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Safeguarding and Pastoral Support

“Every student should be safe and feel safe”

At BCA, we believe that all students are entitled to be treated with dignity, courtesy, and respect regardless of their age, race, gender or ability and will not tolerate any behaviour that is abusive to our students.

We are committed to actively enable our students to learn and achieve. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of each student, plays an important part in helping our students achieve positive outcomes.

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Safeguarding

Our statutory duty relating to safeguarding is set out in “Working Together to Safeguard Children A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children” (December 2023) and “Keeping Children Safe in Education” (September 2024) which states:

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined for the purposes of this guidance as:

  • providing help and support to meet the needs of children as soon as problems emerge
  • protecting children from maltreatment, whether that is within or outside the home, including online
  • preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development
  • ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
  • promoting the upbringing of children with their birth parents, or otherwise their family network through a kinship care arrangement, whenever possible and where this is in the best interests of the children
  • taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes in line with the outcomes set out in the Children’s Social Care National Framework

‘Children’ includes everyone under the age of 18.

 

What to Expect from BCA:

Our team will work with you to identify ways they can assist you on a one-to-one basis, addressing any individual needs and concerns you may have. On a need-to-know basis, certain staff will be made aware that a young person is or has been, in care but they will not be told any further details unless they are part of your immediate support team. This is so we can tailor the advice and guidance we offer you and allow you to maximise your opportunities while you are at College.

Any information shared in this way will always be done with your knowledge. This allows us to offer you many benefits including any financial assistance you may be entitled to, as well as, for example, knowing your hobbies, interests and talents so we can help you to participate in college activities. For more information or support, please contact our DSLs to a member of our safeguarding teams.

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Monitoring

We actively plan internal and external scrutiny of our safeguarding work and procedures.  We self-assess our safeguarding work and the Governors monitor our compliance with statutory safeguarding responsibilities.  We have a named Governor responsibility for Safeguarding.

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Support for looked after children/care leavers

Starting College can be an exciting time, although for some it can feel a bit daunting as they get to grips with a new environment/ If you’re a care experienced person there may be additional challenges too.

Your education and experience at College is our priority and we understand that you may experience disadvantages that other students do not. We work closely with external agencies, including social services and the Virtual school, to ensure that appropriate support is in place whilst you are at College.

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Prevent

Prevent is one of the four elements of CONTEST, the government’s counter-terrorism strategy. It aims to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. The Home Office works with local authorities and a wide range of government departments, and community organisations to deliver the Prevent Strategy.

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Wellbeing

The wellbeing of every student and staff member is at the heart of everything we do at BCA. Pastoral care is provided across curriculum areas by staff who know the students well. Relationships form the core of everything we do.

Students having a voice at College is a vital part of our ethos, we have an active student council which is integral to life at BCA.

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Equality & Diversity

We are committed to providing the best support and learning opportunities for all of our students, in an environment where there is mutual respect and equality of opportunity for all students and staff. Equality at BCA means that we provide an accessible and supportive educational experience for all. Our commitment to our students and staff and our expectations of them is based on the rich diversity of the communities that we serve.

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