layer de-la haye primary school · safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is...

Layer de-la Haye Primary School (Voluntary Controlled)

Safeguarding Policy

Compiled by: D.Gaffney September 2018

Reviewed Date: April 2020( in light of Covid 19)

Approved by Governing Body: April 2020

Review Date: September 2020

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Layer-de-la-Haye Primary School

Safeguarding Policy

Contents

Rationale .................................................................................... 3

Aims and beliefs ............................................................................ 3

Related Policies and Procedures ........................................................ 4

Setting the School Ethos .................................................................. 5

School Curriculum (including Educational Visits) .................................... 5

Procedures for visitors to the school .................................................. 5

Procedures for staff, volunteers and regular visitors ............................... 5

Staff and Governor Safeguarding Training ............................................ 6

Procedures for dealing with allegations against staff, including volunteers ... 6

Record Keeping ............................................................................. 6

Annual Surveys ............................................................................. 7

Roles and Responsibilites ................................................................. 7

Complaints .................................................................................. 8

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Safeguarding Policy

Rationale

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their

families has a role to play (Keeping Children Safe in Education, DfE 2019) Children and young people have a right to be safely cared for; parents and carers need to have confidence that the organisation to which they entrust their children will provide safe care. At Layer Primary School, everyone has a shared responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, irrespective of their individual roles, this is made very clear to staff in their annual safeguarding training. Safeguarding children is defined in Working Together to Safeguard Children, 2018 as:

protecting children from maltreatment 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 taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes

This safeguarding policy is part of a range of policies and procedures that the school has in order to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, enable staff and volunteers to have a clear understanding of what to do if they have concerns about a child and to inform how allegations against staff and volunteers will be dealt with.

Aims and beliefs At Layer Primary School, we believe:

children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind

we have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them.

At Layer Primary School, we recognise:

the welfare of the child is paramount

all children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse

some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues

working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.

At Layer Primary School, we will seek to keep children safe by:

valuing, listening to and respecting them

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Safeguarding Policy

appointing a nominated child protection/safeguarding lead and a deputy child protection/safeguarding lead

developing child protection and safeguarding policies and procedures which reflect best practice

using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately

creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise

developing and implementing an effective online safety policy and related procedures sharing information about child protection and safeguarding best practice with children, their families, staff and volunteers via leaflets, posters, group work and one-to-one discussions

recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made

providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures

implementing a code of conduct for staff and volunteers

using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately

ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place

ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance

recording and storing information professionally and securely.

Related Policies and Procedures This policy should be read alongside our organisational policies and procedures, including:

Procedures for responding to concerns about a child’s wellbeing

Dealing with allegations of abuse against a child or young person

Role of the designated safeguarding officer

Managing allegations against staff and volunteers

Safer recruitment policy and procedures

Code of conduct for staff and volunteers

Anti-bullying policy and procedures

Online safety policy and procedures for responding to concerns about online abuse

Photography and image sharing guidance

Whistleblowing policy

Attendance and Punctuality

Behaviour Policy

Child Protection Policy

Children with Medical Needs (including First Aid)

Educational Visits Policy

Intimate Care Policy

Single Equality Plan

Volunteers Policy

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Safeguarding Policy

Many of these policies can be found on the school website; if they are not published, the school will be pleased to provide a copy on request. This policy has been drawn up after reference to the following documents and guidance:

- Keeping Children Safe in Education, September 2019 - SET child protection procedures, 2019 - Working Together to safeguard children, 2018 - What to do if you are worried that a child is being abused (DFES 2015) - Effective Support for Children and Families in Essex, 2017 - Procedures for Managing Allegations of Abuse against staff, 2017

Setting the School Ethos All staff are committed to promoting Layer School as a ‘listening school’. We maintain an ethos where our children feel secure, are encouraged to talk and are listened to. Children know that they are encouraged to talk freely to any member of staff or regular visitor to our school if they are worried or concerned about something, and this is consistently promoted through displays around the school. All classes display a copy of the school’s Child Friendly Child Protection Policy. All staff and visitors will, through training or induction know how to recognise a disclosure from a child and will know how to manage this. The staff noticeboard has a large section dedicated to providing information and guidance to adults and key documents are readily available in the ‘Red Box’ kept in the staffroom.

