Manor Drive Secondary Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and we expect all staff, governors and volunteers to share this commitment.

At Manor Drive, there is nothing more important to us than the physical and emotional health and wellbeing of our students and staff.

If you have a concern, you will be able to speak to your child’s Form Tutor, to a member of the pastoral team or our safeguarding lead, all of whom will be happy to talk though any concerns or worries you may have.

Designated Safeguarding Lead

Mr George Collins - Assistant Head - Pastoral

Additional Designated Safeguarding Leads

Mrs Anna Knight - Assistant Head - Curriculum

Mr N Reid - SENCO

Mrs Jo Sludds - Headteacher

First Aiders

Mrs P Noble - PA to the Headteacher

Mr D Freeman - Site Manager

Mrs S Richardson - Pastoral & Attendance  Assistant

Mrs H Graham - Admin Team Support

Mr C Cooper - Senior Curriculum Support Technician

Miss E Fenn - Curriculum Support Technician

Miss C Devine - Reception Services

Mrs A Peet - Data and Higher Level Administrator 

Safeguarding and Child Protection Statement

Under section 175 of the Education Act 2002 (as amended), *the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014, the Non-Maintained Special Schools (England) Regulations 2015, and the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (as amended) to have arrangements in place to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

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. 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.

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 word ‘school’ is used throughout but this would include all educational settings eg Academies, Pupil Referral Units, Further Education establishments and Independent schools

WELLBEING

It is essential that all members of our Manor Drive family take care of their wellbeing and mental health.  Students will have the full support of our staff and will be supported both academically and pastorally to ensure their individual needs are met.  Parent / carers can access support and guidance at any time from the school.

Additionally there are a number of outside agencies who specialise in mental health and wellbeing that can be contacted for free and confidential support.

HELPLINES

These helplines are available if you need to talk to someone or if you feel at risk in any way.

Papyrus: thinking about suicide, please all 0800 0684141 or TEXT 07786209697

Bullying UK: 0808 800 2222

Child Line: Talk to a child line counsellor, no problem too big or small! 0800 1111

Samaritans:  Someone to listen 24/7 free of charge. 116 123 or TEXT 07725 909090

Compass:  Support and advice for young people using substances. 0800 121 4043

NSPCC:  If you feel you or someone you know is a victim of abuse: 0808 800 5000

Stonewall:  Support for anyone around issues of sexuality: 0800 0505 2020

Winston's Wish:  Helpline to support young people with the death of a loved one.  08088 020 021  

APPS

These free APPS mean you can access support wherever you are:

Stressheads:  Support to lower our stress levels

Stay Alive:  Support to those who may experience suicidal thoughts / feelings

Self Help Anxiety Management (Samapp):  Support and techniques to help manage anxiety and panic

Moodometer:  Created by the NHS.  Allows you to track your moods and what has influenced it.  Also provides ways to lift your mood.

Calm Harm:  Activiteis to assist in the management of self harm

Grief support for your people:  Information about grief, bereavement and the feelings we may experience when we loose a loved one.

Insight timer:  A large collection of free guided exercises to help relieve stress, improve relaxation and wellbeing

Calm:   A large collection of exercises designed to calm us down