Safeguarding
The Staff and Members at ACE, recognise that they have a duty to ensure arrangements are in place for Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and we will carry this duty throughout our provisions. All members of the school community will at all times establish and maintain safe and stimulating environments; an environment where children feel secure, where children are encouraged to talk to adults they can trust and where children are listened to.
What is Safeguarding?
Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm.
Safeguarding means:
- Protecting children from abuse and maltreatment.
- Preventing harm to children’s health or development.
- Ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care.
- Taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes.
Safeguarding is central to all the work we do across ACE.
Safeguarding Contact
ACE has an experienced team of appropriately trained safeguarding links who oversee safeguarding concerns from across the PRU and the Alternative Provisions. All staff receive ongoing training every half term and Safeguarding is a standing item at all ALT, Pupil Progress and Staff team meetings.
Safeguarding Leads are Martin Watson and Clare Burley.
Both can be contacted by emailing safeguarding@avenuecentre.co.uk
Tel. 01582 359370 (School switchboard and ask for a Safeguarding Lead staff member)
Safeguarding Policy
All organisations that work with or come into contact with children should have safeguarding policies and procedures to ensure that every child, regardless of their age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation, has a right to equal protection from harm.
All Safeguarding practice is underpinned by two key documents, which can be found here:
DFE Keeping Children Safe in Education
DFE Working Together to Safeguard Children
Please click on the link below to view our Safeguarding Policy:
ACE Safeguarding Policy 2022 – 2023
Child on Child Abuse
The Management Committee, Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and all staff (which term shall apply to all volunteer staff members) at ACE are committed to the prevention, early identification and appropriate management of child on child abuse (as defined below) both within and beyond ACE.
In particular, we:
- Believe that in order to protect children, all schools should (a) be aware of the nature and level of risk to which their students are or may be exposed, and put in place a clear and comprehensive strategy which is tailored to their specific safeguarding context; and (b) take a whole-school community Contextual Safeguarding approach to preventing and responding to child on child abuse
- Regard the introduction of this policy as a preventative measure. We (a) do not feel it is acceptable merely to take a reactive approach to child on child abuse in response to alleged incidents of it; and (b) believe that in order to tackle child on child abuse proactively, it is necessary to focus on all four of the following areas: (i) systems and structures; (ii) prevention; (iii) identification; and (iv) response/intervention
- Recognise national and increasing concern about this issue, and wish to implement this policy in order to mitigate harmful attitudes and child on child abuse in the school setting, and
- Encourage parents to hold us to account on this issue, so that if their child is feeling unsafe as a result of the behaviour of any of their peers, they should inform the school so that it can ensure that appropriate and prompt action is taken in response
Please click on the link below to view our Child on Child Abuse Policy:
ACE Child-on-Child Policy 2022 – 2023
Digital Safeguarding
A large part of our Safeguarding work is now around the area of online and E-Safety work.
At ACE, our IT network and use of machines is monitored by staff, and appropriate software filters are in place to restrict inappropriate internet searches and downloads.
Students have individual password protected accounts and students, on login, are made aware that accounts can be monitored, can be tracked and that appropriate use policies apply
As per our mobile phone policy, students can use them in lessons under staff direction, otherwise they should remain off. We do not allow students to join their phones to the ACE Wi-Fi and encourage students (both in lessons and out) to follow appropriate use protocol’s when using their phones online. Students are not allowed to access social media whilst onsite.
We are also very clear with students that our bullying policies cover all social media sites and apps, and cyber bullying, threats / harassment via text apps and inappropriate pictures (sexting) are all not allowed and the fact they occur virtually and / or outside of ACE hours does not make any difference to the seriousness with which we will deal with these matters.
Please click on the link below to view our Online Policy:
Online Safety Policy 2023 – 2026
Safeguarding Resources
The links below provide some advice and guidance as to E-Safety and social media
A guide to safeguarding on the main social media apps
Internet Matters – Digital Matters
childnet.com/resources/step-up-speak-up
saferinternet.org.uk/…/parents-and-carers