School Curriculum (including Educational Visits) Safeguarding is an integral part of the school curriculum and is woven into all areas. It is particularly and explicitly promoted via the PSHCE, Physical Education and Computing Curriculum. The school has regular focus events, such as anti-bullying week, NSPCC visits, and an internet safety day to raise awareness and understanding of the various aspects of safeguarding. In addition, the school’s commitment to its Gospel Values includes regular referral to wider safeguarding issues such as fairness, respect, tolerance and responsibility.

Procedures for visitors to the school All visitors must enter the school via the main school entrance, report to the school office and sign in and out. They will be issued with an identity badge to wear around the school (identified by a red band). They will also be asked to take a copy of the school’s leaflet ‘Safeguarding Children’. All staff know that they should challenge any visitor on the school grounds if they are not wearing an identity badge (or to notify the school office immediately). Please also refer to the school’s Security Policy.

Procedures for staff, volunteers and regular visitors Before new staff are appointed, they are subject to rigorous Safer Recruitment processes (please also refer to the school’s Recruitment Policy). Volunteers and regular

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Safeguarding Policy

visitors will be provided with appropriate safeguarding induction in line with school procedures. If staff, visitors or volunteers are working with children alone they will, wherever possible, be visible to other members of staff. They will be expected to inform another member of staff of their whereabouts in school, who they are with and for how long. Doors ideally should have a clear glass panel in them and be left open. There are sensible steps that every adult should take in their daily professional conduct with children; all staff, volunteers and regular visitors will be made aware of the ‘Guidance for safer working practice for those working with children and young people in education settings’ October 2015, produced by Safer Recruitment Consortium. A copy is held in the Red Box in the staffroom and is shared with staff during training sessions.

Staff and Governor Safeguarding Training All staff attend annual in-house Level 2 training, which is supplied by Essex Safeguarding Children Board (ECSB) and delivered by the Headteacher, who is the Designated Safeguarding Lead. In addition, throughout the year there is further training in key areas of the Keeping Children Safe in Education (2019). The weekly staff briefing contains a ‘Question of the week’ linked to safeguarding practice and answers are distributed to all staff in the minutes of the meeting (inclusive of middays and support staff). Midday Assistants attend regular meetings led by the Headteacher which include behaviour management, issues related to children in school with Special Educational Needs, Disabilities and medical needs, and safeguarding. Governors are also requested to attend an annual in-house training session which is supplied by Essex Safeguarding Children Board: ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education for governors, proprietors and management committees’. Records of all training are kept by the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Procedures for dealing with allegations against staff, including volunteers Please refer to the school document: ‘Procedures for Managing Allegations of Abuse against Teachers and Other Staff and Volunteers’. This is available from the school on request.

Record Keeping Any concerns about the welfare or safety of any child are recorded on a copy of the school’s Child Protection Record – Report of a Concern’ form, which is green in colour. Where the concern involves physical signs, the reporting adult will record the signs on a Body Map. This form is then passed to the Designated Safeguarding Lead, who will decide on any action to be taken and will feed back to the referring member of staff. Written records of any conversations, meetings or actions taken are also made. A termly review of Safeguarding concerns takes place to track cases, with the Designated Safeguarding lead and Deputy Safeguarding lead, whether or not a child is under Child Protection.

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Safeguarding Policy

All records are kept centrally in a secure cupboard in the Headteacher’s office. Any safeguarding information will be kept whilst the child is at the school. Once a child leaves the school any records will be passed on in line with the school’s Child Protection Policy. Please refer to the school’s Child Protection Policy for further information.

Annual Surveys Children, staff and parents are asked on an annual basis their views regarding safeguarding. The results of such surveys are closely analysed and any issues investigated further. Governors are made aware of the results of these surveys.

