EOTAS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Safeguarding is about ensuring that everyone is safe from harm, safe from bullying, safe from abuse of any kind, safe from discrimination or harassment and ensuring that we all feel safe in our school environment.

At EOTAS the safeguarding of our young people is our highest priority. There are dedicated safeguarding leads in all of our centres as well as Pastoral Support and Outreach Workers who work with young people and parents to help prevent safeguarding issues arising.

If you are ever concerned about the safety or well‐being of someone at our schools please talk to our school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or deputies (DDSL).

Designated Safeguarding Lead

Ms Sally Nichols who can be contacted on (01793) 828941

We have a number of policies and procedures in place that contribute to our safeguarding commitment, including our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy which can be viewed in the Policies section of our website.

There are 5 main elements to our policy and procedures:

• Ensuring we practice safe recruitment in checking the suitability of staff and volunteers to work with children.
• Raising awareness of child protection issues & working on the prevention of abuse, through training, teaching and pastoral support offered to students.
• Following procedures for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases of abuse.
• Supporting students who are at risk or may have been abused.
• Establishing a safe environment in which children can learn and develop.

Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a child’s welfare. We will ensure that our concerns about our pupils are discussed with parents/carers first, unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child’s welfare.

 

We strongly believe in a multi-agency approach when working with identified students. We are fortunate to have access to the following agencies:

• Youth Engagements Workers
• Police (Neighbourhood Policing & Specialist Departments)
• Education Welfare Officer
• UTURN (drop-in & referral)
• Edge of Care Workers 
• MASH - Multi agency safeguarding hub
• Locality School Nurse
• Best - Be A Better You Mentoring Service

If you wish to discuss anything in relation to Pastoral Support for your child, please contact their tutor or a member of the Pastoral and Welfare Team.