Safeguarding at Taunton Deane Partnership College

Taunton Deane Partnership College (TDPC) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  We actively support the Government's Prevent Agenda to counter radicalism and extremism. 

Sometimes when there are concerns about a child's welfare, we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies such as police, children’s social care, FIS or medical professionals.  Where we can, we will ensure that our concerns about our pupils are discussed with parents/carers first to achieve the best outcome for the student.  Sometimes circumstances exist that do not allow for that discussion and TDPC has to take independent action in order to ensure a young person is safeguarded.

What is safeguarding?

Safeguarding is protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of their health or development; ensuring that they grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best life chances and to enter adulthood successfully.

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Jackie Morris-Fuge. The Governor with responsibility for safeguarding in our school is Nik Harwood. 

How are students safeguarded at TDPC?

Some of the ways we safeguard students are as follows:

• We work with the Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership to ensure its practices and processes are in line with new legislation and initiatives around the safeguarding of young people.
• All staff are trained to recognise the signs of a child whose wellbeing is being compromised by physical or emotional abuse and/or neglect.  They are also trained in how to manage disclosures from young people, and they also receive regular updates on safeguarding issues.
• TDPC have a team who are responsible for safeguarding and have been trained to become Designated Leads for Safeguarding.
• All adults who work in school have been subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS), which means the school has checked to ensure that any adult working at TDPC in any capacity is an appropriate person to work with children and young people.  This will include a criminal records check.

We have a number of policies and procedures in place that contribute to our safeguarding commitment, including our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy which can be viewed on the website.

If you are concerned that a child may be at risk or that you are struggling looking after your child please phone Somerset Direct, 0300 123 2224.

The adults that have special responsibility to keep our young people safe;

Kim Lawrence - Headteacher (interim Designated Safeguarding Lead)

Nic Anstice - Assistant Headteacher (Deputy DSL)

Rebecca Bailey - Pastoral Lead Secondary (Deputy DSL)

Kate Taylor - Pastoral Lead Primary (Deputy DSL)