Roles and Responsibilites Children Children are taught the importance of being respectful and responsible. Through PSHCE lessons they learn that they have a duty to let someone know if they see or hear of any incidents of bullying. They are also taught how to keep themselves safe and to act responsibly, with particular reference to mobile phones and internet. Staff Everyone has a responsibility to ensure children and young people are kept safe from harm (Essex Safeguarding Children Board). All adults in the school who come into contact with children have a duty of care to safeguarding and to promote their welfare and well-being, taking into account and following all school policies and training related to safeguarding. All staff are expected to promote the School’s Ethos and commitment to being a ‘listening school’. They are aware of the process related to record keeping and know that should they feel that the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead has not taken sufficient action, then they themselves can make a referral. All staff have a duty to know the contents of the Part 1 of Keeping Children Safe in Education, September 2019 and the corresponding annexe A. Designated Safeguarding Lead/Headteacher The Designated Safeguarding Lead is the Headteacher, Mrs Gaffney; the deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead is the Assistant Headteacher Mrs Baxter. They ensure that all aspects of their job description are fully met. For further details please refer to Appendix 1. The Lead will ensure that safeguarding is widely promoted throughout the school: aimed at children through child friendly displays, posters and visitors; aimed at adults through displays, posters, leaflets and training; aimed at parents through regular entries in newsletters, dedicated section of website (E Safety), leaflets, workshops. According to their Job Description, the Designated Safeguarding Lead will ensure that the Essex Safeguarding Children Board ‘Section 11’ Safeguarding Audit is carried out;

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Safeguarding Policy

this is done on alternate years, and reviewed in-school annually. The next Section 11 Safeguarding Children Audit is for 2020-2021, and will commence in May 2020. The Designated Safeguarding Lead is responsible for the submission of an Annual Report to Governing Body on Safeguarding Children; this is done in the summer term of each year. The Lead also ensures that staff have ready access, or signposting, to all documents related to safeguarding. She will ensure that there is a prominent display in the staffroom for easy reference, together with the Red Box containing all key documents. Staff will be given a mid-year questionnaire to ensure they are familiar with Part 1 of Keeping Children Safe in Education; where weaknesses in knowledge are evident, further training or information sharing will be provided. The Lead will also be trained in safer recruitment and ensure that all aspects of safer recruitment are followed. Governors All governors, wherever possible, will be expected to attend the annual training provided by the Headteacher. There is an appointed governor for Safeguarding, Mrs Gissler-Weber. She meets regularly with the headteacher to review the school’s central Safeguarding Folder using the ESCB audit checklist as guidance.

Complaints The school’s Complaints Policy is published on the school website.

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Safeguarding Policy

Annex B: Role of the designated safeguarding lead The designated safeguarding lead is expected to:

Refer cases of suspected abuse to the local authority children’s social care as required;

Support staff who make referrals to local authority children’s social care; Refer cases to the Channel programme where there is a radicalisation

concern as required; Support staff who make referrals to the Channel programme; Refer cases where a person is dismissed or left due to risk/harm to a child

to the Disclosure and Barring Service as required; and Refer cases where a crime may have been committed to the Police as

required.

The designated safeguarding lead is expected to:

Act as a point of contact with the three safeguarding partners; Liaise with the headteacher or principal to inform him or her of issues-

especially ongoing enquiries under section 47 of the Children Act 1989 and police investigations;

As required, liaise with the “case manager” (as per Part four) and the designated officer(s) at the local authority for child protection concerns in cases which concern a staff member;

Liaise with staff (especially pastoral support staff, school nurses, IT Technicians, and SENCOs or the named person with oversight for SEN in a college) on matters of safety and safeguarding (including online and digital safety) and when deciding whether to make a referral by liaising with relevant agencies; and

Act as a source of support, advice and expertise for all staff.

The designated safeguarding lead (and any deputies) should undergo training to provide them with the knowledge and skills required to carry out the role. This training should be updated at least every two years. The designated safeguarding lead should undertake Prevent awareness training.

In addition to the formal training set out above, their knowledge and skills should be refreshed (this might be via e-bulletins, meeting other designated safeguarding leads, or simply taking time to read and digest safeguarding developments) at regular intervals, as required, and at least annually, to allow them to understand and keep up with any developments relevant to their role so they:

Understand the assessment process for providing early help and statutory intervention, including local criteria for action and local authority children’s social care referral arrangements; [115]

Have a working knowledge of how local authorities conduct a child protection case conference and a child protection review conference and be able to attend and contribute to these effectively when required to do so;

Ensure each member of staff has access to, and understands, the school’s or college’s child protection policy and procedures, especially new and part time staff;

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Are alert to the specific needs of children in need, those with special educational needs and young carers;[116]

Understand relevant data protection legislation and regulations, especially the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation;

