Safeguarding
Neston High School is committed to creating and maintaining a safe learning environment for our children and young people, identifying where there are child welfare concerns and taking action to address them, in partnership with families and other agencies.
Safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility and, as such, our commitment applies to all staff and volunteers working at Neston High School. An allegation, disclosure or suspicion of abuse, or an expression of concern relating to abuse, could be made to any member of staff, not just those with teaching or safeguarding/pastoral related roles. Similarly, any member of staff may observe or suspect an incident of abuse.
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as:
- providing help and support to meet the needs of children as soon as problems emerge
- protecting children from maltreatment, whether that is within or outside the home, including online
- preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development
- ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
- promoting the upbringing of children with their birth parents, or otherwise their family network through a kinship care arrangement, whenever possible and where this is in the best interests of the children
- taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes in line with the outcomes set out in the Children’s Social Care National Framework.
Child protection is part of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and is defined as activity that is undertaken to protect specific children who are suspected to be suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm. This includes harm that occurs inside or outside the home, including online.
Working together to safeguard children 2023
Safeguarding Team
Designated Safeguarding Lead - Mr Cairney
Deputy Headteacher and DDSL - Mr Nuttall
DDSL/Senior Mental Health Lead - Miss Cooke
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead - Mrs Lamprey
"The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
There is a strong safeguarding culture across the school. Leaders ensure that all staff are kept up to date with pertinent safeguarding issues through regular training. Staff know what to do if they have concerns about a pupil. They record all relevant information promptly. Leaders work well with external agencies to ensure that pupils and their families get the timely help that they need."
Ofsted february 2022
At Neston High School, we operate a pastoral structure linked to year groups. Each year team is made up of a Head of Year, with overall responsibility for welfare, attendance, behaviour and academic progress, supported by a non-teaching Pastoral Learning Mentor. These staff make up the wider safeguarding and inclusion team.
The form tutor is the first point of contact for day-to-day issues such as uniform, punctuality and attendance. If a form tutor cannot resolve a particular issue, then the year team should be contacted.
The pastoral team will escalate significant safeguarding concerns to the school's DSL where appropriate.
Reporting concerns externally
If you believe a child is at risk of harm, abuse or neglect you can report it to Children's Social Care at the relevant local authority or the police non-emergency number 101.
In an emergency, always dial 999.
Wirral
Cheshire West
Report to Wirral Integrated Front Door Team:
Monday to Friday, 0830 – 1700 on 0151 606 2008
or via this link or email IFD@wirral.gov.uk
If you have an urgent concern outside of these hours please call the Emergency Duty Team (EDT) on 0151 677 6557.
Report to Cheshire's Integrated Access and Referral Team (iART):
Monday to Friday, 0830 - 1630
or via this link.
If you have an urgent concern outside of these hours please call the Emergency Duty Team (EDT) on 01244 977277.
Parents and carers can find further advice and guidance below: