Safeguarding and child protection

Worthinghead Primary School recognises the importance of creating an ethos within school that will help children feel safe and feel confident that they will be listened to.We take our responsibilities very seriously and would like build trust with parents, too, that we are working in the best interests of the children at all times. All adults working with or on behalf of children have a responsibility to protect them.  Children who are, and feel, safe make more successful learners.

 

During the day the site is secured behind a perimeter fence and access is only allowed through the main entrance. No-one other than the office staff are permitted to open the door to welcome visitors. Children are not allowed to open the door - even for their own parents!

 

 All adults working or volunteering in school have to undertake police checks to make sure they have no criminal records. We make sure that any visitors coming into school have their identity checked and sign in at the main office.

 

Occasionally we are aware of circumstances in the children's lives outside of school that may raise concerns. We have a duty to report any of our concerns to Bradford Children's Social Care and they will decide whether any further investigation is required. We will always speak with parents to share our concerns and allow an opportunity for them to explain any situation or injury to a child.

 

If children are subject to support plans, we have a statutory duty to report to meetings, to monitor the ongoing situation and to question any absence from school.

 

Below is a summary of the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

The full policy can be downloaded here.

 

Good practice guidelines

 

To meet and maintain our responsibilities towards children, the school community agrees to the following standards of good practice;

 

• treating all children with respect

• setting a good example by conducting ourselves appropriately
• involving children in decision-making which affects them
• encouraging positive and safe behaviour among children
• being a good listener
• being alert to changes in child’s behaviour
• recognising that challenging behaviour may be an indicator of abuse
• reading and understanding all of the school’s safeguarding and guidance documents on wider safeguarding issues, for example bullying, physical contact, e-safety plans and information-sharing
• asking the child’s permission before doing anything for them which is of a physical nature, such as assisting with dressing, physical support during PE or administering first aid
• maintaining appropriate standards of conversation and interaction with and between children and avoiding the use of derogatory language
• being aware that the personal and family circumstances and lifestyles of some children lead to an increased risk of neglect and or abuse.

 

Procedures

 

We will follow the procedures set out by the Bradford Safeguarding Children Board and take account of guidance issued by the Department for Education and Skills to:

Training and Support

 

Our school will ensure that the Head Teacher, the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and the nominated governor for Child Protection attend training relevant to their role.

 

Records and monitoring

                                   

Our school is clear about the need to record any concerns held about a child or children within our school, the status of such records and when these records should be passed over to other agencies.

 

The Named Governor responsible for Child Protection monitors the implementation of the Child Protection Policy. Governors will not be given details relating to specific child protection situations as this would be a breach of confidentiality.

 

Worthinghead Primary School has a duty to share information with other agencies and will ensure that staff are able to attend all relevant meetings including case conferences, core groups and strategy meetings.

 

Safe School, Safe Staff

 

All staff recruited to work in school will be required to have enhanced DBS checks.

 

Supporting pupils at risk

 

Child neglect and abuse is devastating for the child and can also result in distress and anxiety for staff who become involved. We will support the children and their families and staff by:

 

• taking all suspicions and disclosures seriously
• nominating a link person who will keep all parties informed and be the central point of contact. Where a member of staff is the subject of an allegation made by a child, a separate link person will be nominated to avoid any conflict of interest
• responding sympathetically to any request from a child or member of staff for time out to deal with distress or anxiety
• maintaining confidentiality and sharing information on a need-to-know basis only with relevant individuals and agencies
• storing records securely
• offering details of help lines, counselling or other avenues of external support
• following the procedures laid down in our whistle blowing, complaints and disciplinary procedures
• cooperating fully with relevant statutory agencies.

 

Recognising abuse

 

To ensure that our children are protected from harm, we need to understand what types of behaviour constitute abuse and neglect.

 

Physical signs define some types of abuse, for example, bruising, bleeding or broken bones resulting from physical or sexual abuse, or injuries sustained while a child has been inadequately supervised.

 

Remember, it is your responsibility to report your concerns. It is not your responsibility to investigate or decide whether a child has been abused.

 

Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child.

 

Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child, such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development.

 

Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities which may involve physical contact, including penetrative and non-penetrative acts. They may include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, pornographic material or watching sexual activities, or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.

 

Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development.

 

A child going missing from education is a potential indicator of abuse or neglect.

 

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and Grooming involves exploitative situations, contexts and relationships where young people receive something (for example food, accommodation, drugs, alcohol, gifts, money or in some cases simply affection) as a result of engaging in sexual activities.

 

Child Criminal Exploitation involves children being groomed, coerced or forced into criminal acts, often involving the movement of drug or money within a gang network.

 

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs. It is illegal in the UK and a form of child abuse with long-lasting harmful consequences.

 

Radicalisation refers to the process by which a person comes to support extremist ideologies, potentially associated with terrorist groups. If staff have a concern that a child is at risk ofradicalisation it will be treated as any other safeguarding concern. Staff will refer their concerns to the DSL and further referrals can then be made as appropriate to the police or Channel authorities.

 

If you suspect a child is at risk of harm

 

There will be occasions when you suspect that a child may be at serious risk, you should try to give the child the opportunity to talk. The concerns must be reported to the DSL as soon as possible and no later than by the end of the day.

 

If a child discloses information to you

 

It takes a lot of courage for a child to disclose that they are being neglected and or abused.

 

If a child talks to you about any risks to their safety or wellbeing you will need to let them know thatyou must pass the information on – you are not allowed to keep secrets.

 

Notifying parents

 

The school will normally seek to discuss any concerns about a child with their parents. This must be handled sensitively and the DSL will make contact with the parent in the event of a concern, suspicion or disclosure.

However, if the school believes that notifying parents could increase the risk to the child or exacerbate the problem, then advice will first be sought from children’s social care.

 

Referral to children’s social care

 

The DSL will make a referral to children’s social care if it is believed that a child is suffering or is at risk of suffering significant harm. The child (subject to their age and understanding) and the parents will be told that a referral is being made, unless to do so would increase the risk to the child.

 

The impact of abuse

 

The impact of child abuse should not be underestimated. Many children do recover well and go on to lead healthy, happy and productive lives, although most adult survivors agree that the emotional scars remain, however well buried. For some children, full recovery is beyond their reach, and the rest of their childhood and their adulthood may be characterised by anxiety or depression, self-harm, eating disorders, alcohol and substance misuse, unequal and destructive relationships and long-term medical or psychiatric difficulties.

 

 

Linked policies Behaviour Management and Anti- Bullying                    E Safety

                        Special Education Needs                                             Attendance

           Health, Safety and Welfare                                         PSHCE

           Volunteer Helpers