Safeguarding & eSafety

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Safeguarding at Gilbert Ward Academy

At Gilbert Ward Academy, safeguarding means ensuring that your child is happy, healthy, and safe while at school. We are fully committed to promoting the welfare of every pupil and expect everyone connected to the school to share this commitment. Safeguarding is a responsibility shared by all, and our staff are trained to remain vigilant and observant regarding the children in their care. They know how to keep pupils safe and what signs to be aware of. We encourage our pupils to voice any concerns, reassuring them that these will be taken seriously and acted upon appropriately to help them achieve the best possible outcomes.

We work closely with parents and carers to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, helping families understand our responsibilities in this vital area.

At Gilbert Ward Academy, safeguarding goes far beyond simply meeting compliance requirements. We place children’s happiness and well-being at the core of everything we do. As a secondary special school for pupils with social, emotional, mental health needs, and autism, we understand that each of our students comes with unique backgrounds and experiences. Our aim is to create a safe and nurturing environment that allows every child to thrive and develop essential life skills on a level playing field.

To maintain this commitment, we rigorously ensure that all staff and volunteers are safe to work with our pupils. This includes enhanced DBS checks, references, ID verification, and thorough reviews of employment history. A central record of these checks is meticulously maintained and regularly reviewed. Visitors and volunteers undergo similar scrutiny, and no one has unsupervised access to our children without proper clearance. All adults on site wear ID badges with distinct lanyards for easy identification.

If you ever have concerns and would like to speak to someone, please contact one of our Designated Safeguarding Leads. You can reach them by phone at 01670 293193 or via email at admin@gilbertwardacademy.co.uk.

 

Our Safeguarding Childrens Team

Safeguarding Poster

If you are concerned about a child, please come, and talk to us.

Child Protection

At Gilbert Ward Academy, we adhere to our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy to fulfil our statutory responsibilities. It is every staff member’s duty to report any concerns they may have about a child, no matter how small these concerns might seem. Staff are trained not to assume that a colleague or another professional will take action, and they are encouraged to share any concerns directly.

In some cases, a single incident, such as an injury or a disclosure of abuse, may necessitate an immediate referral to Children’s Services. More often, however, concerns develop over time and are supported by patterns of behaviour or events—this is especially true in cases of emotional abuse or neglect. In such situations, staff document and report concerns following our policy to ensure the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) has the necessary information to build a comprehensive picture. This process allows us to access timely support for the child.

All concerns, discussions, decisions made, and the reasons behind these decisions are recorded in detail. At Gilbert Ward Academy, we use the CPOMS system—an online platform for monitoring safeguarding, well-being, and pastoral matters—to ensure all information is securely and systematically managed.

 

Early Help

Early help involves providing proactive support as soon as a concern arises to address issues at any stage in a child’s life. At Gilbert Ward Academy, our Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) take the lead in coordinating with other agencies, including Early Help teams, and initiating inter-agency assessments when appropriate.

Staff members may be asked to assist other professionals during an early help assessment. In situations where education is the central concern, they may also act as the lead practitioner to ensure the child receives the necessary support. These assessments are regularly reviewed, and if the child’s circumstances do not show improvement or begin to deteriorate, a referral to Children’s Social Care will be made for further evaluation.

E-Safety

At Gilbert Ward Academy, we are deeply committed to promoting e-safety and ensuring all our pupils, staff, and visitors are equipped to navigate the online world safely. Regular e-safety audits support our comprehensive e-safety policy, ensuring that our practices remain robust and up-to-date. All pupils, staff, and visitors must read and sign our Acceptable Use Policy before accessing school systems. To safeguard digital activity, we use a filtering and monitoring system called Smoothwall, backed by a reliable firewall to ensure online safety and security.

Our pupils are taught essential skills to stay safe online, with these lessons reinforced regularly across the curriculum. They are also guided on how to respond if they encounter concerns online and who to turn to for support.

Parent and Carer Support Through The National College

We are delighted to announce that Gilbert Ward Academy is a member of The National College, a multi-award-winning online training provider. As part of this membership, we are providing parents and carers with access to valuable training materials and resources to enhance their understanding of online safety and help them keep their children safe.

