Safeguarding Culture and Ethos
 

At Compass School, safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and is central to our culture, values and daily practice.
 

We are committed to providing a safe, inclusive and nurturing environment where every pupil feels safe, listened to, respected, supported and able to thrive.
 

Our approach is proactive, promoting vigilance, professional curiosity and early intervention. Safeguarding is embedded across teaching, attendance, behaviour, wellbeing, pastoral care, online safety and partnership working.
 

At Compass School, we are committed to continuous improvement and the highest standards of safeguarding practice and our safeguarding arrangements are informed by Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2026, Working Together to Safeguard Children, attendance guidance, the Prevent Duty, RSHE statutory guidance, relevant Department for Education guidance and local safeguarding partnership procedures
 

Our Safeguarding Team
 

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Debbie McKenzie – Headteacher
 

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)
Sally Howells – Assistant Headteacher
 

Designated Safeguarding Lead Officers (DSLOs)
 

·        Luisa Whittick
 

·        Lacey Weeks
 

·        Lisa Lewry
 

·        Gemma Allan
 

·        Dennise Renyard
 

·        Dawn King
 

·        Chris Alston

 

A member of the safeguarding team can be contacted through Reception at any time.
 

What Safeguarding Means at Compass School
 

Safeguarding goes beyond protecting children from abuse and neglect. We also consider:
 

·        Online safety and digital risks
 

·        Child-on-child abuse and harmful sexual behaviour
 

·        Exploitation, including CCE, CSE and county lines
 

·        Contextual and extra-familial safeguarding
 

·        Mental health and wellbeing
 

·        Attendance and safeguarding vulnerability
 

·        SEND and individual vulnerabilities
 

·        Radicalisation and extremism
 

·        Serious violence
 

·        Discrimination, misogyny and harmful behaviours
 

·        Emerging risks linked to AI and digital technology
 

·        Positive relationships and respectful behaviour
 

We listen to pupils, respond to concerns promptly and work with families and safeguarding partners to provide the right support at the right time.
 

Attendance and Safeguarding
 

Good attendance is an important part of safeguarding.
 

We identify concerns early, work with families to remove barriers to attendance and provide appropriate support. Where absence may indicate wider vulnerability or safeguarding concerns, we work with relevant professionals and partner agencies.
 

Family Help and Multi-Agency Support
 

We believe in identifying and responding to need as early as possible.
 

Where appropriate, we work with pupils, families and partner agencies including:
 

·        Children's Services
 

·        Health 
 

·        Police 
 

·        Southampton SEND Service 
 

·        Southampton Attendance Service 
 

·        Family Help 
 

·        Virtual School 
 

·        Youth Justice 
 

·        CAMHS
 

·        Local Safeguarding Partnerships
 

Information is shared appropriately so that children and families receive coordinated and timely support.
 

Equality, Inclusion and Respect
 

Safeguarding is closely linked to equality and inclusion.
 

We promote:
 

·        Respectful relationships
 

·        Equality and inclusion
 

·        Anti-discriminatory practice
 

·        SEND-inclusive practice
 

·        Accessibility
 

·        Respectful and person-centred language
 

·        Understanding of protected characteristics
 

Every pupil should feel that they belong, are valued and are treated with dignity and respect.
 

Safeguarding Education
 

Safeguarding learning is delivered throughout the curriculum and wider school experience through:
 

·        RSHE
 

·        SPICE
 

·        Curriculum subjects 
 

·        Workshops and external visitors
 

·        Pupil voice
 

·        Digital learning
 

·        Restorative conversations
 

These experiences help pupils develop resilience, confidence, critical thinking and the ability to recognise risks and seek help.
 

Staff Training
 

All staff receive safeguarding training as part of induction and ongoing professional development.
 

Training and updates cover key areas including KCSIE, abuse and neglect, child-on-child abuse, exploitation, online safety, Prevent, radicalisation, attendance, mental health, contextual safeguarding, low-level concerns, professional boundaries, information sharing and emerging digital and AI risks.
 

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead Officers  receive enhanced safeguarding training and maintain their knowledge in line with statutory and local requirements.
 

Visitors and Technology
 

Everyone who enters Compass School has a responsibility to support safeguarding.
 

Visitors must follow school procedures, wear identification, maintain professional boundaries and report concerns immediately.
 

To protect privacy and safety, photography, filming and recording are not permitted unless authorised. Mobile phones and wearable recording technology must only be used in accordance with school procedures.
 

Alternative Provision
 

Where pupils access Alternative Provision, we maintain appropriate safeguarding oversight through:

 

·        Quality assurance
 

·        Provider visits and monitoring
 

·        Regular communication
 

·        Ongoing safeguarding reviews
 

Our Impact
 

Our whole-school approach aims to ensure that:
 

Pupils feel safe and heard
Children know where to go for help and feel confident raising concerns.
 

Staff are confident and vigilant
Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and respond appropriately to concerns.
 

Risks are identified early
We use attendance, behaviour, safeguarding information and pupil voice to identify emerging concerns.
 

Support is coordinated
We work with families and partner agencies to provide timely and appropriate support.
 

Safeguarding drives improvement
Our safeguarding systems are regularly monitored, reviewed and improved.