Creating a Safe and Supportive Environment for Our Students

At the Alice Smith School, safeguarding is a top priority. Ensuring a safe and supportive environment for all our students is paramount. We recognise that safeguarding goes beyond just policies; it involves a community effort to foster awareness, understanding, and proactive measures among students, staff, and parents alike. 

Understanding Safeguarding

At its core, safeguarding involves a collective responsibility among all adults to create an environment where children can thrive safely. This includes not only physical safety but also emotional and psychological wellbeing. 

The key principles that guide safeguarding practices:

1. Empowerment: Encouraging individuals to make their own decisions and providing them with the information they need to do so.
2. Prevention: Taking proactive steps to prevent harm before it occurs, rather than merely responding to incidents after they happen.
3. Proportionality: Ensuring that responses to risks are appropriate and not overly intrusive.
4. Protection: Providing support and representation for those who are most vulnerable and in need of assistance.
5. Partnership: Collaborating with local communities and services to create effective safeguarding solutions.
6. Accountability: Maintaining transparency and accountability in safeguarding practices to ensure that all actions taken are justified and documented.

The Role of Schools in Safeguarding

Safeguarding is particularly critical in schools. Educational institutions are tasked with creating a safe learning environment where children can develop without fear. This includes implementing robust safeguarding policies, training staff to recognise signs of concern, and fostering strong communication with parents and guardians.

Schools are also encouraged to engage parents in safeguarding efforts, recognising that a collaborative approach enhances students' overall safety and wellbeing. 

This is where our Parent Exploration Network comes into play, as we equip parents with the knowledge and tools necessary to support their children's safety both at home and in the community.

A Safeguarding Culture

Safeguarding is not just a set of policies; it is a commitment to creating a culture of safety and support for children and vulnerable individuals. It’s a culture that we live and breathe every day and in every way across both our school campuses. By understanding and implementing the principles of safeguarding, we can work together to ensure that every child in our care is protected and empowered to thrive. All staff, educators and professional services staff are trained and given continual guidance on creating a culture of safeguarding through their teams and interactions with students and our wider community. Through initiatives like our parent workshop and the insights shared in our recent podcast, we strive to build a community that prioritises the safety and wellbeing of all its members.

Recent Podcast Episode

We are excited to share our recent podcast episode, which delves into various aspects of safeguarding in our school community. This episode features an insightful discussion led by Sian May, our Head of School, and Vice Principals Richard Stockings and Helen Jones. They explore the importance of safeguarding, share valuable resources, and highlight how parents can play an active role in supporting our efforts. You can listen to the episode here.

Parent Workshop

In addition to our podcast, we hosted a Safeguarding workshop as part of our Parent Exploration Network. Led by our Designated Safeguarding Leads, Nicole Ferguson and Rachael Collinson, the session equipped parents with valuable insights and tools to better understand safeguarding practices.

This was a fantastic opportunity for parents to engage directly with our safeguarding team, ask important questions, and collaborate on strategies to enhance the safety and wellbeing of our children. By working together, we can create a nurturing environment where every child feels safe, supported, and empowered to thrive.

Thank you for your continued support in safeguarding our school community. It takes everyone’s commitment to make a difference.