RudheathSafeguarding/ Child Protection
The welfare of children must and will always be our paramount consideration at all times.
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Emma Kamran
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL): Andrew Ross, Kelly Sweeney, Laura Knight, Jackie Storey
Safeguarding Governor: Nancy Cox
Our children have the right to protection – regardless of age, gender, race, culture or disability. They have a right to be safe in our academy.
The Academy is required to have rigorous policies and procedures in place to safeguard children. The Academy has several members of staff who have undertaken specialist training and take on the roles of Designated Senior Person (i.e. to deal with safeguarding and child protection concerns).
It may be helpful to know that the law places a duty on the Principal and their staff to report any obvious signs or suspected cases of child abuse – which include non-accidental injury, neglect, emotional abuse and/or sexual abuse. The procedures are intended to protect children at risk and all schools and academies nationally are expected to take the attitude that where there are grounds for concern it is better to be safe than sorry. This does mean that the Academy staff risks upsetting some parents/carers by reporting a case which, on investigation, proves unfounded. In such circumstances, it is hoped that parents and carers would accept that the staff acted in what were believed to the child’s best interests of the child.
In line with government requirements, the Academy maintains a central list of checks on appointed staff and adults who work in or visit the Academy. Any volunteer or parent working in the Academy is subject to c background checks. The Academy has an agreed Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy.
2024 2025 rpa safeguarding and child protection policy.pdf
LSCB
The Local Safeguarding Children’s Board for Cheshire West can be contacted via their website: https://www.cheshirewestlscb.org.uk
Internet Safety
In our ever-changing world children inevitably come into contact with, and use, technology. All parents and pupils must sign a declaration about the safe use of IT. If you have any concerns or want advice about e-safety at home, we are more than willing to help.
Prevent
Our Prevent Self Assessment document is available online.
Internet Safety Links
Please see are Online Safety page.
Operation Encompass
In conjunction with Cheshire Police, Rudheath Primary Academy is involved in a new initiative called Operation Encompass. Operation Encompass aims to safeguard and support children and young people who have been involved in, heard or witnessed a domestic abuse incident. Following such an incident, children often arrive at school distressed, upset, worried and unprepared. Operation Encompass aims to ensure that appropriate school staff (called Key Adults) are made aware early enough to support children and young people in a way that means they feel safe and included.
At Rudheath Primary Academy, our Key Adults are Andrew Ross (Principal) and Emma Kamran (Inclusion Lead)
This valuable initiative means we can continue to support and help children and families within our school community when they need it the most.
You can find more more by visiting www.operationencompass.org or by contacting our Key Adults.
Emotional Health
We use myHappyMind at Rudheath Primary Academy and Nursery. This helps prepare today’s children for tomorrow’s world by building resilient, balanced and happy minds.
You can get more information on myHappyMind at https://myhappymind.org/