Safeguarding
Safeguarding is Everyone's Responsibility
At Churchdown School Academy, we believe that all students have the right to learn in a supportive, caring and safe environment. This includes the right to protection from all forms of abuse, harm, bullying, discrimination and harassment. At our school, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Staff are vigilant to signs that a student may be at risk of harm and are trained to respond quickly and appropriately in line with statutory guidance.
Our safeguarding practice is guided by national legislation and statutory guidance, including Keeping Children Safe in Education and Working Together to Safeguard Children. We have a comprehensive Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy, which is regularly reviewed and available to view HERE.
All staff, including supply staff, volunteers, governors, and contractors, receive safeguarding training and regularly demonstrate familiarity with the school’s safeguarding procedures. This includes understanding how to recognise signs of abuse, respond to concerns, and report safeguarding issues timely and appropriately.
Safeguarding means ensuring all students are protected from harm and feel safe within our school community. This includes protection from abuse, neglect, exploitation, bullying (including online bullying) and discrimination. We follow the Prevent strategy to safeguard children from the risks of radicalisation and extremism, and place strong emphasis on online safety and the responsible use of technology. The school has appropriate filtering and monitoring systems in place to protect students when they use the internet on school devices and networks, and students are educated to stay safe online and to report any concerns about online behaviour or digital communication.
Churchdown School works closely with external agencies, including Children’s Social Care, Health Services, and the Police, and follows the procedures set out by the Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children Partnership. Where there are concerns about a student’s welfare, we may need to share information. Our aim is always to act in the child's best interests. Wherever possible, concerns will be discussed with parents or carers first, unless doing so may place the child at further risk.
Students are encouraged to speak to a trusted adult if they are worried about their own safety or a friend's safety. They can talk to any member of staff, who will ensure that the concern is passed to the appropriate safeguarding lead.
The school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is responsible for overseeing safeguarding and child protection arrangements within the school.
Our Designated Safeguarding Leads are – Mrs Roberts-Moore (DSL), Mr O’Connell (DDSL) and Miss G Wheeler (DDSL).
If you have any safeguarding concerns about a student, please contact the school immediately by calling the main school number on 01452 713 340 and stating that you are calling regarding a safeguarding matter. Your concern will be passed directly to a member of the safeguarding team.
Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy
Keeping Children Safe in Education
Working Together to Safeguard Children
Helping young people in Gloucestershire to cope with life's ups and downs
Children and may face many challenges as they go through adolescence, this can range from issues around friendships and cyber safety to struggles with their mental health or sexuality. Parents and carers may find the information available through the links below a useful resource to help understand and support your child as they face these struggles.
Self-Harm
Suicide Prevention
Domestic Abuse
Anxiety/Panic/OCD/Phobia
Drugs and Alcohol
Bereavement
Eating Disorders
LGBTQ+ Support
Homelessness
Parents' Support
Useful Self-Help Apps
Other Support Pages
TiC+ offers counselling and support for children and their families throughout Gloucestershire. TiC+ offer face-to-face counselling, online counselling and remote (video and phone) counselling for children and young people. In addition to counselling, they provide TIC+chat, an anonymous helpline for children and young people
TiC+ also offer support to parents and carers from our Parent Support & Advice Line and Parent Support Groups
Shout is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope. They provide support for people who are anxious, stressed, depressed, suicidal or overwhelmed and who need in-the-moment support.
Stop, breath, think gives young people aged 8-21 access to free 1-1 counselling sessions. They provide counselling for young people who would otherwise be unable to afford it. They are available nationally and provide vital support to those who need it with no wait times. Their service is modelled on the THRIVE framework for child mental health care provision.
Childline is there to help anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue they’re going through. Childline is free, confidential and available any time, day or night. They have trained counsellors to offer support on the phone or through their website. Childline is a service that’s run by the NSPCC.
In addition to their support lines, that provide a wealth of information, guidance and support for children and adults on a wide range of issues.
Young Minds provides practical tips and advice from young people for young people who are struggling with their feelings. They also provide people with tools to look after their mental health as well as information about where to get the support you need for your worries.
Young Minds aims to empower adults to be the best support they can be to the young people in their lives by sharing practical advice and tips on how to support your child. The advice they provide ranges from how to encourage your child to open up about their feelings to dealing with mental health services.
Young Gloucestershire is a countywide charity that supports young people who are facing challenges in their lives. A youth work approach is at the heart of everything they do. Young Gloucestershire believe that by building relationships with young people and understanding their individual needs we they begin to empower children to change their futures.
Whether their challenges are a disruptive home life, caring for a family member or coping with a mental health issue, Young Gloucestershire offers practical ways for children to find confidence and develop the skills they need to get on track and to move into a job, education or training. Young Gloucestershire works with the whole family to ensure our support reaches all those in need and develops lasting support networks.
