Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of children’s health or development; ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

At Gillespie School all staff and governors take our responsibilities for safeguarding children very seriously and regularly review our policies and procedures. We work closely with parents and multi-agency services to ensure all our children are protected. We teach our children to keep themselves safe both within school and in the wider world including on the internet. We encourage increasing independence and self-discipline amongst our pupils and believe everyone within the school community has an important role to play in sharing responsibility for the development of excellent behaviour.

Safeguarding children is the responsibility of everyone and we want all staff to be proactive and to take steps they feel are necessary to keep children safe and well. These include;

• Helping children to understand risk and how to keep themselves safe e.g. online
• Promote respect between pupils and prevent bullying
• Being vigilant to the signs that a child is at risk of harm and taking appropriate action
• Work with parents to keep children safe and well
• Listen to and believe the child and maintain a strong child focus at all times

The Headteacher Mark Owen and Deputy Headteacher Katrina Moses are the designated senior persons responsible for safeguarding.

Safeguarding policies

• Accessibility Policy
• Anti Bullying Policy
• Asthma Policy
• Attendance & Punctuality Policy
• Behaviour policy
• Child Protection policy
• Code of Conduct
• Data Protection Policy
• Drug and Alcohol Policy
• Educational visits Policy
• Emergency Fire Plan
• Emergency Fire Plan for ASC
• Emergency Fire Plan EVENTS
• Equalities Policy
• Fire Safety Policy
• First Aid Policy
• Freedom of Information and publication
• Governor Behaviour Statement
• Health and Safety Policy
• Intimate Care and Toileting Policy
• Lockdown Policy & Procedures
• Looked After Children
• Medical Conditions Policy
• Online safety policy
• Privacy Notice – Gillespie Governors and Volunteers
• Privacy notice – Gillespie pupils, parents/carers
• Privacy Notice – Gillespie Staff
• Physical Intervention
• Relationships and Sex Education Policy
• Safer Recruitment Guidance 
• School Premises Guidance and Checklist
• Separated Parents Policy
• SEND Page
• Staff/Visitor and Governors Acceptable Use Policy
• Volunteer Policy
• Whistleblowing Policy

Other related documents

• Anti-bullying digest for parents
• Keeping children safe in education – part 1
• Keeping children safe in education
• Working together to safeguard children
• Sexting in schools and colleges
• Governor safeguarding letter to parents
• ‘Keeping your girls safe from FGM: Summer holidays, the law and you’
• Extremism and Radicalisation – Information for parents about preventing extremism and radicalisation to be read in conjunction with the school’s Child Protection Policy
• What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused
• NSPCC Talk Pants and Stay Safe Booklet

Statement on safer recruitment practice: In line with KCSIE and safer recruitment practices, the school will conduct an online search for all shortlisted candidates. The online search is part of our safeguarding checks and will seek publicly available information on candidates’ suitability to work with children. Shortlisted candidates will be provided with further guidance and will be asked to clarify their online presence.