Safeguarding lies at the heart of life at Rothley C of E Academy. Keeping our pupils safe is a shared duty, and every member of our school community plays a part.
What to do if you are worried about a child
If you are worried about a child during the school day, please contact the school office on 0116 2302106 and request to speak with a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL).
For concerns that arise outside school hours, you can call 0116 305 0005 to reach Leicestershire Children’s Social Services. If you believe a child is in immediate danger, contact the Police straight away on 999. Alternatively, for non-urgent matters you can contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000 for advice.
If you feel unable to raise your concern with the school, or feel that your genuine safeguarding concerns are not being addressed, you can contact the NSPCC whistleblowing advice line on 0800 028 0285 (8am-8pm Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm weekends) or email help@nspcc.org.uk.
We value the strong relationships we have built with families and external professionals, which help us provide the best possible support for our pupils.
Our full Child Protection and Safeguarding policy is available under the policies section of our website, or by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page. It is complemented by several related policies, such as the Behaviour and Anti-Bullying Policy and the Relationships and Sex Education Policy, as well as others.
Rothley Academy participates in Operation Encompass, an early-intervention initiative between police and schools that helps protect children affected by domestic abuse. This enables us to better understand each child’s circumstances and provide appropriate care, nurture and support.
Further information about Prevent (safeguarding against radicalisation), along with details on how we assist parents, can be found on the Prevent page of our website. Our Prevent Risk Assessment is also available to view on the Prevent page.
Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mrs Barrs, Headteacher, who also acts as the school’s Prevent Lead. Revd. Gladstone is our governor with responsibility for safeguarding.
Our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads are:
Mrs Townsend - Deputy Head
Mrs Farnsworth – Head of Inclusion and SENCo
Mrs Timson - KS2 Assistant Head
Mrs Walton - KS1 Assistant Head
Mrs Meadows - EYFS Lead
Miss Thornton - Little Bunnies
Mrs Gretton - Family Support
Multi-Agency Working
We are committed to effective collaboration with a wide range of agencies and have considerable experience working with social care services, Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS), Family Help, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), and NHS providers.
If you or your child require support, please contact the school office to speak with a member of the DSL/DDSL team.
Online Safety
Parents should inform a staff member or DSL of any concerns relating to online safety within school, or if they have worries about cyberbullying occurring outside of school.
Families can find further advice on keeping children safe online, on our Keeping Safe Online website page.
Useful Links:
Leicestershire and Rutland Safeguarding Children Partnership
Key Documents:
Rothley C of E Academy Child Protection policy
