Safeguarding

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all practitioners should make sure their approach is child-centred. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child.

Keeping children safe is at the heart of our school. Waldorf Cambridge aims to create and maintain a safeguarding culture that will support all pupils to feel safe, secure and respected. Pupils will be encouraged to talk openly, and we aim for them to feel confident that they will be listened to. We are committed to providing an environment where children can play, learn, develop and achieve and where they are safeguarded and are enabled to disclose if they are being harmed in some way. Our staff are fully trained and alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow our procedures to ensure that all pupils receive effective support, protection and justice.

We strive to create a culture where parents and teachers work together to address some of the risks facing children today. If you are worried about a child or would like to talk about any aspect of Safeguarding, please contact our Safeguarding Leads (contact details below).

We understand that some children are more vulnerable to abuse and that this impacts their behaviour at school. We always take a considered and sensitive approach to concerning and challenging behaviours as potential communication and due to a child's experiences.

Under the Education Act 2002 (section 175/157), schools must “make arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children”.

We will endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued. The school will, therefore, be alert to signs of abuse and neglect and will follow the Local Authority Safeguarding Procedures to ensure that children receive appropriate and effective support and protection.

Waldorf Cambridge's Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy is available to download below.

Safeguarding concerns and information

Parents/carers should know that the law 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. The school should make parents/carers aware that records of welfare concerns may be kept about their child. They should be informed that school staff will seek, in general, to discuss any concerns with them, including referrals to other agencies. However, in situations where the child is suspected to be at risk of harm, the law says that schools may take advice from other agencies without informing parents/carers. (Refer to Safeguarding Policy)

In accordance with local Information Sharing protocols, we will ensure that information is shared securely and sensitively. Information will only be shared with other services where it is deemed necessary and proportionate to ensure that children and young people are safe and receive the right service.

Schools will seek advice from Social Care when they have reasonable cause to suspect a child may be suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. Occasionally, concerns are passed on which are later shown to be unfounded. Parents/carers will appreciate that the member of staff in the school with responsibility for child protection (known as the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Designated Person) was carrying out their responsibilities in accordance with the law and acting in the best interests of all children.

Under Section 3 (5) of the Children Act 1989, schools or any person who has the care of a child “may….do what is reasonable in all the circumstances of the case for the purpose of safeguarding or promoting the child’s welfare”. This means that on rare occasions, a school may need to “hold” a child in school whilst Social Care and the Police investigate any concerns further.