Safeguarding at The Duston School

Here at the Duston School we take our Safeguarding role extremely seriously; striving to provide the strongest possible support for all our students.

The welfare and safety of all our children is paramount.  Very occasionally we have concerns that are raised that we may feel, by talking directly to you, may put the child more at risk.  In some instances, these cases are then referred to Social Services.  This procedure enables us to protect children at risk and we make no apologies for ensuring that the students in our care remain safe.

Our formal Safeguarding & Child Protection policy is below and we remind parents/carers to speak to us if you are worried.

If you have any concerns about a child outside of school time you can call the local Multi Agency Support Hub (MASH) for advice (anonymously if needs be) on 0300 126 7000 or click on the following links:

Northamptonshire Safeguarding Board

The Duston School’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy

All members of staff receive Safeguarding training with key team members overseeing any concerns as Designated Safeguarding Leads.

Our aim is to be as transparent as possible, to share safeguarding concerns with relevant personnel to ensure we are providing a ‘safe’ environment for students and staff alike.

Throughout the academic year, our Student Care & Safeguarding team plan to deliver varying focus to students through assemblies, guest speakers and tutor group activities to develop their own understanding of keeping safe and supporting each other during difficult times; to include topics such as CSE, online grooming, e-safety, anti-bullying, anxiety, exams, respect, prevent and more.

We also have a small team of in-house counsellors who, through referral, are available to work with students to listen and to provide them with the coping mechanisms they may need to help them through difficult and challenging periods in their life.

The School Nursing team work closely with our Safeguarding and first-aid team to ensure students continue to receive support around keeping healthy, immunisations, emotional health, weight management, sexual health, drugs & alcohol, smoking and more.  The School Nurse team also provide a ‘Chat Health’ text service for students that prefer not to talk face-to-face; details of which are displayed around the school.

Should you, as a parent/carer or student, have any safeguarding concerns that you wish to share with the School please follow our contacts link below to direct to the right member of our Safeguarding team.

Contact can be made through our main school telephone number 01604 460004 or email confidentially to: office@thedustonschool.org

From time to time we will release useful and relevant safeguarding notices to parents/carers – copies of these notices will be posted within the link below for your ongoing reference.