Safeguarding

La Fontaine Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you have any concerns around the safeguarding of your child, or any other child or young person, please contact the School Safeguarding Team:

safeguarding@lafontaineacademy.org

020 8353 4160

What is safeguarding?

Safeguarding and Child Protection relates to the protection of children from maltreatment, preventing impairment of health and/or development, ensuring that children grow up in the provision of safe and effective care and optimising children’s life chances to enter adulthood successfully.

Everyone who works with children and young people has a responsibility for safeguarding and protecting children and young people from harm.

School Safeguarding Team

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, therefore all staff (including volunteers) at La Fontaine Academy are trained and have regular refresher training in order to remain vigilant when protecting our children and young people.

All concerns are passed through the School Safeguarding Team who are senior members of staff that have been trained as Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSLs).

Our approach to safeguarding

We advocate early help processes and, where possible, we will identify any difficulties or concerns early in order to act preventatively. We will always provide support and advice for families and parents/carers, acting in the best interests of the child at all times. We work closely with outside agencies to ensure support for students and families.

Staff report any causes for concern to the School Safeguarding Team (DSLs and DDSLs). Any concerns will be shared, where appropriate, with parents as early as possible, as more often than not there are extremely reasonable explanations for the concern. Concerns may range from children being visibly upset to students ‘disclosing’ concerns.  Should a student disclosure be of a more serious nature then the Safeguarding Team are required to contact the Bromley Children and Families Hub (formerly MASH) for advice on any actions, including the involvement of external agencies. 

Bromley Children and Families Hub

Making children feel safe

It is important that children feel safe. Through assemblies, circle times and our PSHE curriculum, we re-inforce the importance of personal safety and healthy relationships. We ensure that children are clear on who their 'trusted adults' are in school, as well as the School Safeguarding Team, so that they are confident in knowing what steps to take if they do not feel safe at any time. 

We have a leaflet designed in child-friendly language to explain what if someone has a safeguarding concern:

Children's safeguarding overview

Prevent duty

Part of our safeguarding duty is to implement the Prevent, which requires specified authorities such as education, health, local authorities, police and criminal justice agencies (prisons and probation) to help prevent the risk of people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. Information for families can be found here:

Prevent information for families