Safeguarding
- Lauren Cousin - Designating Safeguarding Lead
- Francesca McCoulough
- Megan Haley
At St Wilfrid's, we take the safeguarding of children very seriously. We have a strong culture of safeguarding and all staff are aware that safeguarding is important.
We make sure that children feel happy and safe and that all children know they can speak to a member of staff if they have any worries or concerns.
We pride ourselves on strong relationships and we work very closely with outside professionals to ensure that relevant support is provided. We work closely with Social Care, Family Services, health visitors and other schools.
Any decisions that we make we make in regard to children and keeping them safe is spoken about with parents as we are here to support families.
You can find our school’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy for more information. This can be found in the policies section on the school website and also at the bottom of this page.
If you have a Safeguarding Concern
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and everyone has a role to play. If you have a concern about a young person or adult, you will find all relevant information about what to do and forms at https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/care/safeguarding/childrens-mashThe Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) is the single point of contact for all professionals to report safeguarding concerns.
If a child is in immediate danger or is at risk of serious significant harm, you should contact the Police (999) and refer to MASH as soon as possible.
Further information is available at the Nottingham Children's Partnership website.https://nscp.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/
Alternatively, you can call ChildLine for advice on 0800 1111 or email them by visiting www.childline.org.uk
Health and safety
The school follows our Health and Safety Policy, which is also monitored by a school governor. The Local Authority provide an inspection service and we use their monitoring checklist to ensure we are compliant with all Health and Safety responsibilities. The headteacher, school business manager and governors oversee this comprehensive list. Any concerns from staff are reported to any of the above and an initial examination takes place immediately, assessing what remedial action needs to take place.
On a Termly basis, there are drills to practice efficient evacuation e.g fire, and lock-down procedures. We conduct regular Fire Risk Assessments. There is also an Emergency Plan that details what staff and parents/carers should do in the case of emergencies.
First aid
We have trained members of staff, designated to oversee first aid, including paediatric first aid. First aid kits are situated around school. Where there is any cause for concern, staff deal with children with the utmost sensitivity. Whenever necessary, parents/carers will be contacted or asked to come into school immediately so that they are part of the decision making process for such matters. In the case of an emergency, the school will call for emergency treatment first before contacting the parent.
The school has a Pupil with Medical Conditions Policy and an Intimate Care Standard which can be found on the policies page of the website.
Road safety
We encourage all pupils and staff to consider their means of travel to school. This will include walking, car sharing and the use of public transport. Parents/carers are asked to be considerate of others when bringing their child to school by car and park. The safety of our children as they travel to and from school, is a key priority for us all.
Attendance
Excellent attendance is expected of all children. However, in the event that a child is unwell parents are asked to report absence by 9:15am on the first day.
Please see the attendance page on the website for more information.
Appointment and induction of staff and work placements
All staff appointed to work in school have a criminal records search called a DBS check. This search highlights people who have a criminal record or if previous allegations have been made against them. If any member of staff is found to have a criminal record, the appointment is reconsidered by the headteacher and the Governing Body. The LA is informed directly by the Disclosure and Barring Service.
The headteacher has undertaken relevant Safer Recruitment training and sits on appointment panels where the candidates are external applicants. Newly appointed staff are assigned a mentor for their induction period. It is the responsibility of the mentors to familiarise new staff with procedures, policies and safeguarding practices, which affect the health and safety of all at school, especially the children. We have a comprehensive Induction Checklist provided by the Local Authority for all new staff members.
Welcoming visitors
All staff have a responsibility to ensure that visitors to the school are properly welcomed and managed safely within school. All staff are aware of our visitor guidance found on our sign-in portal which applies to all visitors equally, including VIPs.
This includes, for example, information that all volunteers must also have DBS clearance. For any extended contact with children, when children may be left alone with an adult, or when an adult visitor may be in and around the school building, a full DBS search will be conducted. Visitors who do not yet have clearance will under no circumstance be left alone with a child or group of children.
We confirm that all visitors with a professional role e.g. visiting teachers or theatre groups have relevant clearance. Students who work within our school community also have their DBS clearance confirmed. Anyone who spends time in school without this confirmation will be accompanied at all times.
The design of the curriculum
The curriculum deals with safeguarding in two key ways.
Firstly, the curriculum - through cross-curricular topics and planning around Relationships, Health and Sex Education - discusses relevant and topical issues with the children. Specific topics include such themes as Drugs, Sex and Relationships, Stranger Danger and E-Safety. These are taught through our RHE curriculum. To find out more, please visit our curriculum page. Children are encouraged to explore and discuss these issues together and with their teachers and teaching partners. We also discuss a wide range of issues around safety and wellbeing on a very regular basis in worships and in the classroom, for example, with the NSPCC, teaching the children how to 'speak out and stay safe', teaching children how to stay safe in the sun and with children in kS2 learning how to stay safe as they grow older with the DaART programme, alongside key RSHE learning.