Why Is This Important?

While our staff teach children about online safety as part of their education, the most effective approach involves collaboration with parents and carers. The National College provides a wealth of support to help parents better understand the online world and recognise risks. Topics include:

  • Understanding popular apps like TikTok and Instagram.
  • Recognising the signs of online harm.
  • Tips on supporting children to stay safe online

How to Sign Up

Signing up is simple. Visit The National College enrolment page and complete your details. Once registered, select ‘Parent/Carer’ as your user type to access a range of training and resources.

Access On the Go

Parents and carers can also download the National Online Safety app for free, providing instant access to resources anytime, anywhere:

  • App Store
  • Google Play

Support Available

The National College offers a helpful support centre to answer frequently asked questions, as well as a dedicated team to assist with any queries.

We encourage all parents and carers to take advantage of these resources to support their child’s online safety journey.

Operation Encompass

At Gilbert Ward Academy, we are proud to participate in Operation Encompass, a nationwide initiative that fosters collaboration between police forces and educational institutions to support children affected by domestic abuse. This programme ensures that when police attend a domestic abuse incident involving children, they notify the school's Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) before the start of the next school day. This timely information allows us to provide immediate and tailored support to our pupils, addressing their emotional and practical needs effectively. For more information about Operation Encompass and its key principles, please visit the Operation Encompass website. Additionally, the 10 Key Principles of Operation Encompass provide valuable insights into the programme's framework.

If you have any questions or require further details, please contact our Designated Safeguarding Lead at 01670 293193 or via email at admin@gilbertwardacademy.co.uk.

PREVENT

Prevent is a nationwide preventative programme delivered by a range of professionals, including teachers, healthcare practitioners, social workers, police officers, charities, and religious leaders. Its aim is to protect individuals who are vulnerable to radicalisation, preventing them from being drawn into terrorism, regardless of the ideology.

Through Prevent, individuals receive support and intervention tailored to their circumstances, helping to stop them from being exploited or harmed by extremist influences.

Support for Families

Parents, friends, and families can also access specialist support to protect loved ones from being drawn into harmful activities or groups. The ACT Early initiative, developed by Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP), offers a dedicated safeguarding website and advice line to provide guidance and support. If you are concerned that someone you know may be at risk of radicalisation, please visit www.actearly.uk for helpful resources and advice. Alternatively, you can call the confidential Police Prevent Advice Line at 0800 011 3764 to speak with specially trained Prevent officers who will listen carefully to your concerns.

Further Guidance

For more information about the Prevent Duty, please refer to the Department for Education’s Prevent Duty guidance.

Attendance

Regular school attendance is essential for your child’s education, and we ask for your support in ensuring they attend school consistently. As parents and carers, it is your legal responsibility to ensure your child attends school. Failure to do so can have a serious impact on their learning and may be treated as a safeguarding concern.

Absences not only disrupt the learning of the individual pupil but can also affect the teaching routines and learning of others in the same class.

Reporting Absences

To report your child’s absence, please contact the school office on 01670 293193 and leave a message on the dedicated absence line.

All absences must be reported as soon as possible, but no later than 9:30 am on the first morning of absence.

If we do not hear from parents or carers by this time, we will systematically contact each person listed as an emergency contact for the child until we are able to speak with someone. If we are unable to reach anyone, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised, and we will follow up with a letter reminding you of the correct absence reporting procedures.

Need Help?

If you have any concerns about your child’s attendance or would like to discuss any related issues, please contact the Headteacher.

 

Behaviour

At Gilbert Ward Academy, we maintain high expectations for pupils’ behaviour and conduct, promoting an environment of good manners, kindness, and mutual respect. These expectations are clearly communicated, consistently applied, and understood by all. Across our school, you will observe positive behaviour and conduct, reflecting our shared commitment to fostering a supportive and respectful community.

As a special school with a diverse intake of pupil needs, we understand that some children may face challenges in meeting behavioural expectations. Our staff respond with patience, determination, and compassion, working closely with pupils to help them overcome these difficulties and succeed in their learning and personal development.

