King Edward VI Sheldon Heath Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all its students. We believe that:

• All young people have the right to be protected from harm;
• Young people need to be safe and to feel safe in school;
• Young people need support which matches their individual needs, including those who may have experienced abuse;
• All young people have the right to speak freely and voice their values and beliefs;
• All young people must be encouraged to respect each other’s values and support each other;
• All young people have the right to be supported to meet their emotional, and social needs as well as their educational needs – a happy healthy sociable young person will achieve better educationally;
• Schools can and do contribute to the prevention of abuse, victimisation, bullying, exploitation, extreme behaviours, discriminatory views and risk-taking behaviours; and
• All staff and visitors have an important role to play in safeguarding children and protecting them from abuse.

Staff are vigilant and are confident in applying our Safeguarding and Child Protection procedures to avert and alleviate any such problems.

Safeguarding is defined as:

• Protecting children from maltreatment
• Preventing impairment of children’s mental health, physical health or development
• Ensuring children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care and
• Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

Safeguarding includes child protection, mental health, individual health care plans, health and safety, site security, online safety, anti-bullying work and so much more.

The Academy’s key members of staff are: Mr Steve Miller (Designated Lead for Safeguarding, Assistant Vice Principal), Miss Denise Hopkins (Deputy DSL, Attendance & Family Support Co-ordinator), Mr Bryan Elcock (Deputy DSL Intervention & Student Support Lead)

We will fulfil our local and national responsibilities as laid out in the following documents:-

• Working Together to Safeguard Children (DfE July 2018)
• Keeping Children Safe in Education: Statutory guidance for schools and colleges (DfE September 2022)
• The Education Act 2002 s175 / s157
• Mental Health and Behaviour in Schools (DfE November 2018)
• ‘Promoting Fundamental British Values as Part of SMSC in Schools’ (DfE Nov 2014)
• Children’s Social Care in Birmingham: Right Help, Right Time (15th December 2021)
• The Prevent Duty (DfE 1st April 2021)

The Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy is available to parents and students here. All staff receive annual Safeguarding and Child Protection and Prevent update training and are aware of the procedures for passing on concerns within school.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Being a parent isn’t easy…

Parenting can be wonderful and rewarding, but it can also be difficult. Most parents experience moments of feeling overwhelmed. Fear not, there is a lot of early support available, why not ask to speak to your child’s Head of House, Pastoral manager or Denise Hopkins (Family Support & Home liaison coordinator) at the Academy to discuss options available or alternatively take a look at some of the links on the right.