At The Hayling College, the safety and wellbeing of every child is our highest priority. Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and is at the heart of our commitment to ensuring that pupils are Happy, Healthy and High Performing.
We want every pupil to feel safe, listened to, respected and confident that there is an adult they can turn to if they are worried about themselves or someone else.
Safeguarding is much broader than responding to child protection concerns. It includes creating a safe and inclusive environment, promoting positive relationships, supporting mental health and wellbeing, keeping pupils safe online, identifying concerns early and working with families and other professionals when additional help is needed.
Safeguarding Policy | Child Protection Policy | Keeping Your Child Safe Online | Pastoral & Wellbeing Support
Our approach
Everyone who works or volunteers at The Hayling College has a responsibility to safeguard children. Staff receive regular safeguarding training and are expected to remain professionally curious and maintain the safeguarding principle that “it could happen here.”
We work to:
- identify concerns and provide help as early as possible
- listen carefully to pupils and take their concerns seriously
- provide pupils with safe and accessible ways to ask for help
- teach pupils how to recognise risk and keep themselves and others safe
- recognise that some pupils, including those with SEND or additional vulnerabilities, may need different ways to communicate concerns
- work positively with parents, carers and external agencies to support children
- respond promptly and appropriately when a safeguarding concern is identified.
This approach is reflected in our current Safeguarding and Child Protection policies and in statutory Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 guidance.
#SpeakUpStaySafe
A key message for all our pupils is:
If something doesn't feel right, speak up. You will be listened to.
Pupils can speak to their Tutor, Pupil Progress Lead, a member of the Safeguarding or Pastoral Team, or any trusted adult in College.
Our #SpeakUpStaySafe approach also gives pupils another way to raise something that is worrying them if they find it difficult to begin a conversation face-to-face.
Our Prefects and Anti-Bullying Ambassadors provide additional peer support and can help pupils find an appropriate adult. The Library is also promoted as a safe and welcoming space, including opportunities for pupils to meet and talk with Prefects.
Safeguarding leadership
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Helen Cox – Assistant Headteacher and member of the Senior Leadership Team
Safeguarding Governor
Erika Anders
Safeguarding is overseen by the College's senior leadership and governing body, with appropriate challenge and assurance to ensure our arrangements remain effective.
If you are worried about a child
If you are a parent, carer or member of our community and have a concern about the safety or wellbeing of a pupil, please contact the College and ask to speak to a member of the Safeguarding Team.
You do not need to be certain that something is wrong before sharing a concern. It is better to tell us so that we can consider what help, support or safeguarding action may be needed.
If a child is in immediate danger, contact the emergency services on 999.
Our safeguarding arrangements are set out in our current policies, which can be found on the College's Statutory Policies page.