Safeguarding is the responsibility of every single person at Simon Balle. All staff are highly accountable for keeping all children safe.
However some staff play a key role:
- Leon Brown (Designated Safeguarding Lead)
- Rachel Kirk (Deputy DSL)
- Mike Moss (Deputy DSL)
- James Pooley (Deputy DSL)
- Lucy Owen (Deputy DSL)
- Kairen Hesketh (Deputy DSL)
- Amanda Wood (Deputy DSL)
- Grace Mizon (Deputy DSL)
- Ciaran Prendergast (Deputy DSL)
View the safeguarding poster for adults on site here: Our Commitment to Safeguarding
Simon Balle All-through School Over Arching Safeguarding Statement
Keeping_children_safe_in_education_2023
The child protection policy can be found on the policies page of our website
Adults visiting or working on the school site play an important part in the life of the school. You can play a part in keeping students safe whilst working at or visiting the school by observing the following guidelines –
- If you have any concerns that a student may be at risk of harm report it immediately to the Senior Designated Person for child protection who can be contacted via the main office. Do not discuss your concerns with the student and do not carry out an investigation.
- The DSP is LEON BROWN, DIRECTOR OF CARE AND WELL-BEING (Ext 203). The HCC out of hours safeguarding number is 0300 123 4043
- Do not initiate verbal or physical contact with students unless it is appropriate and part of the agreed reason for your visit.
- Do not give any personal information to students such as your mobile number, personal email or address.
- Do not engage in any communication with students using social networking sites
We hope that your visit will be enjoyable, informative and safe. If you need to visit the school during the day you must park in the visitor spaces. Please help us by reading and complying with the guidance contained in this leaflet which is intended to ensure your health and safety whilst at Simon Balle All-through School. If you have any questions after reading this, please do not hesitate to ask a member of staff to help you. Staff can be identified easily as they all wear badges. Please wear your visitor’s badge at all times when on site. Please return the badge and sign out when leaving.
At Simon Balle All-through School the health, safety and well-being of students is of paramount concern to us. We listen to our students and take seriously what they tell us. Our aim is for children to enjoy their time as students in this school. We want to work in partnership with parents to help each child achieve their full potential and make a positive contribution to the world they will be part of in the future.
To promote a safe environment for students, our selection and recruitment procedure includes all checks on staff and regular volunteers’ suitability, including Disclosure and Barring Service checks, as recommended by Hertfordshire County Council as governed by current legislation.
In accordance with our responsibilities under section 175/157 of the Education Act 2002 and “Keeping Children Safe in Education “ 2023, we have a Designated Safeguarding Lead, Leon Brown, who is a member of the senior management team, and has received appropriate training for this role (in his absence, any deputy DSLs). It is his responsibility to ensure that all staff in contact with children receive child protection awareness training on a regular basis.
Occasions do arise when our concern about a student requires us to consult other agencies. Whilst we would always aim to work in partnership with parents there may be exceptions to this when concerns are raised for the protection of a child.
On very rare occasions Social Care, whilst undertaking an investigation under S47 of the Children Act 1989, may want to speak to a child without a parents’ knowledge. This would be a decision made in collaboration with partner agencies and would only be done in situations where a child might be at immediate risk. To gain consent at this point may increase the level of risk to the child or cause evidence of a crime to be lost.
The procedures, which we follow, have been laid down by the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board, and the school has adopted a Safeguarding Policy in line with this for the safety of all. If you want to know more about our procedures, please speak to the Co-Headteachers, Rachel Kirk and Mike Moss, or the Designated Safeguarding Lead, Leon Brown. Our Safeguarding Policy can be found on the Policies page of our website.
We ensure that we do not unwittingly use agencies that contradict each other with their messages or that are inconsistent with, or are in complete opposition to, the school’s values and ethos. We must be aware that in some instances the work of external agencies may not be directly connected with the rest of the school curriculum so we need to ensure that this work is of benefit to our students.
All external agencies and speakers must read the visiting speakers agreement -
Our school will assess the suitability and effectiveness of input from external agencies or individuals to ensure that:
- Any messages communicated to students support fundamental British Values and our school values.
- Any messages communicated to students are consistent with the ethos of the school and do not marginalise any communities, groups or individuals.
- Any messages communicated to students do not seek to glorify criminal activity or violent extremism or seek to radicalise students through extreme or narrow views of faith, religion or culture or other ideologies.
- Activities are properly embedded in the curriculum and are clearly mapped to schemes of work to avoid contradictory messages or duplication.
- Activities are matched to the needs of students.
We recognise, however, that the ethos of our school is to encourage students to understand opposing views and ideologies, appropriate to their age, understanding and abilities, and to be able to actively engage with them in informed debate, and we may use external agencies or speakers to facilitate or support this. Therefore by delivering a broad and balanced curriculum, augmented by the use of external sources where appropriate, we will strive to ensure our students recognise risk and build resilience to manage risk themselves where appropriate to their age and ability but also to help students develop critical thinking skills needed to engage in informed debate.
Further details about all this information can be found on the school website in the policies area: http://www.simonballe.herts.sch.uk/policies/
Aspects of safeguarding are also covered by the following school policies:
- Anti-bullying policy
- Child Protection policy
- Digital Technology policy
- Equality policy
- Health and Safety policy
- Safer Recruitment policy
- Whistleblowing policy
Health and Safety
Our Estates & Facilities Manager Michael Tweed is responsible for health and safety. Contractors must ensure that they are fully conversant with the safety rules and regulations to be observed by contractors working on site.
As a visitor to our school it is essential that you follow and health and safety guidelines that may apply.
First Aid
We have several first aid staff, please alert a member of staff if you feel unwell and they will call for assistance for you. Alternatively, please go to the school office.
Fire and Evacuation
If you have a host they will explain and guide you through any emergency procedures. If you are in school for the day please ensure you read the evacuation notice in the room you are in. If the alarm sounds for any reason follow the instructions. If you evacuate, the assembly point is clearly marked at the back of the field behind the staff room. If you have students with you please ensure they leave quickly and calmly with you.
Smoking
Simon Balle All-through School is a non-smoking school – this includes vaping. Please DO NOT smoke on site.
Photographs
Before taking any photographs on site permission must be sought from either the Assistant Head (Operations) or the Estates & Facilities Manager.
Security
All visitors, supply staff, student teachers and contractors coming into the school must report to one of the two Reception desks (Secondary or Larch).
As a visitor you will be asked to sign in and be issued with a badge/sticker which must be worn prominently so that staff and students can see you are a visitor. Depending on the circumstances you may also be asked to show any identification and your DBS certificate.
If you are a regular visitor to the school you will need to sign in on each occasion. When you leave the site please ensure that you sign out and return your badge/sticker.
Parking on site
Walking to school will be the normal expectation and positively promoted from the outset for the whole school community. This approach also supports our specialism in sport which will promote healthy lifestyles and physical fitness for children and their families. Encouraging walking also increases awareness of the local environment, independence and social opportunities.
The school will be actively promoting car free travel.
In some cases there may be a legitimate reason why a family has to drive to school however parking on the school site is limited and parents must use the one-way system. If you need to visit the school during the day you must park in the designated visitor spaces. Please adhere to all the traffic signs on site.
Visitors to Larch Centre - as you enter the school site the Larch Centre building (primary phase) is to your right. The building has its own reception area for visitors.
Thank you for helping to keep Simon Balle All-through School safe
Simon Balle is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We are also committed to the equality of opportunity for all.
