Safeguarding

The wellbeing of all of our students at DCO is of paramount importance. We have a dedicated team of staff who oversee all aspects of your child’s well being throughout their time at DCO. This team is known as MDT and is led by the following members of our senior leadership team:

Mr Hussain - Assistant Principal

Ms Hasan-Arshad - Assistant Principal

Each year group also has a dedicated Director of Year and Assistant Director of Year who will oversee all aspects of your child’s behaviour, attendance, wellbeing and attainment. In addition we also have a large inclusion, safeguarding team.

Safeguarding

Dixons Cottingley Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the well-being of all children regardless of age, gender, religion or beliefs, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or socio-economic background. The school provides a caring, positive safe and stimulating environment that promotes spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. We nurture remarkable learning environments, where everyone works together enthusiastically to create a positive, creative and caring culture.

We recognise that all adults in school have a full and active part to play in protecting our children from harm, and that the child or young person’s welfare is our paramount concern. We ensure that everyone understands their roles and responsibilities in respect of safeguarding and is provided with appropriate training to recognise, identify and respond to safeguarding concerns relating to young people. All necessary steps are taken to ensure that adults in school are working in a safe way.

Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a child or young person’s welfare. We will ensure that concerns about our children are discussed with their parents/carers, unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child’s welfare. Confidential, detailed and accurate records of all safeguarding concerns are maintained and securely stored.

Our safeguarding curriculum helps children stay safe, recognise when they don’t feel safe and identify who they might/can talk to. Suitable support and guidance is provided so that learners know they have a range of appropriate adults to approach if they feel in need of assistance.

We ensure safeguarding practice at Dixons Cottingley Academy reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice. For more details please refer to our Child protection and safeguarding policy.

We have a dedicated team of specially trained adults in school who support safeguarding. If you have concerns about a child’s welfare, you should contact one of our safeguarding team:

Pastoral, inclusion and safeguarding team

	Mrs S Hasan-Arshad - Assistant Principal	Mr S Hussain - Assistant Principal
Ms Hassan - Pastoral Lead	Miss C Heptinstall - Director of Year 7	Ms D Kirton - Director of Year 8
Ms S Kauser – Director of Year 9	Mr T Post - Director of Year 10 & 11	Mr E Iqbal - Assistant Director of Year 7 & 8
Mr J Macdonald - Assistant Director of Year 10 & 11	Miss J Bettison - SENDCO	Mrs L Hart - SEND Administrator
	Mrs S Green - Safeguarding Officer and Lead Professional	Mrs A Robson - Academy Nurse

Communicating with school

In the first instance any concerns/questions/queries should be raised with your child’s form tutor. If this needs to be escalated up, then your child’s Director or Assistant Director of Year will pick this up and will be able to support. Please be aware that staff have busy schedules and may not be able to take calls when around the Academy supporting students. There is a 48 hour response time for any calls received.

Uniform

Uniform expectations can be found in our academy handbook given to all new starters.

School Uniform can be purchased from Natasha's Schoolwear, 37 Westgate, Bradford BD1 2QT.

The academy also offers opportunities for support with uniform in the form of uniform vouchers to those who are eligible, and we have a stock of formerly owned student uniform available for collection from the Family Engagement Centre; again for eligible students.