Safeguarding children is at the heart of all we do. The school has extensive policies and practices to safeguard children and ensure they can feel safe, secure and valued at school. Any issues related to safeguarding should be brought immediately to the attention of the Designated Safeguarding Lead Professionals, Mrs. Claire Woolley, Mr. Alex McLaren, Mrs. Cathy Amos-Simpson or Mrs. Alex Duckett.

One of the main elements of safeguarding is Child Protection, and this is something that we take very seriously. However, there are many more aspects to safeguarding in school: awareness of online safety and cyber-bullying (see Parents section); maintaining a safe site; keeping the children healthy; valuing diversity; ensuring risk is well assessed and managed; safe recruitment of staff and managing behaviour issues are just a few. The scope of safeguarding is evolving all the time, and we work hard to make sure our practice reflects this and that staff training and professional development keeps pace with knowledge, understanding and updates in relation to safeguarding children.

In this section you will find policies and documents that outline our approach to safeguarding, and other materials that you may find informative.

If you have a safeguarding concern please speak to one of our Designated Safeguarding Leads or contact the office on 02476543751.

PREVENT DUTY

 We committed to providing a secure environment for pupils, where children feel safe and are kept safe. All adults in our school recognise that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility irrespective of the role they undertake or whether their role has direct contact or responsibility for children or not. 

Prevent is a Government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorist or extremist causes. The Prevent strategy covers all types of terrorism and extremism, including the extreme right wing, violent Islamic groups and other causes. 

How Prevent strategy applies to schools?

From July 2015 all schools (as well as other organisations) have a duty to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism.

This means we have a responsibility to protect children from extremist and violent views the same way we protect them from drugs or gang violence.

Importantly, we can provide a safe place for pupils to discuss these issues so they better understand how to protect themselves.

What does this mean in practice?

Many of the things we already do in school to help children become positive, happy members of society also contribute to the Prevent strategy.

These include: 

• • • Exploring other cultures and religions and promoting diversity
    • Challenging prejudices and racist comments
    • Learning how to resolve conflict peacefully, for example with a mediated discussion
    • Developing thinking skills and a strong, positive self-identity
    • Building confidence and the ability to form their own opinions
    • Giving children the opportunity to discuss controversial issues in a safe environment
    • Promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils
    • Establishing a culture based on our School Values
    • Learning about how to stay safe online and what to do if you come across something you don’t like
    • Teaching and promoting the four ‘British Values’:
      • Democracy
      • The rule of law
      • Individual liberty
      • Mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs

We will also protect children from the risk of radicalisation, for example by using filters on the internet to make sure they can’t access extremist and terrorist material, or by vetting visitors who come into school to work with pupils.