Supporting Behaviour

We address low-level disruption effectively, ensuring that it does not hinder the learning environment. Staff support behaviour confidently and consistently, using clear routines. This approach fosters perseverance and resilience in lessons, where mistakes are celebrated as opportunities for growth. By adopting a growth mindset, we encourage pupils to try their best and view challenges as steps toward success.

Addressing Sexual Violence and Harassment

Sexual violence and sexual harassment can occur between children of any age and sex, whether in person or online. At Gilbert Ward Academy, our staff are trained to handle such incidents with sensitivity and firmness, ensuring that these behaviours are never tolerated or dismissed.

We are committed to:

  • Challenging inappropriate behaviours, ensuring that they are addressed immediately.
  • Making it clear that sexual violence and sexual harassment are unacceptable, will never be tolerated, and are not an inevitable part of growing up.
  • Not tolerating or dismissing sexual violence or harassment, regardless of context.
  • Challenging harmful physical behaviours, recognising the risk of normalising these actions if they are not addressed.

By fostering a safe and respectful environment, we aim to help all pupils feel secure and valued while learning the importance of positive, respectful relationships.

Curriculum

At Gilbert Ward Academy, we provide a calm, secure, and nurturing environment where children feel safe and supported in their holistic development. Our carefully designed curriculum, including PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) and RSE (Relationships and Sex Education), is enriched by our curriculum drivers, collaboration with external agencies, and engagement with wider communities.

We embed safeguarding and safety education throughout our curriculum. Across all subjects, we have identified opportunities to directly teach pupils how to stay safe and understand safeguarding principles. This integrated approach ensures that our pupils are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate challenges confidently and responsibly.

For more details, please visit the Curriculum section on our website.

Health and Safety

At Gilbert Ward Academy, we are committed to maintaining a safe, secure, and well-managed environment for all pupils, staff, and visitors. Our team works diligently to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone on site, with thorough and proactive measures in place.

Safe and Supervised Grounds

Staff provide close supervision in all areas of the school, ensuring they are always visible and available to pupils. The school grounds are inspected daily by our caretaker, and the building is maintained to the highest standards. Regular checks by external experts ensure that all aspects of safety, including fire safety, water systems, and electrical equipment, are fully functional and compliant with regulations.

Accessibility

Our premises are designed to be accessible to pupils, parents, and staff with disabilities, ensuring inclusivity across the school community.

Fire Safety

We conduct regular fire alarm tests and evacuation drills, all of which are recorded in our Fire Log. Annual Fire Audits and frequent reviews of risk assessments ensure that our procedures remain robust and up to date.

Catering and Nutrition

Our catering facilities meet the highest standards of hygiene, as certified by Environmental Health. We are fully compliant with national nutritional standards and are proactive in accommodating pupils with food allergies, ensuring their dietary needs are met with care and precision.

Health and Safety Oversight

Our Health and Safety team meets regularly to address all health and safety matters, ensuring that Gilbert Ward Academy not only meets but exceeds national and local health and safety regulations

Lockdown Policy

As part of our health and safety policies and procedures PLT has a Lockdown Policy. Please note that PLT Lockdown Policy will not be publicly shared.

This plan is made in case of the rare event that it is necessary to seal off one of our academies so that it cannot be entered from the outside. This will ensure that pupils, staff and visitors are safe in situations where there is a hazard in the school grounds or outside in the near vicinity. A lockdown is implemented when there are serious security risks on the premises. This could be due to, for example, a nearby chemical spillage, proximity of dangerous animals, serious weather conditions or attempted access by unauthorised persons intent on causing harm or damage.

In a lockdown situation any incident or development will be communicated to parents and carers as soon as is possible and in line with advice from Emergency Services. We understand that in a lockdown situation parents and carers will be concerned. However, in the unlikely event that this situation arises in one of our academies we ask that:

  •  parents/carers do not contact the school as this could tie up telephone lines that are needed for contacting the emergency services
  • parents/carers do not attempt to come to the school, unless specifically asked to do so, as they could put themselves and others at risk
  • parents/carers should wait until the school has contacted them about when it is safe to come and collect their child(ren), and where this will be from
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