Safeguarding and Online Safety

Safeguarding Team

Mr S Stevens: Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

Mrs J Watmough: Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead. (DDSL)

Mrs T Carter: Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)

Mrs L Farrow: Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)

Mrs K Leach:SENDCo

Ms Nicola Hall: Safeguarding Governor

Please see any member of the Safeguarding team if you have any concerns about the welfare of a child in our school.

Role of Safeguarding Governor

Outline of role

The Children’s Act 2004 places a duty on agencies to ensure that their functions are discharged having regard for the need to safeguard children and promote their welfare.

By safeguarding and promoting welfare we mean:

• Protecting children from abuse or neglect
• Preventing impairment of the child’s health or development
• Ensuring children’s are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
• Creating opportunities to enable children to have optimum life changes in adulthood

The governor responsible for safeguarding children will play an essential role in ensuring children in education are kept safe from harm

Duties

• The Safeguarding and Child Protection Governor should not be a parent governor or teacher governor as this could lead to them being compromised in the event of a disciplinary matter.
• To be familiar with LA guidance and policy relating to Safeguarding and Child Protection and associated issues, and to attend training for nominated Safeguarding and Child Protection governors
• To ensure that the Governing Board puts in place a suitable Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and associated procedures
• To champion safeguarding and child protection issues within the school
• To encourage other members of the governing board to develop their understanding of the governing board’s responsibilities with regard to Child Protection and assist them to perform their functions in respect of Safeguarding Children and Young People
• To contribute to ensuring any deficiencies in the school’s safeguarding practices are addressed which may be brought to Governors’ attention by a member of school staff, a parent, an officer of the Authority or from any other source
• To meet regularly with the senior member of the school’s leadership team who is the designated teacher for safeguarding and child protection in order to monitor the effectiveness of the governing board’s Safeguarding and Child Protection policy. It is recommended that this is at least a termly meeting
• To ensure that the governing board receives an annual report on the implementation of the school’s safeguarding and child protection policy and procedures including:

Arrangements for ensuring that the school’s safeguarding and child protection policy is communicated to, and implemented by, all staff:

• Ensuring that the designated member of staff with lead responsibility for Safeguarding and Child Protection is part of the school’s leadership team, and has sufficient time and resources at his /her disposal to carry out his / her duties effectively
• Ensuring that a deputy designated teacher for safeguarding and child protection is identified
• Ensuring that the Designated Teacher for Safeguarding and Child Protection and his/her deputy receive training every two years
• Training in Child Protection undertaken by ALL staff, including Lunch Time Supervisors, clerical staff and other ancillary staff, every three years
• Arrangements are in place for the inclusion of child protection procedures in an induction programme for all people working in the school, no matter for how long, nor the status of that individual
• Arrangements to ensure safer recruitment procedures and appropriate checks on new staff and volunteers
• The number of students currently subject to a Child Protection Plan NB details of names will not be provided to maintain confidentiality.
• How Safeguarding and Child Protection issues are addressed through the curriculum
• The provision of information to the LA about how the governing board’s duties in respect of Safeguarding and Child Protection have been discharged
• The Chair of the governing board will liaise with the Head teacher and the Authority over matters regarding confidential child protection issues involving allegations against staff
• Where there is an allegation of abuse against the head teacher, the Chair of the governing board will take the lead in liaising with the LA and/or partner agencies unless a member of the Governing Boardhas relevant expertise which would mean that person was better fitted to take this role, including:

– Notifying the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) immediately
– Ensuring with LA support that appropriate action is to be taken in accordance with agreed procedures
– To attend initial and subsequent strategy meetings as required if other agencies are involved
– To take the lead in an investigation under employment procedures in conjunction with Human Resources and the Child Protection Service when the other agencies’ involvement is at an end

The Vice Chair of the governing board will deputise for the Chair in the Chair’s absence as appropriate.

The Prevention Of Radicalisation

Radicalisation is defined as the act or process of making a person more radical or favouring of extreme or fundamental changes in political, economic or social conditions, institutions or habits of the mind.

Extremism is defined as the holding of extreme political or religious views.

The Governing Board of Parklands Primary School has a zero tolerance approach to extremist behaviour for all school community members. We rely on our strong values to steer our work and ensure the pastoral care of our children protects them from exposure to negative influences.

Parklands Primary School is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all its children. As a school we recognise that safeguarding against radicalisation is no different from safeguarding against any other vulnerability.

At Parklands Primary School all staff are expected to uphold and promote the fundamental principles of British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

• Children are encouraged to adopt and live out our Core Values. These complement the key “British Values” of tolerance, respect, understanding, compassion and harmonious living.
• Children are helped to understand the importance of democracy and freedom of speech, through the SEAL (Social, emotional aspects of learning) assemblies and through the elected School Council members
• Children are taught how to keep themselves safe, in school and when using the internet.
• Children participate in local community events so that they appreciate and value their neighbours and friends who may not share their faith background.
• Children’s wellbeing, confidence and resilience is promoted through our planned curriculum and extra curricular learning opportunities.
• Children are supported in making good choices from a very young age, so they understand the impact and consequences of their actions on others.

The role of the curriculum

Our curriculum promotes respect, tolerance and diversity. Children are encouraged to express themselves through discussions, debates and consultations. The RE (Religious Education), PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education), Citizenship and SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural) provision is embedded across the curriculum, and underpins the ethos of our school.

Children learn about all major faiths and visit places of worship wherever possible. They are also taught about how to stay safe when using the internet.

Although serious incidents involving radicalisation have not occurred at Parklands Primary School to date, it is important for us to be constantly vigilant and remain fully informed about the issues which affect the region in which we teach.

Staff are reminded to suspend any professional disbelief that instances of radicalisation ‘could not happen here’ and to refer any concerns through the Child Protection/ Safeguarding Lead Teachers.