Safeguarding

Statement of commitment to Safeguarding

Woodlands School is highly committed to ensuring that all pupils and staff are safe and have systems in place that they can access to maintain their own safe lives. Child Protection is the most important part of working at Woodlands. Our pupils can be vulnerable due to something having communication challenges. As such, we foster an ethos of being observant and listening to each other, as well as ensuring that we are approachable and trustworthy so that pupils feel confident to share worries with us. Woodlands have a number of Designated Safeguarding Leads in Senior Leadership, Pastoral Team and Medical Team.

We have clear and highly efficient Child Protection and Whistleblowing procedures.

We have a high number of staff trained in key areas of our provision: Child Protection, Safe Recruitment, Early Help meetings (i.e. setting up multi-agency support), Manual Handling, “Team Teach” (de-escalation of conflict situations) and First Aid.

We employ two school nurses. Staff members are highly trained and skilled in meeting all personal care needs. We are committed to maintaining a high staff to pupil ratio in each class.

Woodlands’ unique family ethos comes from a constant focus upon ensuring that our pupils are safe, free of prejudice and bullying, and are enabled/feel confident to express themselves. We have developed a wide range of leadership roles for our pupils and explore ways in which they can be mutually supportive.

We constantly scrutinise our environment to ensure that it meets our pupils’ entitlement to the best possible facilities and helps to maintain their physical and mental health.

We welcome scrutiny from Ofsted, Governors and the Local Authority to ensure that our safeguarding practice and procedures are outstanding.

'Under the Education Act 2002 (Section 175 for maintained schools/Section 157 for academies/free/independent schools), schools must make arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Parents/carers should know that the law (Children Act 1989) requires all school staff to pass on information which gives rise to a concern about a child’s welfare, including risk from neglect, physical, emotional or sexual abuse. Staff will seek, in general, to discuss any concerns with the parent/carer and discuss the need to make a referral to Children’s Social Care if that is considered necessary. This will only be done where such discussion will not place the child at increased risk of significant harm or cause undue delay. Parents/carers will appreciate that the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead carries out their responsibilities in accordance with the law and acts in the best interests of all children.’

Policies Related to Safeguarding at Woodlands

Safeguarding Visitors Guide

Links to our Online Safety Page and Pastoral Provision Page

Protective Behaviour Links

Please click on the pictures to open the links.

Helpful Links