The Designated Safeguarding Lead in School is:
- Anna Hall – ahall@newsomeacademy.co.uk
The Safeguarding Team consists of:
- Gayle Coldwell (Safeguarding team leader) – gcoldwell@newsomeacademy.co.uk
- Rebecca Leroy – rleroy@newsomeacademy.co.uk
- Heather Baxter – hbaxter@newsomeacademy.co.uk
- Jill Brook (mental health and wellbeing lead) – jbrook@newsomeacademy.co.uk
- Lizzie Carter (Pastoral Lead) – ecarter@newsomeacademy.co.uk
- Hazel Sykes (Attendance Officer) – hsykes@newsomeacademy.co.uk
The team can also be contacted at:
- na-safeguarding@newsomeacademy.co.uk
Keeping children safe is our highest priority
Parents and families entrust us with the care of their children, confident that Newsome Academy will provide a safe, secure and nurturing environment in which every young person can grow and thrive.
At Newsome Academy, safeguarding is our highest priority and everyone’s responsibility. We are committed to creating a culture where students feel safe, supported and listened to at all times. The information on this page outlines our key safeguarding systems and provision; however, it is not intended to replace or substitute the full Safeguarding Policy, which we encourage all parents and carers to read.
For us, safeguarding goes beyond statutory requirements. It is at the heart of everything we do and underpins our commitment to the wellbeing, safety and success of every student in our care.
All staff follow the Kirklees Safeguarding Children Procedures which are consistent with “Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023” and “Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025”. Through their day-to-day contact with pupils, staff have a crucial role to play in keeping children safe. Parents and carers should be aware, therefore, that where it appears to a member of staff that a child may be at immediate risk, the Academy is required, as a part of local child protection procedures, to report their concerns to Social Services immediately.
What do Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) do?
Our Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) play a vital role in keeping students safe. Their responsibilities include:
Responding promptly to any safeguarding concerns
Liaising with social care and other external agencies
Communicating with parents and carers about concerns, where appropriate
Maintaining and updating safeguarding records
Leading and coordinating whole-school safeguarding training and updates
Meeting regularly with the safeguarding team and teaching staff to share relevant information
Reporting to the safeguarding governor and providing updates to the governing body
Reviewing and updating the school Safeguarding Policy in line with guidance from the Trust’s central team
Attending local DSL networks, briefings, and training to remain up to date with best practice
Child Protection & Safeguarding
There is a detailed Child Safeguarding Policy, which is available on our Policies page but can be also found here:
Health & Safety
At Newsome Academy, everyone shares responsibility for health and safety. Any concerns can be raised with members of the site team or senior leadership, and these are always taken seriously. We also actively encourage our students to play a part in keeping our school safe by reporting any concerns they may have.
Fire drills are carried out regularly to ensure efficient and safe evacuation of all buildings. Fire risk assessments are reviewed routinely and visits from the fire service and Local Authority Fire Officers further support our commitment to maintaining a safe environment.
Alongside our Health and Safety Policy, we have robust policies and risk assessments in place relating to food preparation and hygiene. These ensure safe working practices across the school, including within the kitchen and dining areas, to safeguard both students and staff.
Curriculum
The Academy delivers a comprehensive Relationships, Sex, Health and Education (RSHE) curriculum through daily Enrichment Seminars, targeted sessions and visits from external experts. These sessions address relevant issues in an age-appropriate way, supporting students to develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to stay safe and healthy.
Key themes around safety and wellbeing are reinforced regularly through assemblies and smaller team times, ensuring consistent messages across the school. Our dedicated Safeguarding and Wellbeing Team also plays an integral role in supporting students each day, providing care, guidance and timely support to help every child feel safe, valued and supported.
First Aid
We have a number of trained members of staff designated to oversee first aid, and fully stocked first aid kits are located throughout the school site to ensure prompt support when needed. In addition, defibrillators are located on site, providing vital emergency support if required.
All staff work with children sensitively and responsibly, acting in loco parentis at all times. Where appropriate, parents and carers will be contacted to discuss any concerns. In the event of an emergency, the school will always seek immediate medical assistance first, before contacting parents or carers as soon as possible.
