Students feel safe. They approach staff with any worries or concerns, and staff are attuned to each student’s physical and emotional needs. Staff are confident in the process to follow should they be concerned for a student’s welfare, and they know each student’s nuances and recognise small changes in their behaviour.
The safeguarding approach in the school is exemplary. Vigorous measures are used when serious incidents are reported, and the thorough risk assessing processes assure students’ safety. The school has exceptional processes to work with other agencies to help keep students safe.
Staff recognise all behaviour as a form of communication and seek to understand what students are trying to express. Behaviour support plans are child-centred and individualised. They support staff to understand students’ needs and ensure that they are comprehensively met.
Health and safety monitoring arrangements are fastidious. All checks are completed as required with strong management scrutiny. There are excellent individualised plans in line with students’ needs and their understanding of emergency evacuation procedures and danger. Students are protected from unsuitable people working in the school through the meticulous and thoughtful application of safer recruitment practice, which is further enhanced by social media screening.
Students are supported to learn about a wide range of topics linked to promoting their safety and understanding of the world. For example, they learn about road safety, online exploitation and ‘cuckooing’ as well as wider issues such as British identity, royalty and hot topics in social media. The ever-changing world outside is brought into the school in this way. Staff work very sensitively with students to help them understand the impact this may have on them and the impact that they can have on the world.