Areas of Safeguarding
At Woodhouse Community Primary School, keeping our children safe is our main priority and is the responsibility of EVERYONE who comes into contact with children.Teachers and non-teaching staff at Woodhouse Community Primary have a crucial role to play in shaping the lives of young people. All staff are accountable for the way in which they exercise authority, manage risk, use resources and protect pupils from discrimination and avoidable harm.
We will ensure that:
- The welfare of the child remains paramount.
- All children whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious beliefs and/ or sexual identity have the right to be protected from harm.
- All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
- All staff and volunteers working at our school have a responsibility to report concerns to the designated leads for Safeguarding: Mrs Norman, Mrs Cleminson and Kirsty Ovington.
Our safeguarding policies cover all areas of school life and include:
- Staff & Visitors- ensuring they are vetted, informed & trained.
- Children’s Behaviour- promoting safer & happier behaviours & lifestyles.
- Parents & Carers- promoting links & supporting families.
- Premises -keeping them safe, pleasant & fit for purpose.
- Curriculum -providing positive, life affirming learning experiences.
- Outside School- ensuring safer activities and environments outside school
Further information is detailed in our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy located in our School Policies section.
Staff Responsibility
The Designated leads for safeguarding at Woodhouse Community Primary School are as follows:
- Overall responsibility for Safeguarding:Ms Andrea Norman, Headteacher (Designated person)
- Mrs Laura Cleminson (Deputy Designated person)
- Miss Kirsty Ovington, Parent Support Advisor (Second Deputy Designated person).
Recruitment and Training
We follow strict procedures to ensure that everyone who works with our children is vetted, keeping our children as safe as possible. Ongoing checks and ‘whistle-blowing’ are in line with current policy.
Please view our Safer Recruitment Policy, Low-Level Concerns Policy and Confidential Reporting Code located in our School Policies section.
Staff Training
- Staff are trained in child protection issues and they are aware of the procedures to follow.
- Staff are encouraged to be vigilant in order to maintain the safety of our children.
- All Staff & Volunteers are given a copy of our Staff Handbook, ‘Visitors and Volunteers Policy’ and are directed to the document ‘KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE IN EDUCATION’
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education–2
Information Sharing
We have an obligation to obtain necessary information from parents in advance of a child being admitted to school, including:
- emergency contact numbers;
- the child’s special dietary requirements, preferences or food allergies the child may have;
- the child’s special health requirements;
- information about who has legal contact with the child; and who has parental responsibility for the child.
Written parental permission is requested, at the time of the child’s admission to the provision, to the seeking of any necessary emergency medical advice or treatment in the future.
PARENTS & CARERS MUST TELL US OF ANY CHANGES TO THESE DETAILS.
We take confidentiality very seriously. Any information which we hold is treated as confidential and shared on a ‘need-to-know’ basis.
Please view our Data Protection Policy located in our School Policies section.
Links with External Agencies
Our first concern is the well-being of your child and there may be occasions when we have to consult other agencies before we contact you. The procedures we have to follow have been laid down in accordance with the local authority child protection procedures.
We are fortunate to be supported by a range of external agencies which can be called upon to support the work we do in school. These include School Nurse, Health Practitioners, Educational Psychology, Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services, Behaviour Support, Social Services and Specialists in supporting Special Educational Needs.
Reporting Concerns and Complaints
We have in place a school complaints policy. This enables children, staff and carers to report anything they feel is of concern. This policy is located in our School Policies section.
Concerns should be raised in the following order.
- To the Class Teacher. Then, if there is no resolution;
- To the Head Teacher. Then, if there is no resolution;
- To the Chair of Governors. Then, if there is no resolution;
- To the Local Authority.
Contact details are available from the School Office.
Parents and carers can also access information regarding concerns for a child by clicking on the Durham Local Safeguarding Children Board below:
This site also provides useful links on areas such as how to keep children safe from Child Sexual Exploitation Barnardos leaflet on CSE for parents and other useful Information for parents about Facebook; Information to parents about Google; Information to parents about Instagram and Information to parents about Snapchat
Review of Policy and Practice
In order to ensure that best practice is maintained, our policies are reviewed at least annually to incorporate the latest statutory guidance.
Our Key Policies detailed below can be found in our School Policies section.
- Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy
- School Complaints Policy
- Data Protection Policy
- E-Safety Policy
- Prevent Policy
- Safer Recruitment Policy
- Social Networking Policy
- Security Policy
Safeguarding Links for Parents
PREVENT parent pamphlet on the Prevent strategy PDF
Please also click on our Online Safety Information link, which has some useful hints and tips for parents and carers to help keep our children safe. If you would like any further information or have any concerns or queries regarding Safeguarding issues, please contact the school .
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