Safeguarding, The Deanery

Safeguarding Information

At the Deanery CE Academy we have an important role to play in identifying any concerns children and young people may have, and promoting health and wellbeing throughout all areas of their life. All staff are committed to the safeguarding of children and young people. We expect volunteers and our surrounding community to do the same.

Child protection is part of the safeguarding process. It focuses on protecting individual children identified as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. Safeguarding children and child protection guidance and legislation applies to all children up to the age of 18.

Safeguarding legislation and government guidance says that safeguarding means:

Protecting children from maltreatment
Preventing impairment of children's health or development
Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
Taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcome

The academy adheres to the following three DfE safeguarding documents:

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018
Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023
The Prevent Duty 2015

The Deanery CE Academy Safeguarding and Child Protection policy is located below.

The academy's immediate Safeguarding Team consists of:

Miss Naomi Luckman - Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Mrs Kelly Matthews - Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)
Mrs Tracey Lappin - Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) and FLO
Ms Sharon Bishop - Headteacher of KCEA
Mrs Kelly Osborne-James - Headteacher of DCEA - Extended Safeguarding Team
Ms Laura Connors - Deputy Headteacher (Pastoral) - Extended Safeguarding Team
Mrs Sarah Parry - Assistant Headteacher (Pastoral) - Extended Safeguarding Team

Our safeguarding leads are the first point of contacts for all students, parents, staff, members of the public and volunteers in all matters of safeguarding and child protection. Our safeguarding leads will conduct the relevant safeguarding procedures and work closely with HR to ensure that all staff are kept up to date with any training they may need. All Safeguarding Leads will receive appropriate training every two years.

If you are ever concerned about the safety or wellbeing of any child, please speak directly with one of our named safeguarding leads above. If our safeguarding leads are unavailable, their duties will be carried out by the Headteacher or a Deputy where appropriate. Any complaints or allegations made against a member of staff will immediately be referred to the Headteacher who will inform the Chair of the Academy Council, Andy Smith. Where the Headteacher is the subject of an allegation or complaint, these duties will be carried out by Andy Smith, Chair of the Academy Council, in liaison with the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).

All staff have a duty of care to report concerns when they arise.

Parents and carers will be informed of such concerns unless to do so would increase the risk to the child.

A written record of any concern will be kept on file and shared with other safeguarding professionals as necessary. Written records will be kept locked and secure, computer records are encrypted.

Useful information:

Child on Child Abuse

Child on child abuse occurs when a young person (under 18 years old) is exploited, bullied and/or harmed by their peers, who are the same or similar age. Child on Child abuse can include physical and sexual abuse, sexual harassment and violence, emotional harm, bullying (including cyberbullying) and teenage relationship abuse.

You can get more information about Child on Child Abuse from:

https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/bullying-abuse-safety/types-bullying/

https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/feelings-and-symptoms/bullying/

Sexual Violence and Harassment

What is sexual harassment?

Sexual harassment is any kind of unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature that makes you feel humiliated or intimidated, or that creates a hostile environment.

When someone calls you insulting sexual names, talks about you in a sexual way that makes you feel uncomfortable (such as commenting on your body), or spreads sexual rumours about you, it is called sexual harassment. It can happen in person, over the phone, or online.

Sexual harassment can make you feel anxious, depressed and lead to other problems, such as difficulties sleeping.

‘Everyone’s Invited’

Many of you may have seen media coverage of a website called ‘Everyone’s Invited‘

At The Deanery CE Academy, we continue to proudly promote a culture which fosters respectful and healthy relationships, and challenges all aspects of abuse. We are encouraged by the fact that Ofsted will be reviewing safeguarding practices in schools nationally, as a result of ‘Everyone’s Invited’.

As an academy, we will always:

Enable all children to report concerns freely and in the knowledge that they will be taken seriously
Challenge any form of derogatory language or behaviour
Ensure our curriculum helps to educate our learners about appropriate behaviour
Work with external agencies where appropriate, to ensure the right support is in place for all

We would like to highlight some of the support available to you. In addition to contacting us here at the academy, the NSPCC has created a helpline (0800 136 663) for parents/carers and young people, and they can be contacted via help@nspcc.org.uk.

The following websites also provide additional information and support:

Child Criminal Exploitation

Criminal exploitation is also known as ‘county lines’ and is when organised crime networks, groom and exploit children to sell drugs, within a gang mentality. Often these children are made to travel across counties, and they use dedicated mobile phone ‘lines’ to supply drugs.

You can find more information about Child Criminal Exploitation, including signs and where to get help from:

Child Sexual Exploitation

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) is a type of sexual abuse. When a child or young person is exploited, they may be offered items such as gifts, drugs, money, status and affection, in exchange for performing sexual activities. Children and young people are often tricked into believing that they are in a loving and consensual relationship. This is called 'grooming'. They may trust their abuser and not understand that they are being abused.

You can find more information about CSE, including signs of CSE and where to get help from:

Mental Health

Everyone has mental health – some call mental health ‘emotional health’ or ‘wellbeing’ and it is just as important as good physical health. Everyone’s mental health is different. We all have times when we feel down or stressed or frightened. Most of the time, those feelings pass, but sometimes they develop into a more serious problem and this can happen to anyone. Following COVID19, there has been a rise in indiviuduals suffering poor mental health.

You can get more information about mental health, including signs of poor mental health, and where to get more help from: