Safeguarding

At Packmoor Ormiston the safety and wellbeing of every child is a main priority as we recognise our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all pupils. We endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued. We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow our procedures to ensure that children receive effective support, protection and justice.

The Academy adheres to a strict Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy that is reviewed and updated annually and in addition we follow all government guidance. The procedures contained in the Academy’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy apply to all staff and governors and are consistent with those of the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB).

The procedures contained in the Academy’s Safeguarding Policy apply to all staff and governors and are consistent with those of the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB). We will follow the procedures set out by the Area Child Protection Committee or Local Safeguarding Children Board and take account of guidance issued by the DfE by:

  • Ensuring that we have a designated senior member of staff with responsibility for child protection who has received appropriate training and support for this role.
  • Ensuring that we have a nominated governor responsible for child protection.
  • Ensuring that every member of staff (including temporary and supply staff and volunteers) and governing body knows the name of the designated senior person responsible for child protection and their role.
  • Ensuring all staff and volunteers understand their responsibilities in being alert to the signs of abuse and responsibility for referring any concerns to the designated Child Protection Co-ordinator/Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.
  • Notifying Children and Family Services if there is an unexplained absence of more than two days of a pupil who is on a Child Protection Plan.
  • Developing effective links with relevant agencies and co-operate as required with their enquiries regarding child protection matters including attendance at case conferences.
  • Keeping written records of concerns about children, even where there is no need to refer the matter immediately.
  • Ensuring all records are kept secure and separate from the main pupil file.
  • Following procedures where an allegation is made against a member of staff or volunteer.
  • Ensuring safe recruitment practices are always followed and that adults working with children have an up to date DBS check.

Below are links to our safeguarding policies and other documentation relating to safeguarding –

  • Lead Officer for Safeguarding and Child Protection – Mrs S May (Principal)
  • Deputy Lead Officer for Safeguarding and Child Protection – Mrs M Taylor (Pupil Support Manager and Attendance Officer)
  • Governor for Safeguarding and Child Protection – Mrs S Sharman (Chair of Governors)
  • Inclusion Lead – Mr A Moran (Vice Principal and SENCo)
  • Designated Lead for Looked After Children – Mrs G Nixon (Pupil Premium Lead)                    
  • E-Safety Officer – Mr J Hill (Key Stage 1 Lead)

If you have any safeguarding concerns please email our safeguarding team at [email protected] or contact the school office on 01782 234544.

If you have any concerns about the conduct of adults within the academy should be taken to the Principal without delay or where this is not possible to the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer. If for any reason you cannot make a referral through these routes you have a duty to refer directly to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), whose contact details are as follows:

Mr John Hanlon, Local Authority Designated Officer, Stoke-on-Trent Children’s Services, Swann House, Boothen Road, Stoke on Trent, ST4 4SY.

Email : [email protected], Direct Line 01782 233342, Mobile Number 07385 362877

Reporting an Immediate Risk

If you are concerned a child is at risk of immediate harm or in need of immediate protection please dial 999.

Reporting Safeguarding Concerns

If at any time it is considered that a child has suffered significant, harm is or likely to do so, a referral should be made to the Children’s Advice and Duty Team on 01782 235100.

Reporting On-line Abuse

To report online abuse please contact CEOP on the following link: https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre

Confidential Support

If you need to talk, day or night, these services offer confidential support from trained volunteers.  You can talk about anything that is troubling you, no matter how difficult.

  • Samaritans – Call 116 123 to talk to Samaritans or visit their website samaritans.org
  • NSPCC – email [email protected]
  • New Era (Domestic Abuse) – Call 0300 303 3778
  • ‘SHOUT’ – Text “SHOUT” TO 85258 to contact the Shout Crisis Text Line or visit their website giveusashout.org
  • Childline – If you are under 19 you can also call 0800 1111 to talk to Childline. The number will not appear on your phone bill.

Prevent is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorist or extremist causes. Many of the things we do in school to help pupils become positive, happy members of society also contribute to the Prevent Strategy.

Visit the Let’s Talk About It website for more information about Prevent.

Keeping safe from bullying is an integral part of our PSHE curriculum. Through our values-based curriculum pupils learn how to behave towards each other promoting the British Values of tolerance and mutual respect. Children are able to distinguish between ad hoc name calling and persistent bullying as a result of our teaching and approach to bullying.

If you have any safeguarding concerns please email our safeguarding team at [email protected] or contact the school office on 01782 234544.

“All the parents I spoke to and almost all who responded to Parent View agree that their children are safe and well cared for. Pupils told me that they feel safe in school. They are confident that if they have any worries or problems any member of staff in school would help them. In addition, pupils could confidently explain how they learn about staying safe as part of the curriculum. For example, they know how to stay safe online, to use their bicycles safely and about the risks that strangers can pose. Pupils told me that there is no bullying at the school and that if there were, an adult would sort it out quickly.”

Ofsted, July 2019