SAFEGUARDING AT CRESCENT PRIMARY SCHOOL

Staff and Governors at Crescent Primary are aware that many children are the victims of different kinds of abuse and neglect and that they can be subjected to social factors that have a negative impact upon their lives – including domestic violence, substance misuse, bullying, mental health and radicalisation. We also acknowledge that safeguarding incidents could happen anywhere and staff should be alert to possible concerns arising. 

Through our curriculum we teach children to stay safe and happy. We encourage the understanding that any problem or worry that they may have is legitimate, and to share their worries, big or small with their trusted adult; at home; school or with ChildLine.

Safeguarding and Promoting the welfare of Children

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as:

• Protecting children from harm;

• Preventing impairment of children’s health or development;

• Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and

• Undertaking that role so as to enable those children to have optimum life chances and to enter adulthood successfully.

   

  Child protection is a key element in work to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Child Protection refers to work undertaken with children identified as being at risk of significant harm.

Key contacts 

• Designated Child Protection Lead -    Mrs Rachel Spray,  Head Teacher

• Deputy Child Protection Leads -          Mr Paul Matthews (AHT), Mrs Louise Smith (AHT) and Mrs Sally Hamilton (DHT)

• Safeguarding Governors  -                 Mrs L Harris & Mrs A Screaton

• Safer Recruitment Officer -                Mrs A Brown, School Business Manager

Preventing child sexual abuse

The NSPCC has launched a video exploring steps we can take to keep children safe from sexual abuse by thinking through the potential risks in children’s daily lives and taking action to protect them. Examples include: ensuring babysitters have trusted references; ensuring robust safeguarding procedures are in place in schools and other organisations; and thinking about the physical environment, making sure children are kept safe by checking on areas that are infrequently used or left unsupervised.

Find out about the child protection process

The child protection process helps to keep you safe. Young people have produced two leaflets that explain what it is and how it works.

• What's Child Protection? [PDF] A guide for young people on child protection enquiries.

Prevent Strategy

Supporting children worried about terrorism

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-we-do/news-opinion/supporting-children-worried-about-terrorism/

Talking about terrorism: tips for parents

Children are exposed to news in many ways, and what they see can worry them. Our advice can help you have a conversation with your child:

• • listen carefully to a child’s fears and worries

  • offer reassurance and comfort

  • avoid complicated and worrying explanations that could be frightening and confusing

  • help them find advice and support to understand distressing events and feelings

  • children can always contact Childline free and confidentially on the phone and online.

    It’s also important to address bullying and abuse following the terrorist attacks.

• Some children may feel targeted because of their faith or appearance
  Look for signs of bullying, and make sure that they know they can talk with you about it. Often children might feel scared or embarrassed, so reassure them it's not their fault that this is happening, and that they can always talk to you or another adult they trust. Alert your child’s school so that they can be aware of the issue.

• Dealing with offensive or unkind comments about a child’s faith or background
  If you think this is happening, it’s important to intervene. Calmly explain that comments like this are not acceptable. Your child should also understand that someone’s beliefs do not make them a terrorist. Explain that most people are as scared and hurt by the attacks as your child is. You could ask them how they think the other child felt, or ask them how they felt when someone said something unkind to them. Explain what you will do next, such as telling your child's school, and what you expect them to do.

Online Safety

Safeguarding in ICT at Crescent Primary School

· We have an up to date ICT and Online Safety Policy (reviewed annually).

· AUP (Acceptable Use Agreement) is signed by parents and discussed with children on entry to school. This is kept on file in the school office.

· AUP (Acceptable Use Agreement) is signed by Staff, Governors and Volunteers in school. 

Staff agreements are filed in their Personal files (stored in the school office), Governors agreements are filed in the Governors file (stored in the school office) and Visitors / Parent Helpers agreements are filed in a Parent Helper file (stored in the school office).

· The school website has its own Online Safety policy which can be accessed by all visitors to the website.

Think U Know is a set of resources developed by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre at website: www.thinkuknow.co.uk to help educate young people, parents and teachers about safe and positive use of the internet.

Know IT All is a set of resources developed by Childnet International at website: www.childnet-int.org/kia to help educate parents and teachers about safe and positive use of the internet.

Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP)

CEOP work to encourage all organisations that have an online presence where children and young people congregate to adopt the CEOP 'Report Abuse' mechanism. You can report abuse at website: www.ceop.gov.uk/saferbydesign/reportabuse.asp

Private fostering

If you are under the age of 16 (18 if you’re disabled) and your parent(s) have asked someone who is not a close relative to look after you for 28 days or more, you may be in a private fostering arrangement. If this is the case the person who looks after you is called a private foster carer.

For more information about private fostering arrangements see our private fostering leaflet [PDF]

Safer Recruitment

(Recruitment, selection and pre-employment vetting)

Crescent Primary creates a culture of safe recruitment and, as part of that, adopts the LA Recruitment & Selection Policy that helps deter, reject or identify people who might abuse children from working in any capacity at, or visiting the school 

This is based on checks and evidence such as:

• Criminal record checks (DBS checks) for staff & volunteers that engage in regulated activity / unsupervised contact with children.
• Barred List checks
• Teacher Prohibition checks
• References, employment history and interview information
• Professional Qualification evidence
• Identity verification (Eg.Passport, driving licence, Birth Certificate, address confirmation)
• Mental & Physical fitness to carry out their work (Interview & pre-employment declaration of health)
• Right to Work in the UK verification

Schools keep a Single Central Record (SCR) as a register of information of all the above checks on staff and volunteers.  This document is scrutinised & checked during an Ofsted inspection.

Contractors, Coaches and other visitors on the school site are checked according to the level of contact (unsupervised, supervised) contact with children.

Since Sept 2016 all school Governors are required to undertake a DBS check.

Useful contacts

Childline

Contacting Childline:

https://childline.org.uk/

NSPCC

Offers some helpful information for parents and carers on a range of issues, such as internet safety, protecting children at home and positive parenting tips.
tel: 0808 800 5000
website: www.nspcc.org.uk

Bullying

If you think that bullying is just a part of everyday school life, you're wrong. No-one deserves to be bullied and you shouldn't ignore the problem.
website:http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/YoungPeople/HealthAndRelationships/Bullying/DG_10031370

Family Lives

A national charity that works for, and with, parents. It works to offer help and support through an innovative range of free, flexible, responsive services.
tel: 0808 800 2222
website: www.familylives.org.uk

Barnardos

Helps all kinds of families to cope with a wide range of issues including poverty, abuse, and homelessness.
tel: 01268 520224
website: www.barnardos.org.uk

Kidscape

Gives information for parents on a range of ways children can be bullied including cyber bullying and gives advice on keeping children safe online.
tel: 020 7730 3300
website: www.kidscape.org.uk

Missing Person Helpline

tel: 0500 700 700 (24 hours)

National Drugs Helpline

tel: 0800 77 66 00 (24 hour free advice)

NHS Direct

tel: 0845 4647
website: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

Parents against Child Sexual Exploitation (PACE)

Free E learning course for parents and carers on Child Sexual Exploitation aimed at raising awareness, identifying signs and providing advice on what to do if you have concerns. Go to the website at www.safeguardingchildrenea.co.uk and follow the simple registration process.

Women's Aid Federation

The key national charity working to end domestic violence against women and children. Support a network of over 500 domestic and sexual violence services across the UK.
tel: 08457 023 468
website: www.womensaid.org.uk

Parents Centre

Information and support for parents on how to help with your child's learning, including advice on choosing a school and finding childcare.
website: www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents