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    • Safeguarding

    Safeguarding at The Orchard School

    Everyone Matters, Everyone Cares-and everyone is kept safe.

    Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do at The Orchard School. Our pupils need to feel safe, valued and understood before they can learn. As an SEMH community, safeguarding must be relational, consistent and responsive to each child’s individual needs.

    Many of our pupils arrive with complex needs and experiences that require sensitive, relational and therapeutic safeguarding. Our practice is rooted in strong relationships, predictable routines and early intervention.

    Everyone Matters. Everyone cares – and everyone is kept safe.

    Our Safeguarding Commitment

    • Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. All staff are trained, alert and proactive.
    • Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) team works closely with pupils, families and external agencies to ensure coordinated, timely support.
    • We currently use Safeguard My School to record and track safeguarding concerns, and we will be transitioning to CPOMS in Term 3 to further strengthen our reporting and monitoring systems.
    • Our Therapeutic Thinking approach helps staff understand behaviour as communication and strengthens safe, trusting relationships.
    • We act promptly when something doesn’t feel right, noticing small changes in a pupil’s mood, engagement or presentation.
    • We work in partnership with parents and carers to strengthen safety, wellbeing and trust.

    Meet the DSL Team

    Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
    Luke Mussett

    Deputy DSLs
    Alistair Hammond
    Sarah Stephens
    Scott McFarnell
    Rebecca Thomas-Read

    Safeguarding Officers
    Teresa Wilson
    Karen Hollands

    You can contact the safeguarding team via: safeguarding@orchard.kent.sch.uk

    Need to Report a Concern?

    If you are worried about the safety or wellbeing of a child, please tell us straight away.

    • Speak to any member of staff.
    • Ask for the DSL or a Deputy DSL.
    • Email safeguarding@orchard.kent.sch.uk.
    • Contact Kent Children’s Services (Front Door): 03000 411111.
    • If a child is in immediate danger, call 999

    Pupil Reporting Options
    We want every pupil to feel they can ask for help in a way that feels safe and comfortable. Pupils can:

    • Speak to any trusted adult in school
    • Use the dedicated pupil email: iamworried@orchard.kent.sch.uk
    • Scan the pupil safeguarding QR code displayed around the school to report a concern directly to the safeguarding team

    These routes allow pupils to share worries quickly, safely and privately.

    How we respond:
    When a concern is raised, the DSL team assesses the information promptly and takes appropriate action. This may include in-school support, Early Help, or contacting external agencies to keep the child safe.

    Early Help

    We aim to support families as early as possible. Early Help provides practical and emotional support before concerns escalate. Support may include:

    • Help with routines, behaviour or emotional regulation
    • Wellbeing and pastoral support
    • Attendance guidance
    • Signposting to local services
    • Regular check-ins with pupils and families

    We work with families to offer support early, helping to prevent worries from becoming bigger problems. Early Help reflects our relational and therapeutic approach to safeguarding.

    Safeguarding in an SEMH School

    Pupils with SEMH needs may express their worries or vulnerabilities through changes in behaviour. Staff are trained to:

    • Recognise that behaviour is communication
    • Look beneath behaviour to understand what a child may be feeling
    • Notice small changes in mood, presentation or engagement
    • Provide predictable routines and safe spaces
    • Build secure and trusting relationships
    • Act quickly when a pupil shows they are worried or unsettled

    Our Therapeutic Thinking and relational practice underpin all safeguarding decisions.

    Online Safety

    Online safety is an essential part of safeguarding. We support pupils to use technology safely and responsibly through:

    • Filtering and monitoring across the school network
    • Teaching online safety through PSHE, ICT lessons and assemblies
    • Clear reporting routes for online concerns
    • Guidance and support for parents and carers

    Pupils are encouraged to talk to a trusted adult or use the pupil email/QR reporting system if something online makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

    Prevent Duty

    We actively promote British Values and protect pupils from extremist or unsafe influences. See Guidance link below.

    Staff are trained to:

    • Recognise early signs of radicalisation
    • Hold sensitive and appropriate conversations with pupils
    • Report concerns quickly
    • Work with families and external agencies when required

    Prevent is part of our wider safeguarding commitment.

    Safeguarding Policies

    Our key safeguarding policies can be accessed using the linked buttons below. These documents set out how we keep pupils safe and how we fulfil our statutory duties.

    Each policy is reviewed regularly in line with statutory guidance.

    External Contacts

    Families may also find the following contacts helpful:

    • Kent Children’s Services (Front Door): 03000 411111
    • Police Emergency: 999
    • Police Non-Emergency: 101
    • Childline: 0800 1111
    • NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000

    If you need advice or are worried about a child, you can contact the NSPCC for confidential support.

     

    If you are concerned about online behaviour, grooming, exploitation or anything that makes a child feel unsafe online, you can make a report to CEOP using the official button below.

     

    #Wake Up Wednesday

    Wake Up Wednesday is our weekly online safety update for parents and carers. It provides clear, up-to-date information about current online risks, popular apps, games and digital trends, with practical advice to help families keep children safe and confident online.

     

     

     

    1. Prevent Duty Guidance

      pdf

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