Meet the Team

DSL

Safeguarding is vital for everyone who works with children and young people, whether it’s in a school, college, charity, place of worship, healthcare practice, or other type of premises. It requires full commitment from all staff in the organisation – as it’s everyone’s duty to look after children – particularly the designated safeguarding lead .

The responsibilities of a designated safeguarding lead include:
Being available for all staff to discuss any safeguarding issues or concerns.
Ensuring that cases of suspected or actual child protection or safeguarding concerns are referred to the appropriate agencies.
The DSL will gather further information and evidence if needed.
Ensuring that all staff are fully trained in safeguarding and know how to spot and raise concerns.
Undergoing regular refresher training.
Ensuring that adequate reporting and recording systems are in place for safeguarding procedures, and that there are appropriate transferal procedures for records if students move.
Ensuring that the school’s safeguarding policies and procedures are up to date.
Complying with any Local Safeguarding Children Partnership (LSCP) requirements. Ensuring their organisation has sufficient safer recruitment procedures.
Being aware of any children who may require specific safeguarding needs and have specific vulnerabilities.

ELSA

There will always be children facing life challenges that affect their ability to engage with learning.

Some will require greater support to increase their emotional literacy than others. ELSA is an initiative developed and supported by educational psychologists.

It recognises that children learn better and are happier in school if their emotional needs are also addressed.

What is Emotional Literacy?
Understanding and coping with the feelings about ourselves and others.
Developing high self-esteem and positive interactions with others.
Being emotionally literate helps children focus better on their learning.

Robyn is our Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSAs). She has been trained by Educational Psychologists to plan and deliver programmes of support to pupils who are experiencing temporary or longer term additional emotional needs.

ELSA sessions take place in a calm, safe space for the child to feel supported and nurtured.

In ELSA we aim to provide support for a wide range of emotional needs:

Recognising emotions
Self-esteem
Social skills
Friendship skills
Anger management
Loss and bereavement