Safeguarding

Safeguarding is about ensuring that everyone is safe from harm, safe from neglect, safe from bullying, safe from people who could abuse, safe from discrimination or harassment.

Balmoral Learning Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety of all children in school . Sometime we may need to share information and work with partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a child’s welfare. We follow the expectations and Procedures of Together for Children and the Sunderland Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP). We will ensure concerns are discussed with parents/ carers first unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child’s welfare.

Our Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  This means that we have a Child Protection Policy and procedures in place. Policies are available to view, please click here.

If you have a concern about a child, please contact a Designated Safeguarding Lead. If you are concerned about a member of staff please contact the Head of School. If the concern related to the Head of School it should be referred to the Trust Safeguarding Lead.

If you are worried about a child and want to report child abuse or neglect you can contact Children's Safeguarding on 0191 561 7007.

Please note, this number should only be used during the following hours: Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 5.15pm and Friday, 8.30am to 4.45pm.

If you are ringing out of hours (evenings and weekends) please contact our Emergency Duty Team on 0191 520 5560.

You can also contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or e mail help@nspcc.org.uk, you can also contact Childline about anything, they will discuss your worries and concerns and provide advice, they can be contacted here: www.childline.org.uk/get-support

If you think a child is in immediate danger, call the police on 999 straight away

Staff Training

At Balmoral Learning Trust all staff and volunteers are required to undertake relevant safeguarding training. Our training  is provided by Safeguarding First. The Trust produce a termly action plans based on current guidance and key improvements and carry out an annual audit to ensure that safeguarding systems and processes are working.

Operation Encompass

Balmoral Learning Trust is committed to working with all multi agencies to ensure all children are safe and are committed to Operation Encompass. The purpose of operation Encompass is to safeguard and support children and young people who have been involved in or witnessed a domestic incident. You can find out more information from the link below: Operation Encompass for Parents

Prevent

All staff are expected to uphold and promote the fundamental principles of British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

On 1 July 2015 the Prevent duty (section 26) of The Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 came into force. The Prevent duty requires specified authorities such as education, health, local authorities, police and criminal justice agencies to help prevent the risk of people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. It sits alongside long-established safeguarding duties on professionals to protect people from a range of other harms, such as substance abuse, involvement in gangs, and physical and sexual exploitation. The duty helps to ensure that people who are susceptible to radicalisation are supported under safeguarding processes. As part of our commitment to safeguarding and child protection Balmoral Learning Trust fully support the government's Prevent Strategy.

If you are ever concerned about the safety or well-being of someone at our school please talk to one of the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead’s. The following people are responsible for child protection and safeguarding.