Safeguarding
Ensuring the safety and well-being of students at Vision Motor Training is a priority and therefore we have policies and procedures which surround the issue of safeguarding young people (policies can be found on the policies page).
Safeguarding means that we aim to ensure the well-being of students both emotionally and physically, and will take steps in order to ensure that young people are not at risk, either from themselves or from others.
The steps that the setting might take are:
- meeting with the young person to explore the issue
- meeting with the parent/s or carers to explore the issue
- liaising and meeting with other agencies or professionals who are involved with the young person or family (for example, CAMHS, YFS, YOS and CSCare etc)
- making a referral to external agencies and liaising with them.
Children's Social Care seek to support families to ensure that young people are kept safe. It is with this in mind that the setting might refer to Children's Social Care to seek support for the family and young person. Unless the risk is presented by the parents or guardians, staff will either consult with them about the referral or inform them that a referral is taking place.
Purpose
The setting recognises that protecting and safeguarding young people is a shared responsibility and depends upon effective joint working between agencies and professionals that have different roles and expertise. Individual young people, especially some of the most vulnerable and those at greatest risk of social exclusion, will need coordinated help from health, education and children’s social care services. The voluntary sector and other agencies also have an important role in protecting and safeguarding young people.
Vision Motor Training has a responsibility to protect and safeguard the welfare of young people they come into contact with. The need for guidelines and procedures is important to ensure that this is done with understanding and clarity. The setting follows the guidelines provided by The East Riding Safeguarding Children Partnership.
What the law says
Children’s Act 1989, section 17 and 47, and the Children’s Act 2004 both state that it is the duty of schools to act “to safeguard and promote the welfare of children who are in need”.
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as:
- protecting children from maltreatment
- preventing impairment of children’s health or development
- ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
- undertaking that role so as to enable those children to have optimum life chances and to enter adulthood successfully
Child protection is a part of safeguarding and promoting welfare. This refers to the activity which is undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering or are at risk of suffering significant harm. Areas of harm are defined under the following headings:
- physical abuse
- emotional abuse
- sexual abuse and
- neglect
What to do if you feel that a young person is at risk:
If you are a student at the setting:
- Tell a member of staff about it if you’re in the setting
- Tell your parents or guardian about it if you’re at home
- Call Childline (0800 1111), The Samaritans (08457 909090) etc.
If you are a parent or carer:
Contact can be made with the Designated Safeguarding Lead at Vision Motor Training on 01482 679881.
The Interim Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) at Vision Motor Training is Chloe Knight.
Where there are concerns about the welfare of any young person all staff/volunteers have a duty to share those concerns with the Designated Safeguarding Lead. As a parent or visitor to the setting any concerns you have should be communicated directly to Chloe Knight or the office staff.
Vision Motor Training is committed to safeguarding and ensuring the welfare of all pupils and requires all staff, volunteers and visitors to share this commitment. If you are concerned about a young person’s welfare, please record your concerns and any observations or conversations heard.
All members of the Safeguarding Team can be contacted during working hours via 01482 679881
Out of hours or during holidays please refer to the information on the ERSCP website.
Reporting a concern outside of school hours
