Safeguarding and Inclusion

Safeguarding

What is Safeguarding?

Safeguarding covers a wide range of measures, all aimed at ensuring our learners feel safe, protected from harm, and supported in their wellbeing.

A key part of our role is helping learners build resilience, both now and for the future, so they can manage situations that may put their wellbeing at risk.

You can be confident that our staff are fully trained to recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns. We understand that raising a concern isn’t always easy, so we work hard to ensure learners feel supported and listened to.

We have specialist staff dedicated to safeguarding, but we believe safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. We strive to maintain a strong safeguarding culture and work closely with external agencies to provide the highest level of support, particularly for vulnerable learners.

Policies and Procedures

Our safeguarding policies and procedures are reviewed annually in order to reflect new legislation and amendments to current legislation.

Safeguarding and Prevent Policies and Procedures

Safeguarding and Prevent Policy and Procedure,click here

Safeguarding Glossary, click here

Safer Recruitment Guide, click here

External Speaker Conduct Policy, click here

Out of Hours Signposting Procedure, click here

We are proud to lead with a zero-tolerance approach to bullying and harmful sexual behaviour in line with the Keeping Children Safe in Education legislation.

Key Contacts - Designated Safeguarding Lead and Officers

Staff are carefully recruited, trained and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checked.

Julie Gillies – Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
07586 116383

Helen Stevenson-Miller – Deputy DSL
07493 978892 | 07789 917921

Lee Beveridge, Sophie Robinson – Greater Manchester SkillCentre and Technical
07803 115674 | 07711 784897 | 0161 876 3300

Danielle Slight – Professional Services Sector
0161 228 1111 | 07747 215861

Heather Heyes, Billy McCrindle – Access and Higher Education
07586 115640

Wendy Bent – Digital, IT & Marketing
07595 461196

Sharon Wallace – Financial, Accounting, Insurance and Pensions
07860 909313

Adele Walker – Skills Centre Rochdale
01706 717860

Kelly Swindlehurst – Skills Centre Manchester
0161 237 4499

Jill Hudson – Skills Centre Tameside
0161 359 3017

Amy Mansour – Skills Centre Wigan
07543 220101

Pauline Blackshaw – Skills Centre Salford
07783 169154

Shahzad Tabassum – Skills Centre Stockport
0161 233 2666

Neil Rigby – Training Centre St. Helens
01744 750467 | 07747 216246

Jen Leggat – Maths and English across all sites
07909 210952

Cath Finlayson – Adult Skills Fund Manchester Pre-Recruitment
07889 604586

Sian Hills, Nathan Rose-Grey – Adult Skills Fund Liverpool Pre-Recruitment
07741 381710 | 07901 201554

Tracey Roberts – Adult Skills Fund The Works Pre-Recruitment
07540 919845 | 0161 359 3388

Tony McKie, Pearl Unsworth – Adult Skills Fund Suppliers (Skills College UK, Plato Training, FTW Training and Community Revival)
07747 216436 | 07540 920628

Elizabeth Walker, Olivia Hall – Green Skills Academy
07834 765626 | 07710 153501

Last Updated: 18th November 2025

Prevent

We are committed to the Government's PREVENT strategy and underpin all our programmes with British Values. Staff are trained in awareness of the dangers of radicalisation and extremism and the signs to look for and who to go to for support.

The aim of Prevent is to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

The objectives of Prevent are to:

Tackle the ideological causes of terrorism
Intervene early to support people susceptible to radicalisation
Enable people who have already engaged in terrorism to disengage and rehabilitate

Learn more here.

To view our Safeguarding and Prevent Policy and Procedure, please click here

Support

If you need support or assistance, click here.

Hub of Hope - If you, or someone you care about, is experiencing mental and emotional distress that – right now - feels unbearable and overwhelming, click here.

The Hub of Hope is the UK’s leading mental health support database. It is provided by the national mental health charity, Chasing the Stigma, and brings local, national, peer, community, charity, private and NHS mental health support and services together in one place for the first time - find support locally by clicking here.

Julie Gillies - Designated Safeguarding Lead

E. Julie.Gillies@gceducationandskills.ac.uk

Inclusion

What is Inclusion?

We value the diversity of our learners and are committed to creating an inclusive learning environment where everyone feels safe, respected, and supported. Our approach ensures that all learners—including those with Special Educational Needs (SEND) and/or Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), have equal access to education and the opportunity to achieve positive outcomes.

Our dedicated Inclusion team works across all sites, linking with external agencies to provide a joined-up approach to learning, wellbeing, and support. Each centre has its own Inclusion Coordinator who ensures high-quality provision for learners requiring personalised support and fulfils statutory responsibilities for SEND learners.

Inclusion is embedded throughout our curriculum, support services, and staff training. We work collaboratively with learners, parents/carers, local authorities, and external partners to meet individual needs. Through careful assessment, planning, and review, we help learners progress and fully access their education.

Support for learners with SEND and EHCPS:

Our provision helps learners develop independence and take ownership of their education. At all our centres, learners have access to:

Small class sizes for a personalised and focused learning experience.
Student Services team as a consistent point of contact for advice, care, and support.
Individual Education Plans (IEPs) tailored to individual needs, with regular reviews to track progress.
Welcoming learning environments, including access to a student kitchen for breaks and refreshments.
Structured timetables with morning and afternoon sessions.
PSHE curriculum to equip learners with essential life skills.
Bursary support for eligible learners to help with costs such as travel, meals, and learning materials.

Exam Support

We can arrange exam access adjustments for learners who need them. These vary by qualification and may include:

Online or paper-based exams for Functional Skills
On-demand Functional Skills assessments
Paper-based GCSE exams (computer readers available where required)
Personalised invigilation based on individual needs
Common arrangements: extra time, rest breaks, prompting, reader, scribe, coloured paper, enlarged font or paper size

Applying

If you or your child are interested in applying to the Growth Company, there are several ways to do this:

EHCP learners: If the learner has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), the local authority can send us a consultation to assess whether we can meet their needs. This process may include a meeting and/or assessments.
Other applications: If you are applying through a careers service, external agency, or self-referring, a referral can be made directly to the relevant member of our Inclusion team. Please include a copy of the most recent EHCP where applicable.

Our Team

Tameside Skills Centre