, which might have an impact on a child in school. The project ensures that at least one member of the school staff, known as the Key Adult, is trained to liaise with the police and to use the information that has been shared in confidence to best support the child and family.
If you believe that a child is at immediate risk of harm, you should contact the police.
If you have other concerns about a child, please ask to speak to one of our Safeguarding Leads. They can be contacted on 01752 337912 (St. Mary's) or 01752 338199 (Old Priory).
Suzie Ottewell Headteacher
Charlotte Sluman Deputy Headteacher
Becky Cartlidge SENCO