Safeguarding – Snowflake School

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Safeguarding at Snowflake School

“Leaders make sure that staff are well trained. Staff ensure that pupils can communicate their emotions and feelings using the methods that best suit each pupil. Staff know how to spot any changes in pupils’ behaviour. They know to report anything, ‘no matter how small’. Leaders pick up any concerns quickly, checking in with external agencies for guidance and support should it be needed”. (Ofsted Report, 2023).

Snowflake School is committed to ensuring that every child at the School is safe and protected from harm, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

This includes:

taking appropriate action in a timely manner to safeguard and promote children’s welfare;
ensuring staff, including volunteers are aware of their statutory responsibilities with respect to safeguarding; and
ensuring staff, including volunteers are properly trained in recognising and reporting safeguarding issues.

Our primary focus is creating a safe, secure, and supportive environment for all members of our school community, with particular emphasis on our pupils. We acknowledge that our pupils may not always possess the communication skills necessary to discuss or disclose distressing or alarming incidents. Therefore, it is crucial that we continue to foster a sensitive and proactive environment, where both parents and staff members feel secure and confident in the established procedures that prioritise the safety of our pupils.

We strive to integrate child protection and safeguarding principles throughout our curriculum by educating our pupils on topics such as online safety, community safety, and personal well-being. Snowflake School ensures there are rigorous filtering and monitoring processes in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of pupils is maintained when using technology.

Our Board of Trustees actively oversees and guides our safeguarding procedures, ensuring the highest standards of safety, awareness, and support for our pupils, staff, and families.

To ensure compliance with statutory guidelines and often surpass basic requirements, we conduct an annual safeguarding audit of our systems. We also seek advice and guidance from the Local Authority.

All individuals associated with our school, including staff, volunteers, and external agencies, undergo necessary DBS checks (Disclosure and Barring Service).

For further information, please refer to the related downloads, including our safeguarding flowchart on reporting concerns.

If you have any inquiries concerning Child Exploitation and/or Online Protection, please visit the CEOP website: https://www.ceop.police.uk/Safety-Centre/

Please see our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policies for further information on the rigorous safeguarding practices employed by the school.