Gillingham School recognises that the welfare of our students and staff is paramount. Safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility at Gillingham School and we must all be vigilant for the signs of neglect, physical, emotional and sexual abuse, radicalisation, FGM, forced marriage and so forth; staff should also ensure that they act in a way that safeguards themselves at all times.
Procedures
The statutory guidance from the DFE issued under Section 175 of the Education Act 2002 states that all schools and colleges must have a clear and transparent safeguarding process
Senior teachers and those directly involved in the Pastoral System are trained in Safeguarding to the required level. In addition, all staff receive regular safeguarding training and updates.
Please see our Statutory policies for schools for further details & information
Statutory Policies links:
Key Safeguarding Staff:
All of us have a responsibility for safeguarding our pupils. Should you have any concern please liaise with the DSL and Deputies below.
 C Gordon | Assistant Headteacher Designated Safeguarding Lead | cgordon@gillingham-dorset.co.uk |
Lower School Safeguarding Team
| Rachael Ladlow | Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead |
| Danielle Gordge | Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead |
| Zowie Crocker | Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead |
| Laura Rendall | Attendance Officer |
| Jess Mash | Admin Support Pastoral |
Sixth Form Safeguarding Team
| Jo Stirk | Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead |
| Tara Whyntie | Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead |
| Hannah Lister | Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead |
If you have any concerns regarding domestic violence you can contact any of the above or Paragon Domestic Abuse Support 0800 032 5204
Online Mental Health and Wellbeing Support for young people
Kooth provides a safe, secure means of accessing online emotional
health support from a professional team of qualified counsellors and emotional wellbeing practitioners for ages 11-18.
For: Parents, Carers, Students.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss what Kooth can offer, please address the school or contact Kooth directly parents@kooth.com
Support and Guidance for Parents
Dorset Council Private Fostering
Private fostering is when a child under the age of 16 (or 18 if disabled) lives with someone for 28 days or more who is not a: close relative such as a grandparent, sibling, uncle or aunt or step-parent. Guardian or person with parental responsibility.
You must inform Dorset Council if you know about a child that is being or going to be privately fostered. By law, the council must know of any arrangement. Dorset’s Children’s Services can then make sure the arrangement is suitable.
Council support services: Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire
E Safety
Parent Zone
Online information site offering free parental resources on a range of topics. Includes online advice regarding live-streaming safety, how to protect your children from grooming on games such as Fortnite or Yubo and how to help your child manage their screen time.
The National Crime Agency Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (NCA-CEOP)
This programme was developed to offer up to date, expert advice for children and their adults across a range of issues such as how to live stream safely and ways to monitor your child’s digital security.
The Safe Schools & Communities Team (SSCT) Young People
A partnership between Dorset Police and the Dorset Combined Youth Offending Service, with a remit to prevent and reduce anti-social behaviour, crime and wrong-doing amongst children and young people, and help keep them safe in a digital world.
Dorset Police
