At Nettlesworth Primary School, we regard the safeguarding of children as our main priority. We believe that we all have the right to be happy, to be safe and to learn; we all have the responsibility to make this happen.
We will ensure that:
- the welfare of the child remains paramount;
- all children whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious beliefs and/ or sexual identity have the right to be protected from harm;
- all suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately;
- all staff and volunteers working at our school have a responsibility to report concerns to the designated leads for Safeguarding: Mrs Lee (Head Teacher) and Mr Graham (Deputy Head Teacher). Our One Point Advisor: Susan Barker has Expert Safeguarding Children Level 3 Training. Mrs Aspinall is also Level 2 trained and responsible for E-Safety.
Areas of Safeguarding
Our safeguarding policies cover all areas of school life and include:
- staff & visitors- ensuring they are vetted, informed & trained;
- children’s behaviour- promoting safer & happier behaviours & lifestyles;
- parents & carers- promoting links & supporting families;
- premises -keeping them safe, pleasant & fit for purpose;
- curriculum -providing positive, life affirming learning experiences;
- outside School- ensuring safer activities and environments outside school;
- school security.
Members of Staff Responsible
We are all responsible for ensuring that each child remains safe, however the Designated Leads for Safeguarding are Mrs Lee (Head Teacher) and Mr Graham (Deputy Head Teacher). Mrs Aspinall is also Level 2 trained and is responsible for online safety
Safeguarding Governor
Our Governors for Safeguarding and Child Protection are Mr Aaron O’Roarty and Mrs Diana Barclay, who can be contacted in confidence by calling school on 0191 3710444 or by emailing concerns to p2116.admin@durhamlearning.net
Safer Recruitment
We follow strict procedures to ensure that everyone who works with our children is vetted, keeping our children as safe as possible. Ongoing checks and ‘whistle-blowing’ are in line with current policy. Members of our governing body from the personal committee have also completed Safer Recruitment training.
Staff Training
All staff are:
- trained in child protection issues and they are aware of the procedures to follow;
- encouraged to be vigilant in order to maintain the safety of our children;
- are aware of the document ‘KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE IN EDUCATION 2023’. This applies to volunteers too. This document is located in the staffroom and school office.
Safeguarding/Theme Assemblies and Rights Respecting/UNCRC Assemblies
At Nettlesworth Primary School, children will have a 20 minute safeguarding workshop/assembly once a week based around themes/topics and where links can be made in the national curriculum. Themes include E-Safety, Anti-Bullying, On-line Research, Stranger Danger, Behaviour, Dangers, Road Safety, Drugs, Smoking, Alcohol, Water and Fire Safety, Mental Health Awareness, Criminal and Sexual Exploitation, Cyber Bullying and Extremism.
Nettlesworth Primary School Safeguarding/Theme Workshop/Assemblies
Our Rights Respecting/UNCRC workshops include many of these issues as well as disability, religion, culture, diversity providing children with a strong moral compass embedded by the principles of the United Nation’s Conventions on the Rights of the Child.
Child Protection with Safeguarding Policy
All staff have an up-to-date understanding of safeguarding children issues and are able to implement the safeguarding children policy and procedure appropriately. Policies are in line with current guidance and procedures.
Staff are able to respond appropriately to any:
- significant changes in children’s behaviour;
- deterioration in their general well-being;
- unexplained bruising, marks or signs of possible abuse;
- signs of neglect;
- comments children make which give cause for concern.
All staff are aware of the need to maintain privacy and confidentiality
- KCSIE Safeguarding School Policy September 2024
- Appendix 1 Summary of Multi Agency Meetings
- Appendix 2 Prevent Referral Flow Chart
- Additional Safeguarding Guidance – A response to COVID 19 update
- Additional Safeguarding Guidance – A response to COVID 19 jan 21 update
- Low level concerns policy – Sept 24
- Online Safety Policy – Sept 24
- DCC Recruitment and Selection Policy 2022-2024
- Durham LA Confidential Reporting Code Sep 2023-2025
- Prevent Policy Feb 2024
Information Sharing
We have an obligation to obtain necessary information from parents in advance of a child being admitted to school, including:
- emergency contact numbers;
- the child’s special dietary requirements, preferences or food allergies the child may have;
- the child’s special health requirements including any necessary medication.
- information about who has legal contact with the child; and who has parental responsibility for the child.
Written parental permission is requested, at the time of the child’s admission to the provision, to the seeking of any necessary emergency medical advice or treatment in the future.
IT IS VITAL THAT PARENTS & CARERS TELL US OF ANY CHANGES TO THESE DETAILS.
We take confidentiality very seriously. Any information which we hold is treated as confidential and shared on a ‘need-to-know’ basis.
Parents are required to provide details of more than one emergency contact, as of September 2018.
Links with External Agencies
Because our first concern must be the well-being of your child, there may be occasions when we have to consult other agencies before we contact you. The procedures we have to follow have been laid down in accordance with the local authority child protection procedures.
We are fortunate to be supported by a range of external agencies which can be called upon to support the work we do in school. These include School Nurse, Health Practitioners, Educational Psychology, Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services, Behaviour Support, Social Services and Specialists in supporting Special Educational Needs.
Reporting Concerns or Complaints
Further to the above procedures, we have in place a concerns and complaints policy. This enables children, staff and carers to report anything they feel is of concern.
Concerns should be raised in the following order.
- To the Class Teacher. Then, if there is no resolution;
- To the Head Teacher. Then, if there is no resolution;
- To the Chairman of Governors. Then, if there is no resolution;
- To the Local Authority.
Contact details are available from the school office on 0191 3710444
Review of Policy and Practice
In order to ensure that best practice is maintained, our policies are reviewed regularly to incorporate the latest statutory guidance as it emerges.
If you would like more information on safeguarding, please get in touch with school on 0191 3710444 for all our policies or view the policies section on our website.