WHS Crest

Pastoral Care and Safeguarding

Pastoral Care lies at the heart of everything we do. Put simply, every single one of our staff members – both academic and support – make the well-being of the boys their number one priority.

Individuals who feel cared for, valued, and supported can get on with their day and their work enthusiastically without undue worries.

Our duty of care is led by each pupil’s form teacher in the first instance, as they know the individual best and can spot very quickly if something is not quite right. If they feel further assistance is required, they will involve the school counsellor for additional support. Weekly staff meetings afford colleagues the opportunity to raise any concerns they may have with the Senior Leadership Team. The school’s ‘Wellbeing, Health and Safety Hub provides and ideal environment in which pupils can raise any concerns that they might have or simply spend some quiet time. The weekly wellbeing club is available to anyone who might wish to attend.

If any of our parents have any concerns, they are actively encouraged to contact their child’s form teacher and meetings can usually be arranged without appointment, either first thing in the morning or at the end of the school day.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility.

Safeguarding is an integral part of life at West House School and is everyone’s responsibility. We are committed to providing a safe, nurturing environment where all children feel value, listened to and protected.

Our Commitment

All WHS staff receive regular safeguarding training and updates so they can confidently promote the welfare of our pupils. Every member of staff and all Governors read and sign to confirm their understanding of the WHS Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy and the most recent Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance each year.

We believe that children learn best when they feel safe. Through our day to day practice, our curriculum, and the support of specialist organisations such as the NSPCC, we empower pupils to:

  • recognise abuse
  • stay safe both online and offline
  • understand healthy relationships
  • use their voices to speak out

Children are encouraged to talk to a trusted adult whenever they feel worried or unsure.

Designated Safeguarding Leads

West House School has a dedicated safeguarding team who oversee all aspects of child protection:

 

Role Staff Member Roles and Responsibility
Designated Safeguarding Lead Mrs Paula Cusack Assistant Head Pastoral, Senior Mental Health Lead, Form Teacher
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead Mrs Georgina White Head of Mathematics, Form Teacher
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead Mr Oscar Lyttle Teaching Assistant, Prep Holiday Club Lead
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead Mr Callum Williamson Head of P.E and Games, Form Teacher
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead with Early Years Responsibility Ms Avril Walsh Nursery Operations Manager
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead for Out of Hours Care Mrs Ana Zerelli EYFS Practitioner
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead for Out of Hours Care Ms Michelle Mardenborough EYFS Practitioner
Governor Responsible for Safeguarding Mrs Amandeep Hayer School Governor

Working Together

If we have concerns about a child’s welfare, we may need to share information or seek advice from external agencies. We work closely with:

  • Local Authority Children’s Services
  • Early Help teams
  • Health professionals
  • Police and other safeguarding partners

We are committed to transparency and partnership with families, and we will always act in the best interests of the child.

Safer Recruitment

West House School follows safer recruitment procesdures to ensure all staff and volunteers are suitable to work with children. All adults working in school undergo the appropriate checks, including enhanced DBS clearance.

Online Safety

We take online safety seriously. Our filtering and monitoring systems help protect pupils on school devices, and our curriculum teaches children how to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly. We have an online safety hub to support our school community, which can be accessed here.

Site Security and Visitors

All visitors must sign in, wear a visitor badge and follow our safeguarding expectations while on site. Access to the school is carefully managed to ensure the safety of pupils at all times.

If you need support

There may be times when families need extra help. If this is the case please come and talk to us. We can offer support directly or help you access a range of external services.

Policies

Our key safeguarding policies are available on our website here.

A culture of vigilance

Safeguarding at West House School is not a one-off action but a continuous commitment. We regularly review our practice to ensure it reflects current guidance and best practice, and we strive to maintain a culture where safeguarding is understood, prioritised and embedded in everything we do.

The West House SCARF

To underpin our commitment to our boys’ well-being, we have adopted an initiative called ‘SCARF’ to help them deal with the challenges and issues they will have in everyday life – both at school and in the wider world. This focuses on the key themes of:

Safety
Caring
Achievement
Resilience
Friendship

Each theme is explored, discussed and reinforced in regular assemblies and weekly lessons to help all children within the school to appreciate how they can contribute to the immediate and wider community and thrive within it.  Coram Life Education makes regular visits to the school to teach specialist lessons on safety and well-being and the school has a dedicated area for pastoral support – the Wellbeing, Health and Safety Hub or WHS Hub.