Safeguarding

Operation Lanark

Operation Lanark is an ongoing police investigation led by the Metropolitan Police Service (the Met).

It is a highly sensitive matter so please be mindful of what you communicate to prevent victims being identified and to prevent the ongoing investigation being jeopardised.

Operation Lanark relates to serious offences in Camden, including sexual abuse against children at a now-closed nursery in West Hampstead. You can find more information – including dedicated support for affected families – at camden.gov.uk/OperationLanark.

If you’re directly affected by this, a range of support is available:

• You can call the dedicated NSPCC helpline number on 0800 028 0828 who may refer you to other services as needed. You can also email NSPCC onhelp@nspcc.org.uk
• Camden Council’s Children’s Social Care team can provide emotional and practical support. If you want to speak to a social worker, call the council’s Children and Families Service on 0207 974 3317 or email them at LBCMASHadmin@camden.gov.uk. The call or email will be handled by trained staff who are ready to help and will make sure that you get the most appropriate support.
• You can also speak to your GP.

Safeguarding at Brecknock

The school’s safeguarding policy sets out how the school will meet its statutory duty under section 175 of the Education Act 2002 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and help them to achieve good outcomes. The school will achieve this by providing a safe learning environment and ensuring school staff have the skills and knowledge to take action where children need extra support from early help services or require a social work service because they are in need or need to be protected from harm.

The school takes a holistic approach to safeguarding, and children’s safety and welfare will be the key focus when developing policies so that the school environment and culture is one where: 

• pupils know how to raise concerns, feel safe to raise concerns and are confident that their concerns will be taken seriously;
• staff are equipped to deal sensitively and effectively with concerns and disclosures;
• inclusive and anti-discriminatory behaviour is an expectation for staff and pupils;
• all forms of bullying, harassment and discrimination, or inappropriate, sexualised or offensive language and behaviour are not tolerated;
• the wishes and feelings of pupils are taken into account at all times.

The safeguarding policy is applicable to all on and off site activities undertaken by children while they are the responsibility of our school. Everyone who comes into contact with children, their families and carers, has a role to play in safeguarding children. This includes teachers, teaching assistants and tutors, technicians, administrative staff, supply teachers, students, peripatetic and coaching staff, catering and cleaning staff, premises staff, midday meal supervisors, visitors/volunteers, adult helpers and governors.

If you are concerned about the safety or wellbeing of a child either in or out of school please talk to one of the Designated Safeguarding Team. In emergencies, contact the police for advice.

The Designated Safeguarding Team are as follows:

Nominated Governors for Safeguarding:

Alex Gardiner and Paul Smith
0207 424 0202 and 0207 485 6334

Please click here to view our safeguarding policies.

Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

Online Safety

Computing is a key part of the school curriculum as well as a key element of modern communications technology that is widely used. One of the key aims of computing is to ensure that pupils are aware of online safety messages. This is part of the school’s responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils, as well as the duty of care to children and their parents to provide a safe learning environment. 

We run regular workshops for parents around online safety which are promoted in the school newsletter and are important for all to attend regularly.

Please see the Online Safety Policy for further information.