Nexus School is a community and all those directly connected (staff, governors, parents/carers, families and pupils) have an essential role to play in making it safe and secure. Nexus recognises its moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children.
Nexus recognises the importance of providing an ethos and environment within school that will help children to feel safe, secure and respected; encourage them to talk openly; and enable them to feel confident that they will be listened to. We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow our procedures to ensure that children receive effective support, protection and justice.
In order to have an overview of all the children/young people the school conducts termly information sharing meetings with colleagues from other agencies such as the NHS.
Our school core safeguarding principles are:
- It is a whole school responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children as its paramount concern
- All children (defined as those up to the age of 18) regardless of age, gender, ability, culture, race, language, religion or sexual identity, have equal rights to protection
- All children have a right to be heard and to have their wishes and feelings taken into account
- All staff understand safe professional practice and adhere to our code of conduct and other associated policies
- All staff have a responsibility to recognise vulnerability in children and act on any concern in accordance with this guidance
Online Safety
Online Safety is also an important part of child protection and safeguarding. Because of the needs of the pupils who attend Nexus teachers work with pupils on an individual basis to develop their understanding of how to keep themselves safe whilst online.
Below are a selection of some of the resources used with pupils along with advice and guidance for parents/carers about keeping themselves and their children safe online.
Should you have concerns about your son/daughter and what they are accessing online please do not hesitate to contact the school.
NSPCC Net Aware Guide:
Below is a link to the NSPCC Net Aware Guide for parents. This is a simple guide to the social network sites and apps that children use. The NSPCC have also launched a Net Aware app which will be available to download from iTunes and Google play stores.
The NSPCC hope that in providing parents/carers with up to date information about sites most commonly used by young people, that you will be able to talk to your children about staying safe on these platforms, as well as encouraging providers to take action to make their sites as safe as possible.
The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL):
The school has appointed a member of the leadership team Sam Kelleher as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). The DSL has the overall responsibility for the day to day oversight of safeguarding and child protection systems in school. The DSL will undergo appropriate and specific training to provide them with the knowledge and skills required to carry out their role.
The school has appointed additional staff to deputiee for the DSL are Scott Jarred and Michelle Patterson who will take responsibility for day to day oversight when the head teacher is not present. Deputy DSL's have attended appropriate training which enables them to fulfil this role. Whilst the activities of the designated safeguarding lead may be delegated to the deputies, the ultimate lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection remains with the designated safeguarding lead and this responsibility will not be delegated.
| Designated Safeguarding Lead | |
|---|---|
| Sam Kelleher | Deputy Headteacher |
| Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads | |
| Scott Jarred | Headteacher |
| Michelle Patterson | Deputy Headteacher |
| Judi Beggs | Assistant Headteacher |
| Jo Sharp | Assistant Headteacher |
| Lorna Stapley | FLO / Class Teacher |
| Lucy Bliss | Wouldham Lead / Class Teacher |
Should you wish to you contact Sam or Scott you do via the main school telephone number – 01732 771384.
Alternatively you can contact them via email –
- Sam Kelleher – sam.kelleher@nexusschool.org.uk
- Scott Jarred – scott.jarred@nexusschool.org.uk
- Michelle Patterson – michelle.patterson@nexusschool.org.uk
In addition to the Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL’s) the Governing Body have also appointed two Governors as named Safeguarding Governors.
| Safeguarding Governors | |
|---|---|
| Helen Norris | Chair of Governors |
| Angela Ellingham | Safeguarding Governor |
It is the role of the Governors to ensure their schools have effective safeguarding policies and procedures in place that take into account local risks, any statutory guidance issued by the Secretary of State, any local authority guidance and locally agreed inter-agency procedures.
Should you wish to contact Helen or Angela please do so via the school office or alternatively via the Clerk to Governors – clerk@nexusschool.org.uk