Secondly, the curriculum is designed so that safety issues within the subject are discussed and safe practices taught, such as using equipment properly in PE and Design and Technology. At all times there has to be appropriate staffing levels and when the curriculum is taken out of school, appropriate and agreed pupil/adult ratios are maintained. The lead adult always assesses visits as to the level of risk and all trips are authorised by the head teacher.
The mental health and wellbeing of our pupils, staff and local community are at the heart of all we do at St Wilfrid's, and we recognise the importance of promoting positive mental health through supporting those who need it and the implications this has within safeguarding our pupils, too. Termly surveys enable us to understand how our pupils are feeling and put in place interventions and external service support as required. We also have a designated care team of staff, including 2 trained ELSAs (Mrs Streets and Mrs Morton).
Trips and Visits
All activities beyond the school grounds are signed off by the Headteacher and the Educational Visits Coordinator and we use Nottinghamshire County Council Outdoor Education Advisor facility 'Evolve' for supporting us with the provision and implementation of health and safety procedures, guidance and specific advice, offering:
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guidance for working with children on the safe management of school visits and off site learning (based on good practice and legal requirement)
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production of generic risk assessments
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training in the management of schools visits and off site learning
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provision of a web based storage and approval system - Evolve
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provision of an advisory service
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formally approving all higher risk activities as in compliance with Local Authority Standards
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monitoring of system use, school procedures and external visits.
E-Safety
Children should be encouraged to use the internet, but at all times in a safe way. Pupils must never be left unattended whilst online and teachers should ensure that this does not happen. If any adult or child suspects misuse, either by a teacher or child, the issue must be reported to the head teacher without delay.
Disability equality scheme and equal opportunities
We work to ensure that everyone is treated fairly. All children are given equal access to the school and its curriculum and all are considered equal in the learning partnership. When children have special needs, we make arrangements to inform parents/carers and design specific programmes. We ensure that the outcomes for all groups of children allow them to reach their full potential. Children with physical needs and disabilities must be able to take a full and active part in every lesson and activity, and every measure is taken to ensure this.
Behaviour
Good behaviour is essential in any community and we have high expectations. Our policy shows our strong emphasis on positive approaches, but also our clear boundaries in responding to behaviour choices that threaten the learning, wellbeing or safety of others.
Anti-bullying
The school’s response to bullying is unequivocal. We do not tolerate bullying in our school community, and as soon as we are aware of an issue we act promptly and effectively.
Adults must be informed immediately and action will be taken. If any child tells us that they feel they are being bullied, they know that we will support them and deal with the problem very quickly. Although bullying in this school is rare, the school always acts swiftly with a process of investigation, communication and action.
At St Wilfrid's we have taken a sensible, balanced approach to photography and filming, which allows parents/carers to photograph and video, providing they follow certain guidelines: Parents/carers taking photographs are advised in advance of all school events that photographs must be for their own use within their families, and are not to be used on any social media.
Image consent
We sometimes use images of children, both on our website, social media pages and in press releases. However parents/carers are given the option at intake to refuse use of their child's image. Parents/carers can change their preferences at anytime by requesting a consent form from the office.
Whistleblowing
If members of staff ever have any concerns about people working within the school, paid or unpaid, they have a professional duty to inform the headteacher or Governing body accordingly. This can be done in writing or verbally. Staff should be prepared to discuss issues in the confidence that any such matter will be dealt with sensitively and with the highest appropriate level of confidentiality.
Children Looked After
Our designated teacher responsible for Children Looked After is Miss Lauren Cousin. She will lead PEP meetings, liaise with social workers and Virtual Schools.
How can families help with keeping children safe?
- Make sure all addresses and contact numbers are up to date;
- If someone different is picking your child up, please let us know;
- Be at school on time every day, both before and after school.
- Notify the school about your child’s absence – unexplained absences are a key trigger for concern.
Safety online
To help your child stay safe online, we encourage you to visit the CEOP (Child Exploitation and Child Protection) and the NSPCC websites to build knowledge of how to stay safe online. This website has lots of fun activities from which children can gain vital information on staying safe.
Please click the links below to access these websites:
Child-Friendly Search Engines
Swiggle is a child-friendly search engine from the Online Safety experts at SWGfL. Designed to make searching the internet for images or content more than just a bit hit and miss. Swiggle can be used on computers at school, and at home.
Asthma Friendly School
This recognition highlights our commitment to creating a safe and health environment for every student, especially those living with asthma. We are taking steps to ensure every breath is a safe one!