Appointment and Induction of Staff
All staff appointed to work at Newsome Academy, including those on work experience or student placements, are required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check as part of our safer recruitment procedures.
Several members of the school staff and the Governing Body have received safer recruitment training, ensuring that robust checks and processes are consistently applied.
All staff and volunteers receive a full induction and must also hold appropriate DBS clearance. Where an individual will have extended contact with students, may be left alone with children, or will be working regularly within the school building, a full DBS check is required. Any visitor who does not yet have DBS clearance will never be left unsupervised with a child or group of children under any circumstances.
Site Security
Newsome Academy is a secure site with controlled door access, a visitor sign-in system, and clear routines and procedures in place to safeguard everyone on site.
We take great care to maintain the security of the school perimeter, and all students are supervised at all times. School gates are locked during the school day, and all visitors are required to report to the main reception on arrival.
Online Safety
Children are encouraged to use the internet as a powerful and enriching learning tool, but always in a safe, responsible and age-appropriate way. Online safety is a key priority at the Academy and is taught explicitly through the RSHE curriculum, assemblies, and wider learning opportunities.
The Academy uses the Lightspeed filtering and monitoring system to help protect students online. This system identifies and flags inappropriate or concerning use of Academy IT systems, allowing senior leaders to respond swiftly and take appropriate action to keep everyone safe.
We also work closely with families by providing advice and guidance on online safety at home, ensuring a consistent approach between school and home.
Whistleblowing
If any member of staff has concerns about the conduct or behaviour of an individual working within the school, whether paid or unpaid, they have a professional duty to report these concerns to the Headteacher or the Governing Body.
Concerns may be raised verbally or in writing, and staff can be confident that any issues shared will be handled sensitively, promptly, and with the highest appropriate level of confidentiality.
Excellent attendance is expected of all students at Newsome Academy, as regular attendance is essential to safeguarding, wellbeing, and academic success. If a child is unwell, parents and carers are asked to report the absence by 8.30am on the first day by contacting the school via the main school telephone number.
Where a child’s attendance or punctuality gives cause for concern, this will be monitored and addressed by the Safeguarding Team / Attendance Officer / Pastoral Team, who work closely with families to provide support where needed. Attendance data is reported each term to the Local Authority, annually to the government, and shared with parents. We also have positive systems in place to encourage good attendance and punctuality. Where necessary, the school recognises its right to issue fixed penalty notices where parents do not ensure regular attendance.
In exceptional circumstances, a request for leave of absence may be made in writing to the Headteacher. Requests must be submitted at least 30 days in advance and should clearly outline the exceptional circumstances for consideration.
At Newsome Academy, we take a sensible and balanced approach to photography and filming, allowing parents and carers to take photographs or videos at school events, provided agreed guidelines are followed. This approach is supported by our Acceptable Use Policy for Parents, which forms an important part of our safeguarding arrangements.
Parents and carers are advised in advance of school events that any photographs or videos taken must be for personal family use only and must not be shared on social media or other public platforms.
Image Consent
From time to time, the Academy uses images of students for the school website, promotional materials and press releases. Parents and carers are given the opportunity at intake to consent to, or refuse, the use of their child’s image.
Consent preferences can be updated at any time by requesting an image consent form from the school office.
At Newsome Academy, we are committed to ensuring that everyone is treated fairly and with respect. All students are given equal access to the school and its curriculum and every child is valued as an equal partner in the learning process.
When students have additional or special educational needs, we work closely with parents and carers to ensure they are fully informed and involved. Individual support programmes are carefully planned to meet specific needs, enabling all students to achieve positive outcomes and reach their full potential.
Students with physical needs or disabilities are fully included in all aspects of school life. We are committed to ensuring that every child can take an active part in lessons and wider school activities and we take all reasonable measures to support accessibility and inclusion at every opportunity.
Good behaviour is essential to a positive and successful school community, and we have high expectations for all students. Our Behaviour Policy places a strong emphasis on positive behaviour, mutual respect and personal responsibility, while also setting out clear boundaries and consequences.
We respond consistently and appropriately to behaviour choices that disrupt the learning, wellbeing, or safety of others, ensuring that our school remains a calm, supportive and safe environment for everyone.