Safeguarding

Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Through the training of our staff, we are fully committed to ensuring that effective safeguarding procedures are in place to support families, students and staff at school. We make every effort to ensure that students are provided with a safe and secure learning environment. This means ensuring that children are not put in any position where they are vulnerable to abuse or neglect. We enforce a school safeguarding policy for permanent and temporary staff members, volunteers and all school visitors.

The Homewood School Designated Safeguarding Lead is Vicki English and her deputies are Hannah Scarisbrick, Scarlett Faulkner, Nathan Wilson and Sue Taberer. The team is expanding from May 2023 with Gerard O'Sullivan, Stephanie King and Melanie Spackman completing their training. 

The Safeguarding Link Governor is Gillian Guthrie and the Tenterden Schools Trust Safeguarding Link is Graham Jones. 

Contact details for the Safeguarding team as follows:

Vicki English

Tel: 01580 764222 Extension 2279

​Hannah Scarisbrick

Tel: 01580 764222 Extension 2339Scarlett Faulkner

Tel: 01580 764222 Extension 2369Sue Taberer

Tel: 01580 764222 Extension 2261Nathan Wilson

Tel: 01580 764222 Extension 2389Mel Spackman

Tel: 01580 764222 Extension 2378

Jeremy Single

Tel: 01580 764222It is the duty of the school to ensure that the training and professional development of the DSL and deputy DSLs is ongoing, in order to enable them to deal effectively with changing child welfare concerns and the extra responsibilities that the job requires. This means being able to identify possible abuse, and knowing the right level of action to take, depending on the individual situation and circumstances.
If you have any serious concerns about your child or any other student at Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre, please do not hesitate to contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead who knows who to contact for the best advice. Along with the 6 Family Liaison Officers, any safeguarding concerns are dealt with efficiently, consistently with the appropriate degree of confidentiality.

The school will ensure that the DSLs attend relevant new or refresher training throughout their time in this role to make sure that they are up to date with the statutory policy and legislation and that they are in the best position to deal with concerns, incidents and allegations. They will also feedback to the rest of the school staff, including school governors, on updated safeguarding provisions and policies, and provide any available support and resources.

Teachers and associate staff are asked to report any causes for concern to the Safeguarding Team. Using our experience, concerns will be shared with necessary individuals, which will ideally include parents or carers and occasionally outside agencies.  Homewood School is an Operation Encompass School.

 

COMMENT FROM THE PRINCIPAL:

“From time to time, we get reports that children in different parts of Kent have been approached by a stranger and invited to get into a vehicle. Please remind your son/daughter never to accept a lift from anyone they do not know and to report the incident as soon as they get to school.”

Prevent Strategy

The Prevent strategy is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists, supporting terrorism, fundamentalism or extremist behaviours.

it:

  • responds to the ideological challenge we face from terrorism and aspects of extremism, and the threat we face from those who promote these views
  • provides practical help to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure they are given appropriate advice and support
  • works with a wide range of sectors (including education, criminal justice, faith, charities, online and health)

Spotlight on Safeguarding Newsletters

Spotlight on Safeguarding Newsletter March 2024

Spotlight on Safeguarding Newsletter June 2024Spotlight on Safeguarding Newsletter July 2024

Spotlight on Safeguarding Newsletter September 2024

Spotlight on Safeguarding Newsletter October 2024Spotlight on Safeguarding Newsletter November 2024

Spotlight on Safeguarding Newsletter December 2024

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