Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Katie Jones (Co-Headteacher) and the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead is Rachel Hughes (Co-Headteacher). The lead teacher for LAC is Laura Walter. The Governor with responsibility for safeguarding in our school is Naill Smalley.
Pear Tree High School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
We have a number of policies and procedures in place that contribute to our safeguarding commitment, including our Safeguarding Policy which can be viewed below.
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 parents/carers first, unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child's welfare.
To promote a safe environment for students, Pear Tree High School employs a strict selection and recruitment policy which includes all statutory checks on staff and regular volunteers including Enhanced DBS (disclosure and barring service) checks.
All staff are trained to a level appropriate to their safeguarding responsibilities ranging from basic awareness for all, to Level 3 for key staff. Other safeguarding training is attended by relevant staff and governors. The training is monitored, and comprehensive records kept by the DSL.
We actively support the Government's Prevent Agenda to counter radicalism and extremism.
At Pear Tree we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils and this requires all staff and visitors to demonstrably share this commitment. There is a leaflet in reception that contains information about our child protection procedures and guidance on what you should do if you have any concerns.
On arrival at school, you will be asked to sign in - visitors will be given a visitors badge. Please wear this at all times whilst in the building. Please remain with your host at all times unless we have confirmed that we have had prior DBS clearance for you. When you leave Pear Tree please sign out and return your badge.
All adults at Pear Tree school work together to safeguard the welfare of the pupils in our care. We aim to provide a safe learning environment where all pupils and adults feel safe, secure and listened to and taken serious at all times. We recognise that our pupils have complex communication difficulties. This can make them more vulnerable than their peers. Communication and social interaction difficulties associated with autism can mean that pupils at Pear Tree may not understand social situations or the thoughts and feelings others around them. They may also find it difficult to put words and ideas together to tell people if something has happened that has made them feel worried or frightened .
All staff take special care to listen and watch for changes in the communication and behaviour of the pupils at Pear Tree as a key way of helping to keep them safe.
If you have any safeguarding concerns while on site please ask your host to direct you to a member of the safeguarding team.
Stockport Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP)Stockport Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP)
Contacting the LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) Contacting the LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer)