Safeguarding
Prestley Wood Academy recognises that its pupils, who have severe and complex special educational needs and disabilities, experience disadvantage as a result of their SEND. Our pupils are working at a cognitive level broadly equivalent to national Key stage 1 and Early years expectations. All pupils are particularly vulnerable when travelling to and from school, accessing their local communities and engaging with online platforms.
The academy is situated in Alconbury Weald, a growing, new community. However 95% of our pupils travel from across Cambridgeshire, which includes areas of significant deprivation. Risks identified through local safeguarding information, pupil voice and partnership working include criminal and online exploitation, inappropriate contact from others, anti-social behaviour in public spaces, unsafe road use and the sharing of personal information online. Many pupils access school through local authority transport and require additional support to recognise and respond to potential risks within transport networks and community settings.
The academy responds through a developmentally appropriate safeguarding curriculum, including online safety education through the IVengers programme, personal safety and relationships education, personalised support and targeted life skills teaching responsive to events, enhanced supervision ratios, individual risk assessments, regular staff training and close partnership working with families, transport providers, local police and other safeguarding agencies.
Prestley Wood Academy is committed to supporting families and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
All staff and volunteers share this commitment.
If you have a safeguarding concern you can:
- Telephone the academy office and ask to speak to a member of the Safeguarding Team:
Tel: 01480 710 036
- Or email dsl@prestleywood.org.uk
- Or submit your concern in writing to our Safeguarding Team:
- Visit the academy in person and ask to speak to a member of the Safeguarding Team
Below you will find contacts for our Designated Safeguarding Leads. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any concerns or worries, we are here to help in any way we can.
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Tom Dougherty
Deputy Headteacher
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads
Caroline Place
Headteacher
Mandy Walker
Assistant Headteacher
Sinead Gervis
DDSL
Class Teacher and My learning Behaviours TLR
Jo Tregent
DDSL
Secretary & PA to the Headteacher
Customer Services at Children's Social Care - 0345 045 5203
Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
LADO@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
We have a number of policies and procedures in place that contribute to our Safeguarding commitment, including our Safeguarding and Child Protection policy which can be viewed below.
Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a pupil's welfare. We will ensure that our concerns about our pupils are discussed with parents/carers first, unless we have reason to believe such a move would be contrary to the pupil's welfare.
The following policies are available here:
- E-Safety Policy
- Keeping Children Safe in Education Guidance
- Mobile Phone use in School
- PREVENT Action Plan & Risk Assessment
- Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
- Safer Working Practice for working with Children and Young People in Education Settings
- Staff Code of Conduct
- Whistleblowing Policy
- What to do if you are worried a child is being abused - DfE Guidance
- Working together to safeguard children - DfE Guidance
- Behaviour in Schools - DfE Guidance
Click the link below to view the multi-agency policy that has been compiled by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Safeguarding Adults Board. Its purpose is to enable all agencies to achieve consistent and robust arrangements for safeguarding people with care and support needs, and to implement effective safeguarding plans which minimise risk of harm and adopt a zero-tolerance approach to abuse and neglect.
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Multi-Agency Safeguarding Policy