Safeguarding at Wandsworth Preparatory School
Keeping Children Safe
At Wandsworth Preparatory School, the safety and wellbeing of our pupils is our highest priority. We believe that children thrive when they feel safe, secure, valued and heard. Safeguarding is central to creating the nurturing environment in which every child can flourish, both academically and personally.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Every member of our staff team receives regular safeguarding training, ensuring that they understand how to recognise signs that a child may need help or protection and know how to respond appropriately. Our training is regularly updated in line with statutory guidance and current best practice. Our approach is child-centred, with the best interests of each child at the heart of our safeguarding practice.
Our Safeguarding Team
Our dedicated safeguarding team is here to support pupils, families and staff with any safeguarding or welfare concerns.
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL):
Carla Ritchie
carla.ritchie@wandsworthprep.com
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL):
Jo Pache
jo.pache@wandsworthprep.com
Safeguarding Governor:
Steve Wade
We believe that safeguarding is most effective when schools and families work together.If you have a concern about the safety or wellbeing of a child, whether it relates to your own child or another child in our community, we encourage you to contact a member of our safeguarding team. No concern is too small to share. Early conversations can enable us to provide the appropriate support and guidance.
Should you have any concerns about a member of staff, these must be reported to the Headteacher who will take appropriate action.
Operation Encompass
Wandsworth Prep School is proud to be part of Operation Encompass, a safeguarding information-sharing scheme that enables the police and schools to work together to support children affected by domestic abuse.
Under the statutory Operation Encompass duty, where the police attend a domestic abuse incident and have reasonable grounds to believe that a child under 18 may be a victim of domestic abuse, information is shared with the child’s educational setting. This includes children who were not physically present at the incident but are connected to the household. Notifications should be made before the start of the next school day.
Receiving this information allows our safeguarding team to ensure that appropriate support can be put in place. Our priority is always to ensure that children feel safe, supported and able to engage positively in school.
We are committed to working alongside families and relevant external agencies to provide the right support.
For further information about Operation Encompass, please visit Operation Encompass.