Understand the importance of information sharing, both within the school and college, and with the three safeguarding partners, other agencies, organisations and practitioners;

Are able to keep detailed, accurate, secure written records of concerns and referrals;

Understand and support the school or college with regards to the requirements of the Prevent duty and are able to provide advice and support to staff on protecting children from the risk of radicalisation;

Are able to understand the unique risks associated with online safety and be confident that they have the relevant knowledge and up to date capability required to keep children safe whilst they are online at school or college;

Can recognise the additional risks that children with SEN and disabilities (SEND) face online, for example, from online bullying, grooming and radicalisation and are confident they have the capability to support SEND children to stay safe online;

Obtain access to resources and attend any relevant or refresher training courses; and

Encourage a culture of listening to children and taking account of their wishes and feelings, among all staff, in any measures the school or college may put in place to protect them.

The designated safeguarding lead should:

Ensure the school’s or college’s child protection policies are known, understood and used appropriately;

Ensure the school’s or college’s child protection policy is reviewed annually (as a minimum) and the procedures and implementation are updated and reviewed regularly, and work with governing bodies or proprietors regarding this;

Ensure the child protection policy is available publicly and parents are aware of the fact that referrals about suspected abuse or neglect may be made and the role of the school or college in this; and

Link with the safeguarding partner arrangements to make sure staff are aware of any training opportunities and the latest local policies on local safeguarding arrangements.

Where children leave the school or college the designated safeguarding lead should ensure their child protection file is transferred to the new school or college as soon as possible. This should be transferred separately from the main pupil file, ensuring secure transit, and confirmation of receipt should be obtained. Receiving schools and colleges should ensure key staff such as designated safeguarding leads and SENCOs or the named person with oversight for SEN in colleges, are aware as required.

In addition to the child protection file, the designated safeguarding lead should also consider if it would be appropriate to share any information with the new school or

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college in advance of a child leaving. For example, information that would allow the new school or college to continue supporting victims of abuse and have that support in place for when the child arrives.

During term time the designated safeguarding lead (or a deputy) should always be available (during school or college hours) for staff in the school or college to discuss any safeguarding concerns. Whilst generally speaking the designated safeguarding lead (or deputy) would be expected to be available in person, it is a matter for individual schools and colleges, working with the designated safeguarding lead, to define what “available” means and whether in exceptional circumstances availability via phone and or Skype or other such media is acceptable.

It is a matter for individual schools and colleges and the designated safeguarding lead to arrange adequate and appropriate cover arrangements for any out of hours/out of term activities.

Annex C: Safeguarding procedures during school closure (Covid-19)

The safety and well-being of our pupils remains a high priority during the forced periods of school closure related to Covid-19. As usual, every member of school staff maintains responsibility for the safeguarding of our pupils and should act accordingly of they have any concerns. During this time the Designated Safeguarding lead and Deputy Designated lead should:

Ensure they have an overview of child protection file

Ensure that numbers of social workers are accessible for the most vulnerable

Carry out risk assessments for pupils with an EHCP on a regular basis.

Carry out a risk assessment of the vulnerable pupils regularly and implement any required actions.

React to any safeguarding concerns raised and keep securely until next on duty.

Print record of concern forms on coloured paper when next on duty.

Follow the stringent measures for social distancing.

Liase with governor responsible for safeguarding to carry out the usual monitoring process.

Keep up-to-date with any information provided by the LA in reference to safeguarding and implement any required actions.

During this time teachers should:

Ensure there is a designated time for pupils’ messages to be responded to.

Ensure that regular checks take place over children’s use of the Db learning platform, with a particular vigilance over their online safety with regards to our acceptable use policy.

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Safeguarding Policy

Ensure that pupils who do not appear to be engaging are contacted via telephone.

Identify pupils in their own classes they deem to be vulnerable and make regular contact through the learning platform and phone.

Complete the necessary record of concern forms (when required) and email to the designated safeguarding lead with encryption.


Assist children in ensuring their hands are washed regularly for 20 seconds. During this time learning support assistants should:

Monitor the appropriate use of pupils using the Db learning platform to support the class teacher.

Ensure that weekly welfare drops are undertaken to those signposted in the main school office, when on duty (vulnerable pupils)



Assist children in ensuring their hands are washed regularly for 20 seconds. During this time all support staff should:



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