At Shotley Bridge Primary School, we regard the safeguarding of children as our main priority. We believe that we all have the right to be happy, to be safe and to learn. We all have the responsibility to make this happen.
We will ensure that
- The welfare of the child is paramount.
- All children, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief and/or sexual identity have the right to be protected from harm.
- All suspicions or allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to.
- All staff and volunteers have a responsibility to report concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Leads.
Areas of Safeguarding
Our safeguarding policies cover all areas of school life and include:
- Staff and visitors – vetted, informed and trained.
- Children’s behaviour – promoting safer and happier behaviours and lifestyles.
- Parents and Carers – promoting links and supporting families.
- Premises – keeping them safe, pleasant and fit for purpose.
- Curriculum – providing positive and enriching learning experiences
- Outside school – ensuring safer activities and environments outside school.
Members of Staff Responsible
We are ALL responsible for ensuring that every child remains safe. All concerns around safeguarding should be passed on to the Designated Safeguarding Leads:
- Mrs V Atkinson
- Mrs N Dryden
- Miss A Reid
- Mr E Goldsborough
- Mr L Vasarhelyi
- Mr D Grimes (Governor)
Safer Recruitment
We follow strict procedures to ensure that everyone who works with the children have a current DBS check. Senior leadership staff, Mrs Coombe (admin) and some Governors have undertaken safer recruitment training which is utilised when advertising and selecting candidates for appointments.
Staff Training
- Staff are trained and receive regular updates in child protection issues and they understand the procedures they must follow if they have a concern or a child makes a disclosure.
- Staff are vigilant to maintain the safety of all children.
- Staff are signposted to a copy of the document ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education,’ school’s Safeguarding Policy and School’s Acceptable Use Policy. Staff are required to read each of them and to sign to confirm they have.
Child Protection with Safeguarding Policy
All staff have an up to date understanding of safeguarding children issues and are able to implement the safeguarding children policy and procedure appropriately. Policies are in line with current guidance and procedures.
Staff are able to respond appropriately to any:
- changes in children’s behaviour
- deterioration in their general well-being
- unexplained bruising, marks or signs of possible abuse
- signs of neglect
- comments children make which give cause for concern
All staff are aware of the need to maintain privacy and confidentiality, however, staff will not make a promise to a child to keep information secret.
Information Sharing
We have an obligation to obtain necessary information from parents in advance of a child being admitted to school, including:
- emergency contact numbers
- names of those adults who are allowed to collect the child
- special dietary requirements, food allergies or preferences
- special health requirements
- information about who has legal contact with the child or who has parental responsibility for the child
Written parental permission is requested at the time of admission, to the seeking of any necessary emergency medical advice or treatment in the future.
Parents and carers are reminded to update changes to details on Arbor or to inform the school office.
We take confidentiality very seriously. Information held is treated as confidential and shared on a ‘need to know’ basis.
Links with External Agencies
Our first concern is the well-being of your child. There may be occasions when we have to consult other agencies before we contact you. The procedures that we follow are in accordance with the local authority child protection procedures.
We are supported by a range of external agencies which can be called upon to support the work done in school. These include, School Nurse, Health Practitioners, Educational Psychologists, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Behaviour Intervention Team, Social Services and SEND Specialist Support.
Reporting Concerns or Complaints
We have a Concerns and Complaints Policy enabling children, staff and carers to report anything that they feel is a concern.
Concerns should be raised in the following order:
- To the Class Teacher, then if there is no resolution;
- To an Assistant Headteacher, then if there is no resolution;
- To the Deputy Headteacher, then if there is no resolution;
- To the Headteacher, then if there is no resolution;
- To the Chair or Governors, then if there is no resolution;
- To the Local Authority, contact details are available from the school office.
Review of Policy and Practice
To maintain best practice, our policies are reviewed at intervals, incorporating the most recent statutory guidance at the time of review.
If you would like more information on Safeguarding, please view our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy which you can find in the School Policies section on the website or contact our school.