Safeguarding

Safeguarding is what we do for all children; and Child Protection is what we do for children who have been harmed or are at significant risk of being harmed.

We have a number of policies and procedures in place that contribute to our safeguarding commitment, including our Child Protection Policy which can be viewed in the Policies section of our website.

All staff believe that our school should provide a caring, positive safe and stimulating environment that promotes the social, physical and moral development of the individual child.

Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a child’s welfare. We will ensure that our concerns about our pupils are discussed with his/her parents/carers first unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child’s welfare.

We actively support the Government’s Prevent Agenda to counter radicalism and extremism.

We will aim to do this by:

• Support the child’s development in ways that will foster security, confidence and independence.
• Provide an environment in which children and young people feel safe, secure, valued and respected, and feel confident, and know how to approach adults if they are in difficulties, believing they will be effectively listened to.
• Raising the awareness of all teaching and non-teaching staff of the need to safeguard children and of their responsibilities in identifying and reporting possible cases of abuse.
• Providing a systematic means of monitoring children known or thought to be at risk of harm, and ensure we, the school, contribute to assessments of need and support packages for those children.
• Emphasizing the need for good levels of communication between all members of staff.
• Ensuring a structured procedure within the school which will be followed by all members of the school community in cases of suspected abuse.
• Developing and promoting effective working relationships with other agencies, especially the Police and Social Care.
• Ensuring that all staff working within our school  who have substantial access to children have been checked as to their suitability, including verification of their identity, qualifications, and a satisfactory DBS check and a central record is kept for audit.