Keeping Our Pupils Safe

We place the safety and wellbeing of our pupils at the heart of everything we do. Working closely with parents, the local authority and other agencies, we seek to safeguard our pupils at all times and ensure any concerns are dealt with quickly and effectively.

We have clear and robust policies and processes in place to ensure the very highest levels of safeguarding across the Trust. These policies are appropriate to us as special schools and take into account the vulnerability of some of our pupils. We carry out all the necessary checks before appointing new staff and provide them with comprehensive training upon joining us and throughout the academic year, with annual refreshers. This means our teams have an excellent understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities; they know how to work safely with pupils, how to recognise signs of abuse and what to do if they have any concerns.

Through assemblies and PSHE lessons, we teach pupils how to protect themselves from harm both in the ‘real world’ and online. This training is appropriate to each pupil’s ability and needs.

Designated Safeguarding Leads

Anyone with a concern about the wellbeing of one of our pupils should contact the Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) at the pupil’s school. The DSLs are supported by the Trust Safeguarding Lead. 

Whitefield School:

For information about the DSLs at Whitefield School, please click here

Email: safeguarding@whitefield.waltham.sch.ukTel: 020 8531 3426

Joseph Clarke School:

For information about the DSLs at Joseph Clarke School, please click here

Email: safeguarding@josephclarke.waltham.sch.uk Tel: 020 8523 4833

The safeguarding team will always speak to parents about concerns and will seek to work with families in difficult situations. Nevertheless, if they believe that a child is, or maybe, at risk of harm, they are required to make a referral to the local authority social care teams. Parents are asked to let their child’s teacher know if they have hurt themselves or been injured at home, and if there are any issues or changes which may be making their child anxious or unhappy.

Any concerns about a member of staff should be reported to the Principal of the relevant school. Concerns about a Principal should be reported to the Chair of Trustees.