Safeguarding Staff At Thomas Hickman;

Pippa Brand-Benee Headteacher (DSL Lead)	Abi Manly Co-Deputy Head PBSI (Deputy DSL)	Fay Jeffs Co-Ordinator DSL (Deputy DSL)
Lisa Khan Pastoral Lead (Deputy DSL)	Tracie Chandler Breakfast Club (Deputy DSL)	Joanne Lyons Medical/Welfare Officer (Deputy DSL)

At Thomas Hickman School, safeguarding and child protection is paramount and we are fully committed to ensuring the welfare and safety of all our children.

We believe that students have a right to learn in a supportive, caring and safe environment which includes the right to protection from all types of abuse; where staff are vigilant for signs of any student in distress and are confident about applying the processes to avert and alleviate any such problems.

Our key aims are to ensure;

• All our pupils are safe and protected from harm.

• Other elements of provision and policies are in place to enable pupils to feel safe and adopt safe practices;

• Staff, pupils, governors, visitors, volunteers and parents are aware of the expected behaviours’ and the school’s legal responsibilities in relation to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all of our pupils.

We believe that Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and as such our school aims to create the safest environment within which every pupil has the opportunity to strive and reach their potential.  We recognise the importance of us ensuring our pupils know how to seek support, feel that they will be listened to and appropriate action taken. We will do this by endeavouring to work in partnership with other agencies and seek to establish effective working relationships with parents, carers and other colleagues to develop and provide activities and opportunities throughout our curriculum that will help to equip our children with the skills they need. This will include materials and learning experiences that will encourage our children to develop essential life skills and protective behaviours.

At Thomas Hickman School, we follow and adhere to the Buckinghamshire Children’s Safeguarding Board procedures. Any concerns or support sought will be via the multi-agency safeguarding hub, who strive to offer families with the support they require. They will work with us in an integrated way to improve outcomes for our children and their families.

Safeguarding is about ensuring that everyone is safe from harm – safe from bullying, safe from people who could abuse, safe from discrimination or harassment – and that we all feel safe in our environment.

The nominated teacher responsible for looked after children in the school is Sarah Brew.

Child Protection

All Child Protection concerns need to be acted on immediately. If you are concerned that a child may be at risk or is actually suffering abuse, you should tell one of the Designated Safeguarding Teachers at Thomas Hickman School.

All Adults, including the designated safeguarding teachers, have a duty of care by law to refer all known or suspected cases of abuse to the relevant agency including social services or the police. 

Where a disclosure is made to a visiting staff member from a different agency, e.g. Connexions or School Nurse, it is the responsibility of that agency staff to formally report the referral to the School’s Designated Person in the first instance. Where the disclosure is made by a child attending a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) or alternative provision, the referral should be recorded and referred to the On-Site Senior Designated Person and a formal notification made to the school’s SDP where the child is on role for information or appropriate action to be taken. Any records made should be kept securely (locked) on the Child’s main school/child Protection file.