Safeguarding our pupils and staff is our utmost priority. Our policies and procedures that we have in school are all to be located in the Our School, Key Information, Policies section on the website (yellow tab).
What is safeguarding?
Safeguarding means that:
- Children are protected from mistreatment
- A child’s health/development is protected
- Children grow up with safe and effective care
- Action is taken to ensure the best outcomes for all children
Safeguarding is the action we take to promote the welfare of children in our care and protect them from harm.
We take this very seriously.
Child protection
Child protection promotes the rights and welfare of all children keeping them safe from harm. All schools have a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and Deputy DSLs. These members of staff are your first port of call if you have any concerns/worries. They are also responsible for speaking to parents if concerns arise and making referrals to Children’s Services with, or without, parental permission.
If you have any concerns about a child in our school, you should report this to a member of staff immediately. If you feel that a pupil is at risk or is the subject of abuse or neglect you must contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead or inform one of our office team and they will seek out the relevant person to assist you.
Please report anything that concerns you no matter how minor it seems.
Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL)
These are members of staff who offer advice and support to anyone reporting a concern, pass on concerns to relevant authorities and keep records secure.
DSL Lead and Headteacher — Mrs Shaw
Deputy DSL and Assistant Head — Mrs Taylor
Deputy DSL and Home School Link Worker, Mental Health Lead and ELSA — Mrs Hull
If you have any concerns about a child in our school, please contact any of our DSLs who will be happy to help.
Allegations against staff
Please report directly to the Headteacher, Penny Shaw.
If the allegation is against the Headteacher, contact the LADO 01962 876364 or Chair of Governors via the school office.
Visitors
We welcome visitors to our school. Our priority is to ensure our school remains a safe place for our children, staff and all other members of our school community. Anyone who visits our school must comply with our safeguarding procedures.
If you have any concerns, please make us aware, we will always listen and seek to address them.
Safer Recruitment
When recruiting new staff, at least one member of the interview panel must hold a Safer Recruitment certificate. Senior Leaders including governors hold this certificate.
Photographs and camera phones
We understand that parents/carers like to take photos and videos of their children in school
plays, at sports day and celebrations. This is a part of normal family life and we do not discourage parents from celebrating their child’s success. If you would like to upload any photographs of your children at schools events, please remember that only your own child should be in the picture. We have some children who cannot, for safety reasons, be photographed. If visitors come into school to make videos or take photographs for use outside the e.g. The Navy News, we will seek specific parental consent. Any children who bring a mobile phone into school will be asked to hand their phone into the school office at the beginning of the day and collect it at the end.
Resources for parents/carers
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
The NSPCC website has useful and user-friendly resources to support families in educating their children about keeping safe.
Visit their website at www.nspcc.org.uk
Hampshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (HSCP)
Supporting Young People Online: A free guide created by Childnet providing advice and information for parents/carers on how they can support young people online. The advice is available in 12 additional languages.
www.childnet.com/resources/supporting-young-people-online
A Parent’s Guide to Technology: A guide to empower parents with the knowledge they need
to support their children.
www.saferinternet.org.uk/parent-tech
Young People and Social Networking Sites:
Helps parents understand how to enjoy the sites safely and minimise risks.
Internet Parental Controls: BT, Sky, Talk Talk and Virgin Media provide parents with free parental controls.
www.saferinternet.org.uk/parental-controls
KidSMART: Fun activities and practical advice.
https://www.childnet.com/young-people/primary
Elson Junior School Website Online Safety Page:
Elson Junior School Online Safety