SAFEGUARDING

23 07 06.Chiskwick School.0261
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One of the most important aspects of our work as a school is safeguarding. We work closely with children and families together with statutory agencies to keep our children safe as we possibly can.


We have a team of senior staff trained to an advanced level in safeguarding.  The training is regularly updated to keep abreast of developments in legislation and practice.  In addition to this, all Chiswick Staff receive Safeguarding Training and are aware of the procedures for passing on concerns within school. 

Chiswick School is committed to safeguarding children and will create a culture of vigilance in the school, ensuring that in all cases we will work in the best interests of the students in our care. All staff have a responsibility to provide a safe environment in which children can learn and our policy applies to all staff, adults, governors and volunteers working in the school.

The school has robust procedures in place to ensure that all children are safe and cared for.  The school has a culture of openness and all staff and visitors are encouraged to speak up if they have any concerns regarding safeguarding.

If you are worried about the safety or welfare of a student, please contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Designated Safeguarding Lead

Mrs C Lewis (Director of Safeguarding/DSL) - clw@chiswickschool.org or 020 8747 0031

If you believe a child is in immediate danger you should call the police on 999.

Core Safeguarding Team

Mrs C Lewis  (Director of Safeguarding/DSL)

In her absence:

Ms D Bapuji (Deputy Director of Safeguarding/Deputy DSL)

Ms K Emmett (Deputy Designated Safeguard Lead + Director of Transition)

Ms D McKoy (Deputy DSL & Early Help Lead)

Ms A Kitteringham (Deputy Designated Safeguard Lead + LAC coordinator)

Ms R Adenrian (Deputy Designated Safeguard Lead) 

Mrs S D'Cruz  (Deputy Designated Safeguard Lead)

Ms L Ellener (Headteacher)

Our Designated Child Protection and Safeguarding Governor is Mr D Anthony.

What is Safeguarding?

What is safeguarding?

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all practitioners should make sure their approach is child centred. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child.  

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined for the purposes of this KCSiE 2023 as: 

  • protecting children from maltreatment
  • preventing the impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development 
  • ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care, and 
  • taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes. 


Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023

Safeguarding at Chiswick School

The governors and staff of Chiswick School fully recognise the contribution they make to safeguarding children.  We recognise that all staff, including volunteers, have a full and active part to play in protecting our students from harm.

All staff and governors recognise our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children through a culture of vigilance from all staff. Our staff code of conduct makes it clear that we expect the highest standards of care and support for all students. We endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where students feel secure, are listened to and are safe, as well as feeling respected and valued. We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow our procedures to ensure that children receive effective support, protection and justice.

Key Principles:

  • Student well-being must always be paramount and overrides all other considerations

  • A proper balance must be struck between protecting children and respecting the rights and needs of parents and families but where there is conflict the child’s interests must remain paramount

  • Students have a right to be heard, to be listened to and to be taken seriously, taking account of their age and understanding. They should be consulted and involved in all matters and decisions which may affect their lives

  • The process of protecting the child from harm should be carried out with the parent/carers involvement whenever possible and they should be encouraged to exercise their responsibilities.

  • Where there is conflict the student’s interests must remain paramount

  • Information exchange between the student, the parent/carers and all professional disciplines involved is of the utmost importance

  • A commitment to supporting parents/carers to prevent harm or further harm and alerting them to the dangers for the student is at the core of good child protection work

  • Actions taken to protect a student (including investigation) should not in themselves be abusive by causing a child unnecessary distress or adding to any damage already suffered

  • At all times the emphasis must be on a multi-disciplinary approach and commitment to the protection, support and safeguarding of children from harm

  • When making decisions and carrying out investigations and assessments, professionals should be guided by the student’s best interests. Decisions should take into account both the wishes of the student, having due regard to age and understanding and the wishes of the parents/carers. It must be recognised, however, that there may be circumstances which dictate that these have to be over-ridden

Information for Families

Useful Websites

Hounslow Safeguarding Children Partnership -  The website is useful to anyone who wants information about the partnership’s work and how to keep children and young people safe from harm.

London Borough of Hounslow – Directory of support available locally for children and families.

NSPCC – advice and resources on a range of issues from supporting teenagers as they grow up to protecting young people online.

Childline – telephone advice service for young people operated by the NSPCC.

CEOP – Aim to protect children from harm online and offline, directly through NCA led operations and in partnership with local and international agencies.

Educate against hate – Department for Education website giving information and guidance around the issue of extremism. 

Young minds – the UK’s leading charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing of children, which has useful advice on, among other issues, dealing with exam stress.

The Children’s Society - A charity helping children and young people when they are at their most vulnerable, and have nowhere left to turn.

Disrespect Nobody – Home Office campaign aimed at preventing young people from becoming perpetrators and victims of abusive relationships by encouraging them to understand what a healthy relationship is.

London Borough of Ealing – Directory of support available locally for children and families.

London Boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham – Directory of support available locally for children and families.

A Parent's Guide to Dealing with 'Sexting' – Leaflet providing steps to take if your child has shared an inappropriate or explicit image or film of themselves.

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