Treasure Seekers aims to ensure that every vulnerable and disadvantaged person in Gloucester reaches their full potential, and becomes fully engaged in the community. The Cavern is their coffee shop and live music venue which is open to all throughout the week as a safe place to meet friends, play board games and see a friendly face.
The Cavern is a youth venue offering Friday night youth nights. It also offers board game nights, open mic nights, live music nights and karaoke nights to its programme as well as opening each day. As well as being a coffee shop open to all, The Cavern gives work experience opportunities to vulnerable and disadvantaged people and provides an out of hours mental health drop in.
For over 60 years, Mind has worked to improve the lives of all people with experience of mental health problems. They provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem and campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.
Mind won't give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect. They believe that when you are experiencing a mental health problem, supportive and reliable information can change your life.
Mind empower people to understand their mental health and the choices available to them through their:
- Infoline, which offers confidential help for the price of a local call
- Legal Line, which offers information on mental health law
- Information which is available online and in print
The Mix offers essential support on a wide range of issues for young people under the age of 25.
The Mix offers advice to help you take on any challenge you’re facing - from mental health to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs. Talk to them via their online community, on social, through our free, confidential helpline or their counselling service.
This website provides tips and strategies to help you lift your mood or ease your anxiety. You can complete a quiz to get a free personalised plan to support your mental health, sign up for anxiety easing e mails or get sleep tips sent to your in box.
The website also gives you the opportunity to learn about CBT, watch video guides and try techniques to deal with worries, solve problems and boost your mental wellbeing.
In addition to offering support and advice for families on a range of issues (such as online safety, sex and relationships and mental health), the NSPCC also offers a range of therapeutic services.
Young Minds Matter Information and Privacy Notice
Internet Safety
Here at Churchdown School we are committed to Internet Safety.
The Internet is an amazing place. It allows everyone to communicate, do research, play games, listen to music, watch films, and even read Shakespeare or check the football results. We just need to act responsibly when we are online.
The Rules:
- Never Give Out Personal Details
- Don’t send out your picture to anyone
- Don’t enter private chat rooms
- Don’t open attachments from people you don’t know
- Don’t download programs without permission
- Respect people’s privacy
- Keep your password safe
https://www.ghc.nhs.uk/our-teams-and-services/children-and-young-people/camhs/young-minds-matter/
https://www.kftseekers.org.uk/youth-support-servicehttps://www.mind.org.uk/
Operation Encompass – Information for Parents and Carers
Churchdown School is part of Operation Encompass, a partnership between the police and educational settings designed to ensure that children and young people who experience domestic abuse receive timely and appropriate support in school.
What is Operation Encompass?
Operation Encompass is an information-sharing partnership between the police and educational settings which helps schools provide timely support to children and young people affected by domestic abuse.
Since 7 November 2025, police forces in England and Wales have had a statutory duty, under Section 49A of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, to notify a child's educational setting when they have reasonable grounds to believe that the child may be a victim of domestic abuse.
Children are recognised in law as victims of domestic abuse in their own right where they see, hear or experience the effects of domestic abuse. A notification can therefore be made where a child is connected to the household, including where they were not physically present when the incident occurred.
The purpose of sharing this information is to enable schools to provide appropriate, timely and child-centred support.
What happens when Churchdown School receives a notification?
Churchdown School shares Operation Encompass information securely with appropriately trained members of its safeguarding team and treats it sensitively and confidentially.
We want parents and carers to understand how Churchdown School receives and uses this information. Our role is to share information with our safeguarding team so we can respond sensitively and ensure students are appropriately supported.
We are also not seeking information unnecessarily or being intrusive. The police provide this information as part of the Operation Encompass safeguarding arrangements so we can understand that a child may have experienced something difficult and respond appropriately.
Our response will always be proportionate to the individual child and their circumstances.
For some students, this may simply mean that appropriate staff are aware that the young person may need additional understanding or sensitivity during the school day. For others, we may offer pastoral support, access to a trusted adult, opportunities to talk, or other appropriate support.
Where appropriate and safe to do so, we may also contact a parent or carer to discuss whether the school or other services can provide additional support.
Supporting children and families
Our priority is the child's safety, wellbeing and welfare.
We also recognise that families experiencing domestic abuse may themselves need help and support. Where appropriate, our safeguarding team can help families understand what support may be available and help them access relevant services.
Receiving an Operation Encompass notification does not in itself mean that the school will make judgements about a parent, carer or family. It helps us understand what a child may be experiencing and ensures they are known, noticed and supported in school.
Operation Encompass notifications do not replace the school's usual safeguarding procedures. If we have concerns about a child's safety or welfare, we will continue to act in accordance with our safeguarding responsibilities and the school's Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy.
Further information
Parents and carers who would like to discuss Operation Encompass, or who feel that they or their child would benefit from support, are welcome to contact the school's safeguarding team. We will handle any conversation sensitively and in accordance with our safeguarding responsibilities.
Further information about the statutory Operation Encompass arrangements is available in the Home Office guidance:
Information sharing duty: Operation Encompass – GOV.UK