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Breakwater Academy is committed to ensuring the welfare and safety of all our children in school. We believe that pupils 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 pupil in distress and are confident about applying our safeguarding processes to avert and alleviate any such problems. All entrances and exits to the school are secured during school hours. The only access into the Academy during the day is through the main entrance, which has a constantly monitored entry system.
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. Please see the Policies section of our website to view the safeguarding policy which goes into further detail.
Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a child’s welfare. We will ensure that our concerns about our pupils are discussed with his/her parents/carers first unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child’s welfare. Our Academy has a legal duty to refer cases causing concern to the relevant authorities.
If you are ever concerned about the safety or well‐being of someone at our school, please talk to one of the school’s Designated Safeguarding Officers.
Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Mrs Sally Franceschi (Deputy Headteacher)
Our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer is Miss Zoe Griffiths (Headteacher)
Safeguarding Governor – Ian Davey
The best way to help your child to be safe when using the internet is to talk to them and make sure they understand a few simple rules which can be found at Parent Resources Sheet for Parents and Carers.
Below you can find a variety of links to some useful websites. Also, we have now added printable guides for keeping your child safe when using smartphones, tablets, X-Box etc.
As part of Breakwater Academy’s commitment to safeguarding and child protection we fully support the government’s Prevent Strategy. As part of our annual Safeguarding training, we ensure that members of our team are aware of governmental priorities. Related issues are now discussed at every Academy Committee meeting.
What is the Prevent Strategy?
The Prevent strategy is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. As described in official documents published by Her Majesty’s Government, the Prevent Strategy:
• responds to the ideological challenge we face from terrorism and aspects of extremism, and the threat we face from those who promote these views
• provides practical help to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure they are given appropriate advice and support
• works with a wide range of sectors (including education, criminal justice, faith, charities, online and health)
If you are concerned that a member of staff, a Governor or potential Governor may have links to extremism or that child might be at risk of extremism, or if you have any other concern about extremism at Breakwater Academy, please contact the Department for Education’s helpline on counter.extremism@education.gsi.gov.uk or 020 7340 7264. Parents/carers can also find some more information on the Educate Against Hate website by the DfE: click here.
