Safeguarding at Pendragon
We will endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued.
The school will therefore be alert to signs of abuse and neglect and will follow the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Safeguarding Children Partnership Board’s procedures to ensure that children receive appropriate and effective support and protection.
Parents/carers should know that the law requires all school staff to pass on information which gives rise to a concern about a child’s welfare, including risk from neglect, physical, emotional or sexual abuse and exploitation. Parents/carers should know that records of safeguarding concerns may be kept about their child. They should be informed that school staff will seek, in general, to discuss any concerns with them including referrals to other agencies.
Local procedures state that “Consent should always be sought from an adult with parental responsibility for the child/young person before passing information about them to Children’s Social Care, unless seeking consent would place the child at risk of significant harm or may lead to the loss of evidence for example destroying evidence of a crime or influencing a child about a disclosure made.” This includes allowing them to share information without consent, if it is not possible to gain consent, if it cannot be reasonably expected that a professional gains consent, or if to gain consent would place a child at risk.
Where there is a need to share special category personal data, the Data Protection Act 2018 contains ‘safeguarding of children and individuals at risk’ as a processing condition that allows professionals to share information.
In accordance with legislation and local Information Sharing protocols, we will ensure that information is shared securely and sensitively. Information will only be shared with other services where it is deemed necessary and proportionate to ensure that children and young people are safe and receive the right service. In all circumstances, the safety of the child will be the paramount concern.
Schools will contact Children’s Social Care when they have reasonable cause to suspect a child may be suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. Occasionally, concerns are passed on which are later shown to be unfounded. Parents/carers will appreciate that the member of staff in the school with responsibility for child protection (known as the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead) was carrying out their responsibilities in accordance with the law and acting in the best interests of all children.
Holding power
Under Section 3 (5) of the Children Act 1989, any person who has care of a child “may….do what is reasonable in all the circumstances of the case for the purpose of safeguarding promoting the child’s welfare”. This means that on rare occasions, a school may need to “hold” a child in school whilst Social Care and the Police investigate any concerns further.
The NSPCC have launched a new dedicated, confidential helpline – Report Abuse in Education - which is available to current or past victims as well as parents, carers or professionals with concerns. The helpline will be open for 6 months and the number is 0800 136 663. It is free and anonymous and will be open Monday to Friday 8am – 10pm and Saturday to Sunday 9am – 6pm.
Making a Referral – Members of the Public
If you are concerned about a child or an adult at risk, you can call the MASH on:
Cambridge:
Children’s Services: 0345 045 5203
Adult Services: 0345 045 5202
Emergency Out of Hours Team 01733 234724
Peterborough:
Children’s Services: 01733 864180
Adult Services: 01733 747474
Emergency Out of Hours Team 01733 234724
If you have any safeguarding concerns please speak to one of our Designated safeguarding leads or send us an email.
Designated Safeguarding Lead - Emily Samuels (headteacher)
head@pendragon.cambs.sch.uk
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead - Helen Parson (Deputy headteacher)
hparsons@pendragon.cambs.sch.uk
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead - Georgie Groves (Assistant headteacher)
ggroves@pendragon.cambs.sch.uk
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead - Natalie Willmore (Assistant headteacher)
nwillmore@pendragon.cambs.sch.uk
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead - Kathryn Dailly (SENDCo)
kdailly@pendragon.cambs.sch.uk
Pendragon Pre School Safeguarding
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead - Jaime Storar
jstorar@pendragon.cambs.sch.uk
Safeguarding link Governor
Tom Pinnock - tpinnock@pendragon.cambs.sch.uk