Happy and safe children learn effectively and develop well!

Firstly, we have robust policies and procedures, including staff code of conduct, to ensure that all children are safe at Applebee Wood Specialist School.

All Staff receive annual training related to safeguarding and then within monthly staff meetings, we discuss the various different aspects of safeguarding and child protection to ensure excellent staff awareness, understanding and knowledge and most importantly, that staff know what to do when they are worried about a child.

Safeguarding is our duty of care and is set out in terms of what we are required to do. We take safeguarding seriously. We recognize that families want to do their best for their child. We recognize that parenting is one of the hardest jobs, if not the hardest. We recognise that all families will need support at times.   

We encourage families to contact school and speak with one of our pastoral team or safeguarding leads if you are struggling or simply need a bit of support. Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Mr. Earl. Our deputy DSLs are Mrs. Beaghan, Mr. Cockerill and Mrs. Turner. Our wonderful pastoral team consists of Mrs. Beaghan and Miss Walton. Our Safeguarding/Child Protection Governor is Mr. Kewley.

All staff will communicate with the safeguarding leads if they are worried about a child. A safeguarding lead may phone you to have a chat about the concerns and the impacts we believe we are seeing. Support will be offered and appropriate referrals to Early help services may be offered.

At times, we will offer and open up a ‘Family Plan’ meeting. This starts by identifying strengths and areas for development. Early help services are identified to help with the identified areas for development and then 6 weekly meetings take place. The ‘Family Plan’ meeting will close when all areas for development have been met.

If we believe a child to be at risk of serious harm or believe they have suffered significant harm, then we will contact Children’s Social Care to seek advice. We would tell you if we are going to do this first.

Safeguarding, including online safety is a strong focus within our curriculum, Particularly PSHE.

Should you have any safeguarding concerns, our safeguarding leads can be contacted via the school office - 01772 336976 or bursar@applebeewood.co.uk 

Are you concerned that a child is being abused or neglected?

If you are worried about a child and you feel they are being abused, neglected or at risk of abuse/neglect, then you should contact one of the DSLs in school and/or make a safeguarding referral.

You can make a safeguarding referral by contacting Lancashire County Council's Children's Social Care by telephoning 0300 123 6720 (out of hours on 0300 123 6722).

If you believe a child is at risk of harm or has been harmed, you can also contact the Police on 101 or 999, depending on how immediate a response is required.

You can also contact:

NSPCC helpline - 0808 800 5000

There is more information on their website -

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/reporting-abuse/nspcc-helpline/

Our Safeguarding & Pastoral Team:

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Mr. Earl.

Our deputy DSLs are Mrs. Beaghan, Mr. Cockerill and Mrs. Turner.

Our wonderful pastoral team consists of Mrs. Beaghan and Miss Walton. 

Our Safeguarding/Child Protection Governor is Mr. Kewley.