Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families and carers has a role to play in safeguarding children. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all professionals should make sure their approach is child-centred. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child.
Safeguarding includes the establishment and implementation of procedures to protect children from deliberate harm, however, safeguarding also encompasses all aspects of pupils’ health, safety and well-being.
Sharow CE Primary School is committed to ensuring the welfare and safety of all children in school and all our staff, governors and volunteers have Child Protection training.
All North Yorkshire schools, including Sharow CE Primary School, follow the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership procedures. The school will, in most circumstances, endeavour to discuss all concerns with parents about their child/ren. However, there may be exceptional circumstances when the school will discuss concerns with Social Care and/or the Police without parental knowledge (in accordance with Child Protection procedures). The school will, of course, always aim to maintain a positive relationship with all parents. The school’s child protection policy is available publicly.
SCHOOL COMMITMENT
The Designated Safeguarding Lead is Jacqui Palmer
and the person who deputises in her absence is: Gemma Snodgrass
The Safeguarding Governor is: Jonathan Redhead
School is committed to Safeguarding and Promoting the Welfare of all of its pupils. Each pupil’s welfare is of paramount importance. We recognise that some children may be especially vulnerable to abuse e.g. those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (ref. KCSiE para 107), those living in adverse circumstances. We recognise that children who are abused or neglected may find it difficult to develop a sense of self-worth and to view the world in a positive way. Whilst at school, their behaviour may be challenging. We recognise that some children who have experienced abuse may harm others. We will always take a considered and sensitive approach in order that we can support all of our pupils.
PREVENT
As part of Sharow CE Primary School’s ongoing safeguarding and child protection duties we are fully behind the government’s Prevent Strategy.
From 1 July 2015 all schools are subject to a duty under section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, in the exercise of their functions, to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. This duty is known as the Prevent Duty for Schools.
At our school we build pupils’ resilience to radicalisation by promoting fundamental British values and enabling our pupils to challenge extremist views.
The statutory guidance refers to the importance of Prevent awareness training to equip staff to identify children at risk of being drawn into terrorism and to challenge extremist ideas. All our staff and Governors have completed Prevent training on what Prevent is about and how to deal with any issues they may see inside or outside school.
FIRST AID
All staff have first aid training and we will deal with minor accidents and injuries.
HEALTH AND WELFARE
Please inform the school if your child has any specific problems or difficulties e.g. allergies, dietary problems etc.
Staff can only administer prescribed and named medication which needs to be taken during school hours and parents must complete an authorisation form. Please request one from the school office.
Please ensure that school is informed of any changes to contact and emergency details.
DOMESTIC ABUSE
Our school is part of Operation Encompass.
Operation Encompass is a national police and education early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children and young people who experience Domestic Violence and Abuse and which is in place in every police force in England and Wales.
Children were recognised as victims of domestic abuse in their own right in the 2021 Domestic Abuse Act.
Operation Encompass means that the police will share information with our school about all police attended Domestic Abuse incidents which involve any of our children PRIOR to the start of the next school day.
Once a Key Adult (DSL) has completed the online Operation Encompass Key Adult training they will cascade the principles of Operation Encompass to all other school staff and Governors
Our DSL undertook training on 9.12.22