The purpose of this policy statement is to provide a clear commitment from SBC in relation to the responsibilities it holds to safeguard and protect children and young people in Slough; and provide parents, staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding children and young people. This policy statement applies to anyone working on behalf of SBC, including senior managers, elected Members, paid staff, volunteers, sessional workers, agency staff and students.
Over 140 different languages are spoken across Slough and more than 50 different languages are spoken as a first language by children in Slough schools.
65% of state funded schools (including nurseries) are academies or free schools. 75% of primary, secondary, special schools and PRUs combined are academies or free schools.
Any child learning within the borough is a Slough pupil regardless of the form of governance of the school or their place of residence. The local authority also has a statutory duty (Children Act 2004, 2006) to act as the champion for all children and young people in the borough and is responsible for maintaining an overview of the effectiveness of all schools including sponsored academies, converter academies, free schools, the local college and training providers.
The proportion of good and outstanding schools in Slough is 87% which is 2% below the national average (equal to one school). Standards in key measures are above national average in EYFS, Key Stage 2 and significantly above the national average at Key Stage 4. Standards at KS5 are just below the national average at Post-16 for A-Level and Applied General Entry, but above the national average for pupils attaining AAB in facilitating subjects.
In 2014 the Slough Children and Young People’s Partnership Board (CYPPB) approved the implementation of an elected Youth Parliament for Slough. Building on the existing Youth Cabinet, which was made up of young people nominated to sit on the group, the CYPPB was keen for young people in Slough to have a truly representative group, democratically chosen by young people, which was able to influence decision making across the town. The Young People’s Service was charged with taking this forward as part of the wider Youth Voice agenda and worked closely with schools to implement the borough’s first elected Youth Parliament in January 2015.
The Slough secondary school PSHE network was set up in response to a request from Slough Youth Parliament to try and bring a more co-ordinated approach to PSHE across the Slough schools, particularly in the face of upcoming changes to the curriculum in the area of Relationships and Sex Education.
We are working on a range of projects to raise the profile of safeguarding with children and young people through creative ways including drama, arts and digital platforms in PSHE.