Safeguarding

At Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School, the safety of all students is paramount. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined for the purposes of this guidance as:

• providing help and support to meet the needs of children as soon as problems emerge

• protecting children from maltreatment, whether that is within or outside the home, including online

• preventing the impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development

• ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care

• taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes

Safeguarding includes child protection, health care plans, health and safety, site security, safety on school trips, anti-bullying work, online safety and much more.

We believe that students have a right to learn in a supportive, caring and safe environment which includes the right to protection from all types of abuse; where staff are vigilant for signs of any student in distress and are confident about applying safeguarding processes to avert and alleviate any such problems.

Safeguarding is about ensuring that everyone is safe from harm – safe from bullying, safe from people who could abuse, safe from discrimination or harassment – and that we all feel safe in our environment.

If you are ever concerned about the safety or well‐being of someone at our school please talk to our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Mrs Hannah Tranter. Alternatively please contact one of our Safeguarding Deputies: 
Mrs Lisa Bramwell, Mrs Annika Charman (SENDCO), Mrs Ellie Booth, Mrs Katy Clarke, Ms Naomi Evans, Mr Rob Green, Mrs Natalie Liston, Mr Paul Pollard, Mr Will Prior, Mr George Revell and Miss Rachel Watmore.

We also have a dedicated email address: safeguarding@langton.kent.sch.uk

The school adheres to the following DFE (and other) safeguarding documents:

• Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023
• Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024

In addition to national and local guidance the school has its own safeguarding documents which are reviewed regularly and are available through the school website or on request to the school.

All staff receive annual Child Protection and Safeguarding update training and are aware of the procedures for passing on concerns within school. If any members of the school or local community have concerns about the welfare of a child in the school, please pass them on to the School Safeguarding Team.

Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School is an Operation Encompass School. This means we work in partnership with Kent Police to provide support to children experiencing domestic abuse. 

How you can help:

Students

Children and young people (students) have a responsibility to:

• Contribute to the development of school safeguarding policies
• Read and adhere to (at a level appropriate to their age and ability) the schools safeguarding policies and procedures
• Seek help from a trusted adult if things go wrong, and support others that may be experiencing safeguarding concerns
• Develop and take responsibility (at a level that is appropriate to their individual age, ability and vulnerabilities) for keeping themselves and others safe, including online

Parents and Carers

Parents/carers have a responsibility to:

• Read the relevant school/policies and procedures, encouraging their children to adhere to them, and adhering to them themselves where appropriate
• Discuss safeguarding issues with their children, support the school in their safeguarding approaches, and reinforce appropriate safe behaviours at home
• Identify changes in behaviour which could indicate that their child is at risk of harm online
• Seek help and support from the school, or other appropriate agencies, if they or their child encounters any safeguarding concern
• Contribute to the development of the schools safeguarding policies

Safeguarding Policy for Students

Safeguarding Statement

Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputies Poster

Visitors to the school - mobile phone use guidance

Safeguarding leaflet - visitors and volunteers to the school