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Claverdon Primary

Safeguarding Children

Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) and key personnel

Please click on an image for contact details.

DSLs (ID 2020)

 

 

 

Introduction

Safeguarding is an umbrella term and covers many more aspects than just child protection.

Child Protection is protecting children from identified risks – originally focused on abuse at home now a wider concept to include bullying, abuse through new technologies etc

Safeguarding extends child protection to include preventing harm and promoting the well being of children.

Safeguarding is:

  • Protecting children from maltreatment
  • Preventing impairment of a child’s health or development
  • Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provisions of safe and effective care
  • Create opportunities to enable children to have optimum life chances in adulthood.

(2004 Children’s Act)

School Policy

Claverdon Primary School recognises the responsibility it has under Section 175 of the Education Act 2002 and the requirements of the 'Safeguarding Children in Education' to have arrangements in place to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

Through their day-to-day contact with pupils and direct work with families, staff at the school have a crucial role to play in noticing indicators of possible abuse or neglect and referring them to the appropriate agency, normally the appropriate Children’s Team (Social Care).

‘Under the Education Act 2002 (Section 175 for maintained schools/Section 157 for academies/free/independent schools), schools must make arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.  Parents/carers should know that the law (Children Act 1989) requires all school staff to pass on information which gives rise to a concern about a child’s welfare, including risk from neglect, physical, emotional or sexual abuse.  Staff will seek, in general, to discuss any concerns with the parent/carer and discuss the need to make a referral to Children’s Social Care if that is considered necessary.  This will only be done where such discussion will not place the child at increased risk of significant harm or cause undue delay.  The school will seek advice from Children’s Social Care when they have reasonable cause to suspect a child may be suffering or likely to suffer significant harm.  Occasionally, concerns are passed on which are later found to be unfounded.  Parents/carers will appreciate that the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead carries out their responsibilities in accordance with the law and acts in the best interests of all children.’

This Policy sets out how the school’s Governing Body discharges its statutory responsibilities relating to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children who are pupils at the school.

There are four main elements to our Policy:

  • Prevention through the teaching and pastoral support offered to pupils and the creation and maintenance of a whole school protective ethos.
  • Procedures for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases, of abuse.
  • Support to pupils who may have been abused.
  • Preventing unsuitable people working with children

Our Policy applies to all staff and volunteers working in the school (education support services).  Teaching assistants, mid-day supervisors, secretaries as well as teachers can be the first point of disclosure for a child.  Concerned parents may also contact school Governors.

Click here to view our Child Protection & Safeguarding Policy 

Protective Behaviours

We teach about protective behaviours to all children.

This scheme of work is incorporated into PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) lessons.  The scheme is entitled 'Taking Care' and originated in America and we currently use the Warwickshire programme designed by Ann Seal (WCC).  The programme aims to give children age appropriate strategies for talking about their feelings and in particular their own personal safety and well-being.

We share the information via booklets sent home to parents and organise a briefing evening for Reception and other new parents each year.

Further information on the Protective Behaviours (Taking Care) curriculum can be found below:

Protective Behaviours (Taking Care) curriculum 

Practical advice for keeping children safe 2020

Lets Talk Magazine 2020

We all have the right to feel safe

Warwickshire Safeguarding Children Board

The Warwickshire Safeguarding Children Board (WSCB) has been established to make the county an even safer place for children and can be found at:

Warwickshire Safeguarding Children Board 

The Board has a number of duties:

  • To ensure that sound arrangements are in place to protect children in Warwickshire.
  • To safeguard children by contributing to the prevention of harm and the promotion of the welfare of children in Warwickshire.
  • To achieve these objectives by promoting inter-agency cooperation and collaboration.

The Warwickshire Safeguarding Children Board (WSCB) is an inter-agency forum for agreeing how the different services and professional groups should cooperate to safeguard children, and make sure that local arrangements work effectively to bring about good outcomes for children in Warwickshire. It replaced the Warwickshire Area Child Protection Committee.