Safeguarding Team
- Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) – Gemma Stangroom
- Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSL) – Alice Limb, Emma Smith
- Looked After Child Coordinator (LACC) – Gemma Stangroom
- Online Safety Coordinator – Gemma Stangroom
- Person Responsible for Children with Medical Needs – Gemma Stangroom
- Attendance Officer – Jackie Line
Wider Safeguarding Team
- SENCO: Gemma Stangroom & Emma Lewis
- Office Managers: Mrs K Holdsworth & Mrs F Penney
- Academy Director and LAT Safeguarding Lead: Emma Elwin
- LAT Safeguarding Advisor: Marla England
Contact Us
- Telephone: 01634 251098
Outside of normal working hours or term time please visit the Medway Council Social Care Website or dial 999 for emergency services.
Safeguarding and Child Protection Statement
At Leigh Academy High Halstow we aim to promote outstanding educational experiences that inspire all learners to set their sights high, to achieve to the best of their abilities, and to excel in all that they do in order to prepare them to live and work as successful, active citizens.
The Leigh Academies Trust recognises that schools have a crucial role to play in helping to identify welfare concerns and indicators of possible abuse or neglect at an early stage. All staff have a full and active part to play in protecting and safeguarding the children in our care; our pupils’ welfare is our paramount concern.
Please refer to the ‘Policies’ page in the ‘About’ tab for our Safeguarding Policy.
Our ‘Child Friendly’ Pledge to keep children safe at LAHH
“High Halstow is our school and we want it to be a safe place! The adults in High Halstow will do everything they can to make sure you are protected and happy. To help them do this, they have lots of rules to follow. This pledge helps you understand what Safeguarding means to you and to help you decide what could be a ‘ problem’ and who you should talk to.”
The adults in school think that Safeguarding means that they should:
- Protect you from harm
- Make sure nothing stops you being healthy or developing properly
- Make sure you are safely looked after
- Make sure you have the best life chances and can grow up happy and successful
They agree that to make sure they look after you, they will:
- Make the school a friendly, welcoming and supportive place to spend time in somewhere you want to be
- Be there for you to talk to if you need to and know who to ask for help
- Give you safe messages in your lessons to help you learn how to look after yourself both online and in the real world
- Have all the right rules in place to help look after you. They will follow these rules all of the time (these are sometimes called Policies)”
What is abuse?
Any form of neglect, physical, emotional or sexual mistreatment or lack of care that leads to harm or injury. It can happen to any child regardless of their age, gender, race or ability.
What is discrimination?
When people receive less favourable treatment on any grounds which cannot be justified. This covers race, ethnic or national origin, language, religion or belief, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, disability, social class, responsibility for other dependent or where the person lives.
What is bullying?
A wilful, conscious attack on the self-esteem or the person or an individual student. It may include jibes, name-calling, silence/exclusion from the social circle, emphasising different, threatening behaviour, racial/sexual harassment, extortion and physical attacks. It may vary in severity, frequency and in the numbers of people involved and usually this happens frequently, over a long period of time.
People working in school are uniquely placed to notice signs and symptoms of abuse and to support children who are subject to abuse or living in abusive situations.
Safeguarding and Mental Health Websites/Links
- NSPCC
- NHS
- Young Minds
- Childline
- Kooth – mental health and wellbeing
Online Safety
- CEOP Safety Centre
- ThinkUKnow – Ask the awkward
- ThinkUKnow
- GOV.UK – Internet Safety
- Parent Zone
- Childnet
- National Online Safety – parents receive a weekly online safety guide ‘Wake up Wednesday’ sent via the academy email.
Let’s talk PANTS!
Talking PANTS teaches children important messages, like their body belongs to them and they should tell an adult if they’re upset or worried.
Get together and singalong with Pantosaurus to get the conversation started and download our PANTS guides for more support.
Learn what each letter of PANTS stands for.
- Pants are private
- Always remember your body belongs to you
- No means no
- Talk about secrets that upset you
For further guidance and ideas of how to start these conversations please see the link below for a Parents Guide.
Underwear rule guide for parents
If you have any questions or concerns please speak to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), Gemma Stangroom or Alice Limb and Emma Smith. We are always available to help and advise.
Operation Encompass
Operation Encompass is a national scheme that operates jointly between schools and all police forces. Operation Encompass means that our academy will be told, prior to the start of the next school day, when police have attended an incident of domestic abuse where there is a child or young person who attends our academy who is related to any of those involved in the incident.
We have ensured that a member of our staff, (Designated Safeguarding Lead) known as a Key Adult, has been trained about Operation Encompass procedures. This allows us to use the information that has been confidentially shared with us by the police, to understand how a child may be impacted by domestic abuse and to then offer support to the children in our care.
