Safeguarding

Clapton Girls’ Academy safeguarding statement

We recognise our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all students. We endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where students are respected and valued. We are alert to the signs of abuse and recognise that safeguarding incidents can happen anywhere, therefore we follow our procedures to ensure that students receive effective support, protection and justice and are given strategies/guidance in order to keep themselves safe. While working at CGA we expect all staff, including visitors and governors, to take care of our students, follow our procedures and be clear about their safeguarding responsibilities as outlined in the KCSIE guidance. We expect students to be respectful to all staff, to each other, to visitors and governors.

The school’s Safeguarding Team consists of:

• Ms Garvin, Assistant Headteacher (designated safeguarding lead)

• Ms Mouj, Child Protection Governor

• Ms Feltham (Headteacher - overall accountability for child protection & safeguarding)

How is safeguarding achieved?

All staff receive annual Child Protection and Safeguarding update training and are aware of the procedures for passing on concerns within the academy. If any members of the school or local community have concerns about the welfare of a child in the school, please pass them on to the safeguarding team.

Safeguarding legislation and government guidance says that safeguarding means:

• Protecting children from maltreatment
• Preventing impairment of children’s health or development
• Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
• Taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcome

Safeguarding includes child protection, health care plans, health and safety, site security, safety on school trips, anti-bullying work and ensuring the wellbeing of each student.

Safeguarding also includes: recruitment; trips and visits; visitors to the academy; online safety; curriculum (PSHCE); no tolerance to bullying.

Safer Schools App

CLICK: The City of London Safer Schools App
The City of London Safer Schools App is free and includes essential advice about making your home and devices safer. It provides information about social media and how to block, mute and report anything that either you (or your child) may find worrying – from images to comments from online bullies.  The App will also help you create healthy media habits, limit screen time, learn about scams and keep your personal data safe. It will complement the information your child’s school will have made available via their communications with you and your child.

Sexual harassment and abuse among young people

Sexual harassment and abuse among young people are a very real and very true concern. Having conversations with our young people about these concerns can be challenging and at times parents are not sure how they can approach difficult themes with their children. We all need to help young people become more aware of what they can do in difficult situations and that they should not be ashamed to come forward to a trusted adult if something has happened to them or if they feel uncomfortable about something.