Safeguarding

Safeguarding at St Ann’s Well Academy

‘Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play.’   Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023.

St Ann’s Well Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We are fully committed to ensuring that consistent effective safeguarding procedures are in place to support families, children and staff at school.

Staff at St Ann’s Well Academy are aware that many children are the victims of different kinds of abuse and that they can be subjected to social factors that have an adverse impact upon their lives – including domestic violence, substance misuse, bullying,  mental health and radicalisation. We also acknowledge that safeguarding incidents could happen anywhere and staff should be alert to possible concerns arising.

Key contacts:

  • Designated Safeguarding Lead – Emily Smithurst, Deputy Headteacher
  • Deputy Safeguarding Lead – Emma Thorne, Headteacher
  • Deputy Safeguarding Lead –  Kate Baker, Foundation Stage Leader
  • Deputy Safeguarding Lead – Hayley Clarke, English LEAD
  • Safeguarding Governor – Tilly Stone, Chair of Governors

For any safeguarding concerns during school hours, please contact the school office on 0115 915 5808 and ask for a member of the designated safeguarding team above. 

If you are concerned about a child, you can also contact Children’s Social Care on 0115 876 4800 (0115 876 5600 for out of hours) or email [email protected]

Policy

Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy 2023

Safeguarding Curriculum

Through our curriculum we teach children to stay safe and happy. We encourage the understanding that any problem or worry that they may have is legitimate, and to share their worries, big or small with their trusted adult; at home; school or with ChildLine.

Safeguarding Curriculum Overview

Wellbeing

We have an important role to play in supporting the mental wellbeing of our pupils.  Early intervention to identify issues and provide effective support is crucial.  Our role in supporting and promoting mental health and wellbeing can be summarised as:

  • Prevention: creating a safe and calm environment where mental health problems are less likely, improving the mental health and wellbeing of the whole school population, and equipping pupils to be resilient so that they can manage the normal stress of life effectively. This will include teaching pupils about mental wellbeing through the curriculum and reinforcing this teaching through school activities and ethos;
  • Identification: recognising emerging issues as early and accurately as possible;
  • Early support: helping pupils to access evidence based early support and interventions; and
  • Access to specialist support: working effectively with external agencies to provide swift access or referrals to specialist support and treatment.

Stress and worry is a normal part of life and many issues can be experienced as mild or transitory challenges for some children and their families.  Others will experience more serious and longer lasting effects.  Coronavirus has had an impact on children and their families in differing ways including anxiety, low mood, bereavement, loneliness and isolation.

There are varying helplines and websites that are available to support your child and your family:

Samaritans

0330 094 5717 or 116 123

Shout

Shout offers confidential 24/7 crisis text support for times when you need immediate assistance.Text “SHOUT” to 85258 or visit Shout Crisis Text Line

NHS

NHS 111 advice online

HopelineUK

Crisis support for young people:  If you are under 35 and feel that life is not worth living any more, call Papyrus’s HopelineUK from 9am to 10pm weekdays and 2pm to 10pm on weekends.

Call HopelineUK on 0800 068 41 41; Text 07786 209697.   

CALM

CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably, for people in the UK who are down or have hit a wall for any reason.Call 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight).  Free, anonymous webchat with trained staff.

Resources and links