Safeguarding

Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy

West Hill School recognises its responsibility to safeguard all its students, and to promote a safe, caring learning environment where every boy can thrive.

Safeguarding legislation and government guidance says that safeguarding means:

Protecting children from maltreatment
Preventing impairment of children’s health or development
Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
Taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcome

Every student at West Hill School should be able to participate in an enjoyable, safe environment and be protected from abuse. This is the responsibility of every member of staff at West Hill School, and all staff receive regular safeguarding training to ensure they can do this to the highest standard.

West Hill School staff are trained annually on changes to the key legislation – Keeping Children Safe in Education, and know how to respond to any safeguarding concerns promptly.

If you have any concerns about a student at West Hill School at risk of harm, please alert the safeguarding team at: safeguarding@westhillschool.co.uk. Alternatively, for other worries, you can seek advice or contact childline by visiting: https://www.childline.org.uk/

The Safeguarding Team

Mr J Watt - Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Mr M O'Dowd - Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)
Mrs G Mason - Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)

Support for families

If you require support throughout the summer holidays, or at any time, there are some links below that you may find useful.

Emergency situations - Dial 999
Tameside Customer Services - Contact 0161 342 8355 to request emergency food voucher(s)
Apply for Household Support before 31st Oct 2025 Apply here - https://secure.tameside.gov.uk/OnlineForms/Forms/household-support
Tameside Helping Hands - Support services for help with essentials - Tameside MB
The Together Centre, located at 287 Birch Lane, Dukinfield, SK16 5AU, operates a food pantry and is open to all Tameside residents. The Together - Saturday Morning Food Pantry is open to all Tameside residents on Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM and costs £3.50 per bag. They also offer a food bank service, which is open today. A quick registration form is required, and customers can take away 2 to 3 bags of shopping. The pantry offers a variety of items, including tins, cereal, bread, pasta, rice, sauces, freezer items, fridge items, fruit and vegetables, and bakery items like pasties and cakes. The Together Centre can be contacted on 0161 366 1987.
Tameside Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) - contact 0161 342 4101. After 5pm, contact 0161 342 2222

E-Safety

E-safety is a fundamental part of West Hill School’s safeguarding strategy.

We recognise that being online is an integral part of our young people’s lives. Social media, online games, websites and apps can be accessed through mobile phones, computers, laptops and tablets – all of which form a part of a digital world.

Online technology provides new opportunities for young people’s learning and growth, but it can also expose them to new types of risks.

Through our Computer Science, Individual Development Programme (IDP) and pastoral curriculums, students explore and identify the potential dangers of digital technologies. More importantly, they learn how to stay in control and to keep safe.

Students are also expected to sign the ICT Code of Conduct and adhere to the e-safety practices we uphold in school.

Beyond school, there are measures that families can put into place to help protect their child. The video below shows the real-life impact of social media on our children.

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