Safeguarding
Our highest priority is our responsibility for safeguarding, child protection and promoting the welfare of every LMaStudent.
We are committed to
- minimising risk to LMaS students;
- keeping every LMaS student safe and secure while in our care;
- protecting the mental and physical health of every LMaS student;
- ensuring rigorous arrangements are in place to identify, assess and support any LMaS student who is suffering harm;
- working together with parents and carers and with other agencies;
We expect every member of LMaS staff and all our parents and carers, governors, volunteers and visitors to share our commitment.
At LMaS, safeguarding and child protection are everyone’s responsibility.
Safeguarding and child protection at LMaS are led by:
- Joanna Rhodes, Designated Safeguarding Lead
- Bethany Alexis, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
- Jonny Sherwood, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
- Emma Tariket, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
- Fiona Richardson, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Joanna Rhodes
Bethany Alexis
Jonny Sherwood
Emma Tariket
Fiona Richardson
IF YOU ARE WORRIED OR CONCERNED
Any of the Safeguarding leads can be contacted by emailing [email protected]. Emails to this address will be read during LMaS holidays as well as term-time.
- You can contact the Safeguarding leads if you are concerned about your own safety, or about the safety of any LMaS student.
- If you are concerned about the behaviour of any adult member of LMaS staff, please contact the Principal [email protected]
- If you are concerned about the behaviour of the Principal, please contact the Chair of Governors via [email protected]
- Your concern will always be treated seriously and respectfully.
- One of the Safeguarding leads will always respond as quickly as they can.
If you or any LMaS student is at risk of immediate harm, or if you think you or any LMaS student might be at risk of immediate harm, please call the police immediately.
There is more information and support for LMaS students and their parents and carers here.
OUR COMMITMENT TO SAFEGUARDING
The Senior Leadership Team at LMaS is committed to ensuring the protection of LMaS students and the prevention of abuse or abusive experiences by:
- Clarifying standards of behaviour for staff and students.
- Introducing appropriate work within the curriculum.
- Developing staff awareness of the causes of abuse.
- Encouraging student and parent and carer participation.
- Taking appropriate action in a timely manner to safeguard and promote the welfare of students.
- Implementing Safeguarding and Child Protection policies and procedures.
- Working in partnership with students, parent and carers and agencies.
- Ensuring that all students feel safe and are treated as individuals, and that their rights, values and beliefs are respected.
Every member of staff at LMaS is committed to fulfilling the the GORSE Trust aims for safeguarding:
- Appropriate action is taken in a timely manner to safeguard and promote students’ welfare.
- All staff are aware of and understand their statutory responsibilities with respect to safeguarding, identifying children in need of early help, at risk of harm or those that have been harmed.
- Staff are properly trained in recognising and reporting safeguarding issues.
- A culture of vigilance is created and maintained to ensure that we will act in the best interests of students to protect them online and offline.
- Systems for reporting abuse are well promoted, easily understood and easily accessible for students.
Every member of staff at LMaS always considers and acts in the best interests of the student, in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education (DfE September 2023).
Keeping your child safe at clubs and sporting events
In addition to participating in the many extra-curricular activities in the Enrichment programme at LMaS, your child might also attend clubs and organisations that are not connected with LMaS. West Yorkshire Sport has published a guide for parents and carers. This includes a safe activity checklist. Please take time to read this guidance as it will help you to keep your child safe.
Sexual abuse in educational settings
At Leeds Mathematics School we take Harmful and Abusive Behaviours very seriously. In response to national concerns around sexual abuse in educational settings, we want every member of our community to know about the helpline commissioned by the Department for Education and run by the NSPCC.
The dedicated and confidential NSPCC helpline “Report Abuse in Education” can be reached on 0800 136 663 or by email.
The helpline provides support and advice to young people and adults who have experienced sexual abuse in schools. The helpline also provides support to parents and carers, and to all professionals working in schools. Anyone who gets in touch through this dedicated helpline will also be signposted to other relevant support services available.