Safeguarding

We are committed to ensuring that our children always feel safe and secure. This involves a wide range of policies, procedures and supportive arrangements. We have a strong culture of safeguarding and work tirelessly to keep your children safe, secure and well cared for. It is only when children feel safe and secure that they will be able to be happy and ready to learn.

 

If you have a safeguarding concern, please contact a member of our Safeguarding Team in person or via the school office: 01538 722378

 

Designated Safeguarding Lead

Sarah Baxter

 

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads

Lindsey Gidman

 

 

Claire Scott

 

Safeguarding Governor

Sharon Barker

 

Reporting a Concern

We all have a duty to protect children and young people from harm. If you have any concerns about a child or young person it is always best to share them.

 

If you think a child is in immediate danger, contact the police on 999.

 

Staffordshire Police:
Telephone: 101 
In an emergency always call 999

 

If a child is not in immediate danger but at risk of harm,

contact Staffordshire Children's Advice and Support Team. 

 

Staffordshire Children's Advice and Support Team:

Phone: 0800 1313 126

Open: Monday to Thursday 8:30am-5:00pm and Friday 8:30am-4:30pm
 
Emergency Duty Service:
(Out of Hours Service- In an emergency, outside office hours please contact the Emergency Duty Service)
Telephone: 0345 604 2886

 

 

What will happen next?

Social workers will follow up every report where they believe a child may be at risk of harm. They will talk to other people who know the child and may be able to provide a clearer picture. This includes teachers, health visitors and members of the child's family.

After this several things could happen:

• No further action will be taken
• Help and support will be offered to the family
• An investigation will take place

 

Staff and Adults in the School

Staff:

• are advised to maintain an attitude of ‘it could happen here’ as far as safeguarding is concerned;
• should always act in the best interest of the child. 

The school is committed to safer recruitment practices when recruiting new employees to work for the school or when using volunteers. All adults working in the school will have undergone a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check. DBS checks are only one element of a wider framework of safer recruitment practices the school undertakes. Ordinary visitors to the school must be accompanied at all times when on visit.

 

Please complete the Confidential Safeguarding and Online Safety Form below if you have any safeguarding concerns about a child in our school.

Helplines, APPs and Websites to support parents

 

Online Safety Advice for Parents and Pupils

• Childline  

• Childline is yours – a free, private and confidential service where you can talk about anything. Whatever your worry, whenever you need help, we’re here for you online, on the phone, anytime.

• NSPCC 

• The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children is a charity campaigning and working in child protection in the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands.

• Think U Know 

• Thinkuknow is the education programme from NCA-CEOP, a UK organisation which protects children both online and offline. Explore one of the six Thinkuknow websites for advice about staying safe when you're on a phone, tablet or computer.

• CEOP 

• Are you worried about online sexual abuse or the way someone has been communicating with you online? Make a report to one of CEOP's Child Protection Advisors

• SIX TOP TIPS To Keep Primary Kids Safe Online During School Closure 

• Children are bound to spend lots more time on devices during school closure. DON’T FEEL BAD ABOUT IT – lots will be schoolwork or catching up with friends. But there are ways to keep them safe, healthy and happy.

• Internet Matters 

• Supporting families online Get expert support and practical tips to help children benefit from connected technology and the internet safely and smartly.

• Child Exploitation and Online Protection command 

• Are you worried about online sexual abuse or the way someone has been communicating with you online? Make a report to one of CEOP's Child Protection Advisors

• Parent Info 

• Help and advice for families in a digital world

• Safeguarding Advice

• Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for parents and carers to keep children safe online

• Whilst there are huge benefits to being online in order to stay connected to family and friends during this period, the government recognises many parents may feel concerned about the activities and content their children are accessing. This guidance outlines resources to help keep children safe from different risks online and where to go to receive support and advice.

• Netflix parents’ guide: what is it and is it safe for kids?

• Parent guide to Netflix. Setting profile and access restriction instructions.

• pegi

• What do the labels mean?

• Digital Parenting Magazine 6

• Digital Parenting Magazine 6. The online safety guide for families is a partnership between Parent Zone and Vodafone. Advice from teachers, parents and online safety experts on subjects ranging from Virtual Reality, to body image in the social media age, to live streaming. Tips from online safety experts, parents and children and young people themselves. Updated guide to setting parental controls on apps and devices, and information on gaming and keeping kids safe while they play. The online version of the magazine includes live links in the Tools section to make finding out about parental controls even easier.

• ParentZone

• A dedicated resource area to help parents meet the challenges of the digital age. From internet safety magazines and online training, to parent guides on the latest digital trends and platforms.

• Gaming or gambling

• Parent Zone and GambleAware have partnered up to help families learn about the gambling-like risks children may face when playing online games - and simple practical things parents and carers can do to keep gaming fun and safer.

• Is my child ready to be left alone?

• Need-to-know: is my child ready to be left alone? There is no legal age at which children may be left home alone, but parents can be prosecuted for neglect if it puts them at risk of injury or suffering. This guide gives sound advice and useful tips to help parents decide in which situations they may leave their children home alone, and what they need to do to ensure their safety and wellbeing. It explains the risks of leaving babies and younger children unattended, and provides helpful advice on what qualities and experience to look for when choosing a babysitter or appropriate childcare. There is a quiz for parents and children which explores how the child feels about being left at home alone and what they might do in different scenarios, such as a power cut or if someone came to the door. Parents can fill in the ‘while I’m away’ pull-out with times and contact numbers and stick it on the fridge before they go out.

• Is my child ready to go out alone?

• Need-to-know: is my child ready to go out alone? Getting the balance right between allowing children their independence and ensuring their safety when away from home can be difficult. This guide provides advice and practical tips to parents on judging if a child is ready to be out on their own and how to prepare them for different situations such as walking to and from school by themselves, attending sports or holiday clubs, or going out to play with friends. It explains the importance of parents talking to their children from a young age about the risks and how to stay safe when they’re out alone, such as what to do if they’re approached by a stranger, are bullied or get lost. There is also a pull-out that parents can fill in with important information on their child’s club, such as who they can talk to if they have any concerns.

• Screen time balance

• Screen time can offer children opportunities to learn and develop new skills at a touch of a button but like anything, too much of it can have a negative effect on their wellbeing.

• 8 tips for keeping on top of your child's screen time

 

Useful Websites:

Online Safety - keeping children safe online

Internet Matters - an independent, not-for-profit organisation to help parents keep their children safe online

Whisper - an anonymous online reporting system

Parent Info from CEOP - E-safety information for parents and carers

Safer Internet - Social media safety information for parents and carers

Think U Know - Information on how to keep children safe online

Gaming information for parents - Information about online games

Parents' Guide to Technology - Information about technology and safety issues

Setting up Parental Controls - Information about how to set up parental controls on your home broadband

https://www.net-aware.org.uk - Information about apps. 

Question Prompts - Question prompts to support discussions with children about their usage of the internet.