E-Safety is a key aspect of parenting in the 21st Century. Children are increasingly reliant on technology in their everyday life and we want to ensure that while they’re online or accessing an app we keep them safe. There is lots of information out there to support you, but we thought we’d summarise a few ideas to get you started.
- Be share aware – what information are they sharing with friends and the wider community. Is this information safe and can other people see it. For example, in school we ensure that any data stored by companies is bound by regulation and protected in the case of hacking.
- Set up parental controls – you know what it’s like, you click a link and suddenly something you hadn’t expected appears on the screen – this could be a completely innocent image, but it might not be. Most internet and mobile phone providers will allow you to set up parental controls to limit the chances of children stumbling on anything unsuitable. If the children come across anything in school we teach them to: Stop, Tell and Block. Stop clicking, take the device to an adult and Tell them then the IT department Block it.
- Talk to your child – talk to your child about keeping safe online and when using apps. Some apps include location devices so that anyone using the app can see who else is nearby – check the settings. Explain that if they see something they don’t like they need to speak to someone or block people who are unkind.
If you are concerned about a child or young adult being groomed whilst online then you can report this immediately. Use the CEOP link, below, which will allow you to report any concerns – the E-safety Emergency Service.
Further advice and support can be found on these links:
While at school we use the following phrase, Stop, Tell and Block to help keep everyone safe online.
- Stop: Stop clicking and take your device to an adult.
- Tell: Tell the adult what you have seen that has made you sad or made you feel uncomfortable.
- Block: The IT team will block this site, so that nobody else will have to see the same thing.
Remember – nothing online should make you feel sad or uncomfortable, don’t ignore it, Stop, Tell and Block.
We want you to have fun and enjoy the range of technology you have available to you, but we also want you to be safe, at school and at home.
Have a look at this game and learn about staying safe online. Lee and Kim’s Adventures
Top Tips!
- Always ask a grown up before you use the internet. They can help you find the best thing to do.
- Don’t tell strangers where you live, your phone number or where you go to school. Only your friends and family need to know that.
- Don’t send pictures to people you don’t know. You don’t want strangers looking at photos of you, your friends or your family.
- Tell a grown up if you feel scared or unhappy about anything. In our school you can speak to anyone, but particularly Mrs Stangroom or Ms Lewis.
You can also call ‘Childline’ on: 08001111 to talk to someone who can help. Or visit the CEOP Safety Centre.
LAT Online Safety Statement
We proudly announce that our academy has successfully achieved accreditation for our comprehensive commitment to promoting and teaching online safety. This accreditation reflects our dedication to ensuring that all aspects of online safety are embedded across our curriculum, staff training, leadership, and community engagement.
As part of the LAT Online Safety programme, our academy has demonstrated compliance with key requirements, including:
- Staff Training: All staff members have completed tailored online safety training, with additional, role-specific training provided for Designated Safeguarding Leads, principals, and governors.
- Curriculum Integration: Online safety education is systematically mapped across all year groups, meeting legal requirements. We actively promote digital citizenship through annual events such as Safer Internet Day and Digital Citizenship Week.
- Leadership and Technical Oversight: A 360-degree review of our online safety provision ensures continuous improvement. Online safety is embedded in safeguarding governance, monthly technical filter checks, and regular incident reviews using Safeguarding Lenz.
- Parental Engagement: We maintain a strong partnership with parents, offering resources, communication, and face-to-face workshops focused on online safety. We also gather parental feedback to inform our practices and priorities.
This accreditation is underpinned by robust tracking and monitoring, ensuring all required activities and standards are consistently met.
Our academy remains committed to fostering a safe and empowering digital environment for all members of our community. Together, we strive to build a culture of awareness, respect, and responsibility in the digital world.
For further information and resources, please visit the CEOP website or explore the safeguarding section of our website.
Worried About a Child?
If you believe that a child or young person is at IMMEDIATE risk, you should treat this as an emergency and call the academy, or call 999 to report your concerns to the Police.
Most children enjoy generally happy childhood experiences within their own family. Unfortunately for some this is not the case. During difficult family times, everyone who knows the child must do the best they can to protect them from future harm.
You may be concerned about a child or young person. You may or may not know them, or even their name. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Abuse can take many different forms, such as neglect, sexual abuse, physical abuse and even emotional abuse.
Take Responsibility
Don’t assume that someone else will take responsibility and make that phone call. You could help to save a child’s life. If you are worried, report it.
Tell Someone!
Please contact Specialist Children’s Services or the Police immediately:
Medway Children’s Services
Telephone: 01634 334 466
Emergency Out of Hours
Telephone: 03000 419191
E-mail: social.services@kent.gov.uk
Kent Police Child Abuse Investigation Unit: 01622 690 690
If you need to advise us of a child or young person moving into Kent from another area, please contact the Safeguarding Unit on: 01622 694157