Safeguarding

We have a team of Designated Safeguarding leads within school. This is to ensure that we are able to meet the need of all our pupils and support families through a proactive approach.

DSL - Jenna Port

DSL & Family Engagement Lead - Kym Lockett

DSL & Family Engagement Lead (PT) - Holly Balding

DSL & Family Engagement Lead (PT) - Leah Stafford

Deputy DSL - Nicola Crowther

Deputy DSL - Ben Walker

Deputy DSL - Becki Breslin

Please click the link to  see the current guidance 

 Keeping Children Safe In Education 2022 (KCSIE)

Governor With Responsibility For Safeguarding 

Hannah Sugden - Vice-Chair of Governors

At Wood Bank we are committed to the continuous Safeguarding of our children and families and promote the ethos that; Safeguarding is EVERYONE'S responsibility!

Signs and Symptoms of Potential Abuse

We expect all members of our school community to remain vigilant to the signs and symptoms of potential abuse and report any concerns to our Designated Safeguarding Leads.  There are 4 main categories of abuse to be aware of;

• Physical Abuse
• Sexual Abuse
• Emotional Abuse
• Neglect 

In addition to these 4 areas, the following Safeguarding issues are also high on our agenda;

• The Prevent Duty (Radicalisation & Extremism) 
• Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
• Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
• Children Missing From Education (CME)

For further information on this, please refer to our School Safeguarding Policies. 

How to make a referral

Should you have any Safeguarding concerns about our children or families please speak directly to one of our Designated Safeguarding Leads in the first instance.  In the rare event that they are not available, please speak to one of our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads.  Contact can be made by either directly visiting the school or phoning the School Office on (01422) 884170. All disclosures are treated in the strictest confidence.  During weekends and holidays when school is closed, please make any referrals to:

MAST (Multi-Agency Safeguarding Team) on (01422) 393336 

In the event that you have a Safeguarding concern about a member of staff, please contact the Headteacher directly. If you have a Safeguarding concern about the Headteacher, please contact our Chair of Governors, Nick Wigmore, whose contact details are available from the School Office.  In either case the Headteacher or Chair of Governors will then refer to the Managing Allegations Policy when investigating the concern.  

Internal Systems

Within our school, our internal system has a range of features and procedures to ensure that Safeguarding is continuously promoted and managed effectively.  This includes the following;

• A Single Central Record which ensures all Staff, Governors and Volunteers have up to date DBS checks and that relevant teachers have an additional Prohibition check
• All staff have read Part 1 of the DfE document 'Keeping Children Safe in Education'
• All staff have completed a Disqualification by Association disclosure form 
• All Safeguarding disclosures and interventions are recorded on an online system called CPOMS
• We seek advice from and at times make referrals to, a range of multi-agency professionals including; 

1) Calderdale School Safeguarding Advisor

2) Calderdale Local Authority Designated Officer

3) Calderdale Prevent Co-ordinator

3) MAST (Multi-Agency Safeguarding Team)

4) EIP (Early Intervention Panel)

5) DCT (Disabled Children's Team)  

• Safeguarding features as a regular agenda item for Governors, Senior Leadership Team, Teachers and Staff meetings
• Staff undertake regular Safeguarding training both internally and externally 
• Safeguarding features within our School Evaluation Form and School Improvement Plan and is informed by the completion of audit tools provided for schools by the Calderdale Safeguarding Board 
• DSLs attend the Designated Safeguarding Lead Network meetings
• Health & Safety information boards are located in every classroom
• A prominent Safeguarding display is located on the main school corridor
• Monthly Safeguarding Supervision meetings are undertaken to review and support DSLs in leading cases
• Curriculum provision promotes British Values and ensures opportunities for our children to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding in relation to relevant aspects of Safeguarding, where it is deemed appropriate

Calderdale Continuum of Need

When assessing the needs of our children and families, we refer to the Calderdale Continuum of Need as highlighted above.  We aim for all of our children and families to be placed at either Level 1 or 2 on the Continuum.  However in the event that circumstances result in children and families being considered to be at Level 3 or above, appropriate support and/or intervention is offered to address this.  

Level 3

At Level 3 families, school or multi-agency professionals can request an Early Intervention Single Assessment (EISA) which involves the family and a range of professionals working together to identify the needs of the child and family, creating and following an EISA Plan to address these needs.  The EISA is then reviewed by all agencies involved every 6-8 weeks through Team Around The Child (TAC) meetings.   

Level 4

At Level 4 children and families are supported through a Child in Need Plan which is led by either a Social Worker or Family Intervention (FIT) Worker.  

Level 5

At Level 5 the child and family are supported by a Child Protection Plan as professionals have identified that there is a risk of harm under one or more of the 4 categories of abuse.  Child Protection Plans are led by a Social Worker with Core Group Meetings being held every 4-6 weeks for the child, family and professionals to attend to support the successful completion of the plan.  Child Protection Conferences led by an Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO), are then held to monitor that the Child Protection Plan is impacting on improving the circumstances.

In addition Children who are Looked After (CLA) are also placed at Level 5 on the Continuum. The Virtual School act as lead professional for a PEP (Personal Education Plan) and a Social Worker leads Looked After Child (LAC) meetings to ensure the health and social care needs of the child are being met.