Safeguarding Children Statement 2024-25

"It could happen here."

Safeguarding is everyone's business. We recognise our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all pupils. We make every effort to provide an environment in which children and adults feel safe, secure, valued and respected, and feel confident to talk if they are worried, believing they will be effectively listened to.

Our staff are trained to look out for signs of abuse or neglect. They are required to report these to the Designated Safeguarding Lead and follow clear procedures to implement our safeguarding objective to ensure children receive effective support, protection and justice. Our pupils are made aware of the adults they can talk to if they have any concerns and any matters reported are taken seriously.

We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow our procedures to ensure children receive effective support, protection and justice. Child protection forms part of the school's safeguarding responsibilities.  We expect all staff, governors and volunteers to share this commitment to safeguarding our pupils.

We follow the Lincolnshire County Council Safeguarding procedures and have a number of policies and procedures in place which contribute to our safeguarding commitment, including our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy. A copy of this policy is available on our website. We actively support the government’s Prevent agenda.

The purpose of this policy is to provide staff, volunteers and governors with the framework they need in order to keep children safe and secure in our school. This policy is kept under constant review and revised when necessary to reflect  developing safeguarding concerns.  It is reinforced by regular training and updates for staff. The policy also informs parents and carers about how they will safeguard their children whilst they are in our care.

We regularly review the effectiveness of our safeguarding procedures within both the senior leadership team and Local Governing Body of the school.

If you are concerned about a child’s welfare, please record your concern, and any observations or conversation heard, and report to one of the DSLs as soon as possible on the same day.

 

Designated Safeguarding Leaders (DSL's)

Our DSL’s attend regular training to keep up to date with all issues relating to child protection and safeguarding.  We follow the Lincolnshire County Council Safeguarding procedures and the school has tight procedures that record issues that relate to child protection. We work with an array of agencies including Social Services and the Police. Additional updates and training are given to staff as needed throughout the year. 

 

Vetting Procedures:

All members on the school staff have to have a DBS check (Disclosure and Barring Service) in order to work in school. This is regardless of the employee’s role - all members of staff are checked. In addition all volunteers and anybody who has regular contact with children are checked. Visitors to the school either provide their own DBS on arrival or are members of professional bodies who are registered by their employer, such as OFSTED inspectors or Local Authority Employees. Any one off visitor, such as a visiting author either provides their own DBS or signs one of the school’s Occasional Visitors’ forms. Parents who help out occasionally on school trips sign an Occasional Visitors’ form.

 

Risk Assessments:

Whilst we cannot remove risk, we look at ways of minimising that risk. These risk assessments are undertaken on areas such as classrooms, halls and playground. We carry out risk assessments for all school trips (inc. residentials which are sent to the Local Authority for approval). Risk assessments may be carried out for individuals who require some reasonable adjustments to support their learning and behaviour. This means that whist we cannot remove risk we have looked at ways of minimising that risk. These risk assessments are undertaken on areas such as classrooms, halls and playground.

 

Security:

Staff have access to the gates by lock codes. Visitors can only gain access by authorised by staff. All fire exits are bar push exits.

 

Equality:

The school has an Equality policy that monitors any possible discrimination in the school in relation to any of the nine protected characteristics (Equality Act 2010). The School also makes annual returns on any racist incidents.