Safeguarding
Safeguarding @ St Thereses
The safety and well-being of our children is paramount to us and influences all that we aim to achieve at St Thereses. In order to ensure that we comply with expectations, a number of procedures and practices are in place. These include :
A ‘single central record’ with details of all employees.
- Records of any racist incidents.
- Records of any bullying and harassment incidents.
- Record of any welfare concerns.
- Risk assessments.
Our employment procedures within a Single Central Record include details of enhanced DBS checks, proof of identity checks, a record of qualifications, evidence of permission to work and the date checks were made and by whom.
With regard to the appointment of staff, the recruitment panel includes a member of staff who, has been trained in safe recruitment practices and gained the necessary qualification.
We are also conscious of our responsibility to closely monitor and support recognised vulnerable groups of children (e.g. pupils who are ‘looked after’ or are on the child protection register). To help us discharge the duty, we work closely with key external agencies to ensure safeguarding practices, are complied with.
We provide a secure site for our children and adults are asked to adhere to our rules. School gates, are kept locked except at the start and end of the day. Visitors may enter only through the main entrance after signing in at the office.
Related documentation that support our safeguarding practice include our:
- Health and Safety policy
- Behaviour, Discipline and Anti-bullying policy
- Child protection policy
- Attendance policy
- First Aid policy
- Confidential Reporting policy
All staff are trained in relation to child protection and a school child protection officer has been identified. Being safe and feeling safe are the two main outcomes for our children. We spend time talking to them to discuss any concerns and how effectively our policy operates in practice.
Our Safeguarding Team at St Thereses Primary School;
Designated Safeguarding Officer Mrs Ruth Lewis (Headteacher)
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer Mrs Teresa Seymour (Parent Engagement)
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer Miss E. Carlsen (Acting Deputy Headteacher)
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer Mrs D. Perry(SLT Member)
Governor Safeguarding Officer Ms D. Evans (Chair of Governors)
What to do if you are concerned about a child.
Children and young people have the right to grow up safe from harm or abuse. If you are worried about a child or young person, please contact school or contact the safeguarding team on 01639 685378 or visit the NPT safeguarding website
Out of hours you can contact the Emergency Duty Team on 01639 895455
Preventing Radicalisation and Extremism
‘PREVENT’ is short for ‘Preventing Violent Extremism’. The overall aim of PREVENT is to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting violent extremism by raising awareness of the issues and supporting people who may be vulnerable.
What is the Prevent strategy?
Prevent is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorist or extremist causes.
Please download the Prevent Leaflet at the bottom of the page to find out more.
Or Visit http://www.educateagainsthate.com
This website gives parents, teachers and school leaders practical advice on protecting children from extremism and radicalisation
Female Genital Mutilation
Find information about what Female Genital Mutilation is by clicking on this information leaflet.
Areas of Safeguarding
- Child protection – ensuring that staff respond appropriately to any significant change in a child’s behaviour, report to the Designated Lead any unexplained bruising, marks or signs of possible abuse, report any deterioration in a child’s well-being, are trained to know signs of neglect and respond appropriately to comments children make that cause concern
- Training – ensuring that staff have access to quality training in aspects of safeguarding so they can recognise signs and symptoms of abuse and record/respond using the correct procedures
- Buildings and grounds – ensuring we offer a safe learning environment for children to thrive
- Outside learning – completing risk assessments prior to trips and visits for the establishment along with safe transport
- Visitors – checking DBS forms and qualifications and logging them on our Single Central Register
- Behaviour– promoting positive behaviours towards each other to create a warm, caring environment
- Parents/carers/families – offering a welcoming school and develop home/school links
- Curriculum – ensuring that our curriculum offers a wide range of opportunities for children to learn about safety and they have chances to talk and ask questions
Safeguarding in the Curriculum
PSHE education lessons provide the best context for this learning, as part of a whole school approach and can contribute to safeguarding by:
- Teaching pupils about healthy relationships and helping them recognise unhealthy relationships
- Helping pupils recognise inappropriate behaviour towards them or others and to access help
- Raising pupils’ awareness of abuse, gender-related and gang violence
- Addressing gender stereotypes and challenging the negative attitudes which lead to violence and abuse
- Teaching the language, skills and strategies that enable pupils to tackle and mitigate risks to their (or others’) physical or emotional safety, including bullying, unhealthy relationships, sexual exploitation, gangs, radicalisation, drug and alcohol use and other risky behaviours
- Teaching the knowledge, understanding and skills pupils need to keep safe online
- Broadening pupils’ understanding of concepts such as consent, equality, discrimination, power and exploitation as part of a broader curriculum
- Helping pupils to support and seek help for friends who are in unsafe situations
- Helping pupils to see how their own behaviour can at times put others at risk.
- Supporting the development of personal attributes such as self-esteem, resilience and self-confidence and skills such as managing risk, decision making, emergency aid.