Outwood Academy Portland is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all students; making sure they are happy individuals who know how to keep themselves safe.
As an academy, staff do their best to keep students safe. We have a culture of vigilance and we will always take a considered and sensitive approach in order to support all our students. Outwood Academy Portland is committed to ensuring that students are aware of behaviour towards them that is not acceptable and how they can keep themselves safe.
All students know that we have a senior member of staff with responsibility for child protection and know who this is. We inform students of whom they might talk to, both in and out of the Academy, their right to be listened to and heard and what steps can be taken to protect them from harm.
We utilise our curriculum to help students learn how to keep safe and manage risk. When problems are identified, staff take swift and appropriate action. Leaders, and all school staff ensure that students understand how to keep themselves safe from harm and exploitation. We provide a range of information and education for students to be safe citizens in the community. Leaders and staff create an exceptionally safe and welcoming culture where poor behaviour of any kind is not tolerated.
Outwood Academy Portland shares a purpose with parents/carers to keep children safe from harm and to have their welfare promoted. All new parents/carers are provided with the following statement prior to their child starting with the Academy:
“The Trust takes child protection and safeguarding very seriously and we have a very comprehensive child safeguarding policy. If your child informs staff members at their Academy of any issues which cause us concern, we may request the help of outside agencies. Depending on the nature of the concern and the severity of the issue, we may or may not contact parents/carers regarding the disclosure the child has made. We would in this instance contact the relevant professional body and seek their advice. Please be aware that our aim is always to act professionally with the child’s safety and best interest at the forefront.”
We are committed to working positively, open and honestly with parents/carers. We ensure that all parents/carers are treated with respect, dignity and courtesy. We respect parents/carers’ rights to privacy and confidentiality and will not share sensitive information unless we have permission or it is necessary to do so to protect a child. Outwood Academy Portland will share with parents/carers any concerns we may have about their child unless to do so may place the child at risk of harm. Outwood Grange Academies Trust follow each Safeguarding Partnership’s (formerly LSCB) procedures when dealing with any matters of a child protection nature.
We have a committed team who are trained as Advanced Designated Safeguarding Leads, or 'DSL'.
Our academy also works in partnership with Operation Encompass which is a police and education early information safeguarding partnership enabling schools to offer immediate support to children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse.
Operation Encompass makes a phone call to the academy's Designated Safeguarding Lead known as a Key Adult, prior to the start of the next school day, after an incident of police attending a scene of domestic abuse where there are children related to either of the adult parties involved. This sharing of information enables appropriate support to be given depending on the needs and wishes of the child or young person.