Senior School Safeguarding Leader
Mrs K Methven
01283 216721
When school is CLOSED or in an EMERGENCY
07561691690
St Edward’s Catholic Academy is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all pupils in its care. We aim to ensure that our children are safe from all forms of abuse; physical, emotional, sexual, neglect and free from all types of bullying including.
We are committed to giving our children the skills to keep safe at home and school. We have worked with the NSPCC to highlight how children can keep safe through assemblies and workshops. The children have also raised over £1500 towards their recent appeal. The fire service and police have given talks to different year groups. We hope to provide our children with the skills to keep safe and know what to do when they have concerns or are worried.
The teaching of e-safety skills is an essential element of our curriculum and we give children the skills to keep safe on line and to be able to deal with any incidences of cyber bullying.
As a school we recognise that safeguarding against radicalisation is no different from safeguarding against any other vulnerability. At St Edward’s all staff are expected to uphold and promote our Core British Values.
If you have any concerns about the safety of your child or any other young person, please contact the following:
Designated Safeguarding Leads
Mrs K Methven
Mr S Ward
Miss N Prabatani
Mrs A Cashmore
Mrs M Gibbs
Safeguarding Governors
Miss D Eyre
Mrs P King
Operation Encompass
Our school takes part in Operation Encompass, a nationally recognised safeguarding partnership between schools and the police. This initiative ensures that when the police attend a domestic abuse incident where a child is present or lives at the address, the school is informed before the start of the next school day. This information is shared securely with the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) so that we can provide immediate, sensitive support to the child.
We understand that children who experience or witness domestic abuse may feel anxious, upset or unsettled when they come to school. Operation Encompass enables us to respond quickly and appropriately, for example by offering a quiet space, additional emotional support, or simply being aware of the child’s needs on that day. To ensure the safety of everyone involved, the school will not routinely approach parents or carers about an Operation Encompass notification, as this could place individuals at further risk or escalate a situation.
In the same way, we do not routinely speak directly to pupils about an Operation Encompass notification. This is because children may not be ready to talk, may not fully understand what has happened, or could feel distressed or unsafe if questioned. Instead, staff remain vigilant and supportive, creating opportunities for the child to talk if they choose to do so. If a child does make a disclosure, this will always be handled sensitively and in line with our safeguarding procedures. All information is treated in strict confidence and only shared with staff on a need-to-know basis. Our priority is always to ensure that every child feels safe, supported and ready to learn.
Our Anti-Bullying Information is below
Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy SRS EDW V3 2024-2025
