The responsibility for promoting the safeguarding and welfare of our students is taken very seriously and this is evident in the following ways:

• We ensure that full discussion of the college’s safeguarding policy is included in the induction of all new members of staff and volunteers to ensure that there is a common understanding and to maintain a safe culture at the forefront of staff consciousness;
• All staff have child protection training as a minimum once every year;
• Our college policy encourages all staff to raise any concerns they may have about students; the interests of the young person are paramount and take priority over professional loyalties;
• Our staff selection and interview process will assess rigorously all candidates’ suitability and their commitment to safeguarding children;
• There may be occasions when our concern about your child means that we have to consult other agencies before we contact you;
• In addition to their tutors, students have pastoral support from our Student Support team who are available before school, during breaks, lunchtimes and after school.  Students can also access our college Counsellor and the School Health Nurse, Sexual Health Nurse via weekly drop-in services;
• Under the leadership of the Designated Safeguarding Lead, Tracy French, the college has additional staff who are specifically trained in Child Protection.

If parents or carers have any concerns regarding the welfare or safeguarding of students, then any of the following staff can be contacted directly:

Those named above can be contacted at safeguarding@thespirescollege.com or via the main college telephone number (01803 400660). 

Parents may find these websites useful in gaining more information about all aspects of safeguarding children:

• https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/

• https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/Concerned-about-your-child

If you are concerned about the safety or welfare of your child or a child you know, you should act without delay. You can ask for advice or report your concern to:

Torbay Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub 

Telephone: 01803 208100

Email: torbay.safeguardinghub@torbay.gcsx.gov.uk

If the child is at immediate risk, please call the police on 999.

Our school is part of Operation Encompass.

Operation Encompass is a national police and education early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children and young people who experience Domestic Violence and Abuse and which is in place in every police force in England and Wales.

Children were recognised as victims of domestic abuse in their own right in the 2021 Domestic Abuse Act.

Operation Encompass means that the police will share information with our school about all police attended Domestic Abuse incidents which involve any of our children PRIOR to the start of the next school day.

When students join the school, details about Operation Encompass is shared with them and their parents.

Our DSL and other relevant staff undertake Operation Encompass training and share their knowledge with colleagues.

Our practices support children who are experiencing domestic violence and abuse, including following an Operation Encompass notification, and we understand that action taken should not put the student or a non-abusing adult involved at risk.

We use the Operation Encompass Key Adult Responsibilities checklist to ensure that all appropriate actions have been taken by the school.

The Operation Encompass information is stored in line with all other confidential safeguarding and child protection information.

Please find our Safeguarding Policies below.