Safeguarding
Safeguarding is the heart of everything we do at Stratton and is the responsibility of every adult a student interacts with, including families.
If you have an immediate concern, contact the school on 01767 220 000 and ask to speak with the Deputy DSL or DSL.
Other direct routes include:
Child Exploitation and Online Protection
The Safeguarding Team
Sam Farmer - Designated Safeguarding Lead (2023-2024)
Jenniefer Langdon - Designated Safeguarding Lead (2024+) (Assistant Principal)
Hayley Grist - Deputy Safeguarding Lead
Grace Campbell - Deputy Safeguarding Lead
All members of the SLT are Senior Safeguarding Leads
Rob Clarke, Lisa Ling, Danielle Rooney, David Grant, Lisa Ling, Paul Forster, Lydia Pickwick
Designated House Safeguarding Leads
- Carol Feeney
- Louise Butler-Smith
- Claire Leeks
- Suzanne Hunstone
- Sophie Gitsham
- Joe York
- Richard Crisford
During term time, the DSL will be available during school hours for staff to discuss any safeguarding concerns.
You can find a copy of our safeguarding policy and Safeguarding and Child Protection Statement here
Contacting Stratton about a Safeguarding Concern
During the stated office hours, the SSA Team and the DSL will respond to all communications regarding safeguarding. If you contact Stratton staff after stated office hours, please be aware that if reply is needed, it will be sent within 48 hours of receipt and the school being open, as per our communication policy. For an urgent safeguarding concern where you believe a child is potentially at risk or in danger, you must contact the out of hours emergency Central Bedfordshire Child Protection Team on 03003008123 or cs.accesssandreferral@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk or contact 999.
Central Beds Safeguarding Website
Child protection - safeguarding children and young people | Central Bedfordshire Council
The following organsiations can also be contacted and do provide support:
Texting SHOUT or BREATHE to 85258 will access 24/7 mental health support.
111 and select option 2 connects you with NHS mental health support
www.childline.org.uk or phone 0800 1111
www.samaritans.org or phone 116 123
www.kooth.com
www.stopbreathethink.org.uk
Parents helpline
9:30 am - 4pm Mon - Fri 08088025544
www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-helpline-and-webchat/
If you are concerned that immediate help is needed please contact 999 or go to A&E.
If you are concerned about the welfare of a young person outside of school office hours, please contact Central Bedfordshire Children's Services on 03003008585 or the NSPCC 0808 800 5000 (you do have the option to request anonymity when reporting via the NSPCC)
Safeguarding and Child Protection supporting documents
Department for Education: Keeping children safe in education
HM Government: Working together to safeguard children
Advice and information for Parents - Young minds help for anxiety
Parent Guardian Online Radicalisation Information and Support -
Online Safety Within the Home Guide
Sexual Abuse Online Support Document
Safeguarding Links
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (LSCBN)
Prevent Parent Guide
Types of Child Abuse - FGM
FGM advice for parents
Safeguarding and Child Protection Statement
Under section 175 of the Education Act 2002 (as amended), the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014, the Non-Maintained Special Schools (England) Regulations 2015, and the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (as amended) to have arrangements in place to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
We will endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued.
The school will therefore be alert to signs of abuse and neglect and will follow the Central Bedfordshire Safeguarding procedures to ensure that children receive appropriate and effective support and protection.
Parents/carers should know that the law requires all school staff to pass on information which gives rise to a concern about a child’s welfare, including risk from neglect, physical, emotional or sexual abuse. Parents/carers should know that records of safeguarding concerns may be kept about their child. They should be informed that school staff will seek, in general, to discuss any concerns with them including referrals to other agencies.
Local procedures state that “Consent should always be sought from an adult with parental responsibility for the child/young person before passing information about them to Children’s Social Care, unless seeking consent would place the child at risk of significant harm or may lead to the loss of evidence for example destroying evidence of a crime or influencing a child about a disclosure made.” This includes allowing them to share information without consent, if it is not possible to gain consent, if it cannot be reasonably expected that a professional gains consent, or if to gain consent would place a child at risk.
Where there is a need to share special category personal data, the Data Protection Act 2018 contains ‘safeguarding of children and individuals at risk’ as a processing condition that allows professionals to share information.
In accordance with legislation and local Information Sharing protocols, we will ensure that information is shared securely and sensitively. Information will only be shared with other services where it is deemed necessary and proportionate to ensure that children and young people are safe and receive the right service. In all circumstances, the safety of the child will be the paramount concern.
Schools will contact Children’s Social Care when they have reasonable cause to suspect a child may be suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. Occasionally, concerns are passed on which are later shown to be unfounded. Parents/carers will appreciate that the member of staff in the school with responsibility for child protection (known as the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead) was carrying out their responsibilities in accordance with the law and acting in the best interests of all children.
Under Section 3 (5) of the Children Act 1989, any person who has care of a child “may….do what is reasonable in all the circumstances of the case for the purpose of safeguarding promoting the child’s welfare”. This means that on rare occasions, a school may need to “hold” a child in school whilst Social Care and the Police investigate any concerns further.
