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Safeguarding
Oakbank Safeguarding 2024 / 2025
At Oakbank, the safety and well-being of our students are of paramount importance to us. We are deeply committed to creating a secure and nurturing environment where every child can thrive. To uphold this commitment, we regularly conduct comprehensive training sessions for our entire staff. These sessions ensure that all members of our team are fully aware of the most current government guidance and best practices in safeguarding.
Our approach to safety is proactive and collaborative. We believe that by staying informed and prepared, we can effectively address any potential risks and protect our students. We also recognise that parents and carers play a crucial role in the safety of their children. Therefore, we aim to equip you with the necessary information and resources to help you in safeguarding your children at home as well as at school. Our goal is to build a strong partnership with you, grounded in trust and mutual concern for the safety of all our students.
In some instances, it may be necessary for us to share information and work in conjunction with external agencies, such as social services, when we have concerns about a child’s welfare. We want to reassure you that our approach in these situations is always thoughtful and considerate. We are committed to transparency and will ensure that any concerns regarding your child are discussed with you, the parents or carers before we take further action. However, in cases where we believe that communicating with you might result in additional harm to the child, we may need to proceed differently, always with the child’s best interests at heart.
At Oakbank, we are dedicated to fostering an environment where students are safe, supported, and empowered to succeed. We value your partnership in this important mission and look forward to working together to ensure the continued safety and well-being of all the children in our care.
Interim Headteacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) – Miss E Marshall
Email: EMarshall@oakbank.anthemtrust.uk
Why is child protection important?
Child protection is essential because every child has the fundamental right to be shielded from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and violence. Safeguarding the well-being of children and young people is a statutory duty for many organisations, including schools. Effective child protection relies on a collaborative approach involving multiple agencies, with the well-being of students at the core of all our efforts.
What is the difference between child protection and safeguarding?
According to the Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024 (KCSiE), safeguarding refers to the broader duty of promoting children’s welfare, preventing harm, and ensuring safe environments, including early intervention when concerns arise. Child protection is a specific aspect of safeguarding, focused on protecting children identified as suffering, or at risk of suffering, significant harm due to abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Whilst safeguarding is proactive and preventative, child protection is reactive, involving direct interventions to ensure a child’s safety.
Child Protection:
At Oakbank, child protection and safeguarding are of the utmost importance to everyone.
We are committed to:
• Providing a safe space for all children to report concerns freely, knowing they will be taken seriously.
• Challenging any form of derogatory language or behaviour.
• Educating our students about appropriate behaviour through our curriculum.
• Collaborating with external agencies, when necessary, to ensure the right support is in place for everyone.
• If there are any concerns that a child may be at risk, the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) will promptly take appropriate action.
• To ensure that everyone is aware of who to contact in case of a concern, we have displayed posters in the Visitors Reception area and throughout the School. These posters include photographs of the staff members who are responsible for safeguarding, making it easy for students, parents, and visitors to identify them.
Our commitment to safeguarding reflects our dedication to creating a safe and supportive environment for all students. If you have any worries or concerns that a child is being harmed or is at risk of being harmed, or if you receive a disclosure, please contact:
- Ms E Marshall – (Interim Headteacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead)
- Mrs D Finlay - (Headteacher – currently on Maternity Leave)
- Mr P Lant – (Assistant Headteacher and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead)
- Ms J Iremonger –(Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and Attendance Lead)
The designated LADO for Wokingham whom we report to is Ms Michelle Pinnock-Ouma. She can be contacted in the following ways:
Michelle Pinnock-Ouma
Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
Wokingham Borough Council
Shute End
Wokingham
RG40 1BN
Email: Michelle.Pinnock-ouma@wokingham.gov.uk
Mobile number: 07801664588
Please submit all LADO referrals to: LADO@wokingham.gov.uk
All Designated persons have up-to-date training, and they must take necessary action depending upon the information shared with them.
Oakbank Safeguarding Team 2024 – 2025:
- Headteacher: Mrs D Finlay (Maternity Leave)
- Designated Safeguarding Lead: Ms E Marshall (Interim Headteacher)
- Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mr P Lant
- Inclusion Lead: Mrs J Iremonger
- SENCO: Mr R Ireland
- Assistant SENCO: Ms S Kittelsen
How is a safeguarding concern recorded?
At Oakbank we use CPOMS to record all Safeguarding incidents and concerns. It enables all staff members to securely report incidents. The Safeguarding Team are immediately notified and able to respond quickly.
How can a student remotely report a safeguarding concern?
If a student has a personal concern or a concern about another child at Oakbank please email us at: Safeguarding@oakbank.anthemtrust.uk. A report can also be made by clicking on the Reporting Pupil Concerns link on the school website: Reporting Pupils Concerns - Oakbank Secondary School
Please ensure the name and form class of the person of concern is shared and we will get back to you on the same day.
The following safeguarding documents outline the protocols and Safeguarding processes followed at the Academy:
Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024
Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy
Sexual violence and harassment –what is it?
Sexual harassment is any kind of unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature that makes you feel humiliated or intimidated, or that creates a hostile environment.
When someone calls you insulting sexual names, talks about you in a sexual way that makes you feel uncomfortable (like commenting on your body), or spreads sexual rumours about you, that’s sexual harassment. It can happen in person, over the phone, or online.
Sexual harassment can make you feel anxious, and depressed and lead to other problems, such as difficulties sleeping.
At Oakbank, we will always:
- Enable all children to report concerns freely and in the knowledge that they will be taken seriously
- Challenge any form of derogatory language or behaviour
- Ensure our curriculum helps to educate pupils about appropriate behaviour
- Work with external agencies where appropriate to ensure the right support is in place for all
- Work with external agencies where appropriate to ensure the right support is in place for all
Below are some useful links that will support any form of sexual abuse:
We would also like to highlight some of the support available to you. In addition to contacting us here at the Oakbank at any time, please see below for more resources.
Key Contacts:
Police: 999 (Immediate risk) / 101 (non-urgent concerns)
First Response: 111
Wokingham LADO: LADO@wokingham.gov.uk
PREVENT: 01189088002 (MASH) / triage@wokingham.gov.uk
NSPCC: 08005008000
ChildLine: 08001111
Useful links:
NSPCC works to support children and young people across the UK. They have a helpline and a range of websites that offer interactive advice and support. –www.nspcc.org.uk – 08001111 (Freephone)
The NSPCC has recently created a helpline (0800 136 663) for parents/carers and young people, and they can also be contacted via help@nspcc.org.uk.
Childline is the UK’s free 24-hour helpline for children in distress. Trained volunteer counsellors comfort, advise and protect children and young people who may feel they have nowhere else to turn.
Fearless - a website for young people created by Crimestoppers, as a way for young people to access information and to anonymously report incidents of crime.
Berkshire West Safeguarding Children Partnership
Bullying/Peer on Peer/Equality:
Domestic Abuse:
FGM:
Mental Health:
Young Minds focuses on mental health issues of children and young people, recognising that many children and young people have troublesome worries and fears.
Kooth – Online Support for Young People
Prevent & Counter Terrorism:
Online Safety:
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