Safeguarding

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility

Safeguarding children is multi-faceted and the role that schools play in keeping children safe is varied and diverse. When we say the words “safeguarding” or “child protection”, we might immediately think about responding to abuse, contextual issues such as child criminal exploitation, or we may think of the in-school systems we have in place for noticing and reporting concerns, our policies or school training. There are key tenets that are the “cornerstones” of safeguarding – training, policy, multi-agency working, for example.

One of these key areas, which is a core responsibility (and safeguarding cornerstone) of any organisation working with children, is “safer working practice”. Essentially, this means doing everything we can to establish environments and cultures where children are safe from all forms of harm, including harm perpetrated by those who should be working to keep them safe.

Witney Community Primary School and Nursery is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This means that we have a Child Protection Policy and safeguarding procedures in place. We undertake rigorous checks on all staff and volunteers who work in our school and maintain a central record documenting these. Staff involved in recruitment and selection of employees are trained in safer recruitment, and all our staff and volunteers undertake in-house Child Protection training. All staff (including supply staff, volunteers and governors) must ensure that they are aware of these procedures. Parents and carers are welcome to read the policies related to safeguarding in our 'School Policies' area of the website.

Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a child’s welfare. We will ensure that our concerns about our pupils are discussed with his/her parents/carers first unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child’s welfare.

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is:

Mark Peacey Headteacher

Our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSLs) are:

Heidi Bridges-Martin Home School Link Worker

Sam Hudson-Shaw Deputy Headteacher

Lindsay Croston Assistant Headteacher

Emily Taylor Reception and Nursery Lead

Charlotte Stringfellow SENCO

Our safeguarding governor:

Rachel Crouch

Crouch

If you are concerned about a child’s welfare, please record your concern, and any observations or conversation heard, and report to the DSL or one of the DDSLs as soon as possible the same day. Do NOT conduct your own investigation.

If your concerns relate to the actions or behaviour of a member of staff (which could suggest that they are unsuitable to work with children) then you should report this to one of the DSL or one of the DDSLs in confidence, who will refer the matter to the Headteacher (or the Chair of Governors if the concern relates to the Headteacher) – who will consider what action to take.

If you have a concern about a child and are unable to contact school, please call MASH on 0345 050 7666 Outside office hours call the Emergency Duty Team on 0800 833 408

Safeguarding Documents

Keeping-children-safe-in-education-2023-statutory-guidance-for-schools-and-colleges.pdf

Safeguarding-POLICY-2023-2024-01.08.23.pdf

Online-Safety-Policy-22-23-Speak-Out-Stay-Safe.pdf

HBM-Safeguarding-leaflet-WCP.docx-1.pdf

advice-for-parents-and-carers-on-cyberbullying.pdf

Keeping-your-child-safe-online-A-checklist-for-parents-and-carers.pdf

Think-U-Know-Raising-Awareness-for-Parents-and-Carers-1.pdf

Operation Encompass Safeguarding Statement

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) and their deputy/ies (DDSLs) have attended either an Operation Encompass briefing or completed the online Operation Encompass Key Adult training they will cascade the principles of Operation Encompass to all other school staff and Governors. All schools staff and Governors can undertake the online training.

Our DSL undertook training in November 2022

Our Home School Link Worker undertook training in November 2022

Our Safeguarding Governor undertook training in November 2022

2 members of staff have completed the training in November 2022.

Our parents are fully aware that we are an Operation Encompass school and we ensure that when a new child joins our school the parents/carers are informed about Operation Encompass.

The Operation Encompass information is stored in line with all other confidential safeguarding and child protection information.

As a staff we have discussed how we can support our children who are experiencing Domestic Violence and Abuse on a day-to-day basis and particularly following the Operation Encompass notification. We have used the Operation Encompass Handbooks to inform our thinking.

We are aware that we must do nothing that puts the child/ren or the non-abusing adult at risk.

The Safeguarding Governor will report on Operation Encompass in the termly report to Governors. All information is anonymised for these reports.

We have used the Operation Encompass Key Adult Responsibilities checklist to ensure that all appropriate actions have been taken by the school.

When Head Teacher, DSL or DDSLs leave the school and other staff are appointed, they will ensure that all Operation Encompass log in details are shared with the new Head Teacher /Key Adults and that the new member of staff will undertake the Operation Encompass online training.

Operation Encompass Parent Poster

OE Parents Poster

Online Safety

Digital Resilience Toolkit: 6 – 10 year olds - Internet Matters

The internet can be a dangerous place, especially for kids. This guide informs you about the potential dangers and instructs you on how to prevent them.

The Ultimate Parent Guide for Protecting Your Child on the Internet

Learning about online safety at home (ThinkUKnow)

ThinkUKnow has created a page to support parents and young people online. The site includes home activity packs with simple 15-minute activities that support children's understanding of online safety at a time.

There is also parent support information for primary and secondary age groups.

The resources can be found here

Be SMART: Online Safety Video Lessons for 6 - 9 year olds (Childnet)

Childnet has released six new easy-to-follow videos for parents and children to work through together. The 10 - 15 minute videos offer simple, clear online safety advice using fun activities, games and discussion. There are optional follow-up activities to extend children's learning.