Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School
Safeguarding Policy
This policy has been developed in the spirit and context of our Mission Statement
“Love one another as I have loved you”
The following definition of safeguarding is taken from ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’, April 2014-
protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of children’s health or development; ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.
At Our Lady’s, the health and safety of all children is of paramount importance. Parents send their children to school each day with the expectation that school provides a secure environment in which their children can flourish. Our Lady’s therefore has to ensure that this expectation becomes a reality. In order to do this a wide range of measures are put in place.
The Health and Safety Policy
· The school has a Health and Safety policy, which is monitored by the General Purposes committee of the Governing Body.
· The Headteacher, the Caretaker and the Governors with responsibility for Health and Safety oversee all aspects. Regular training is provided for staff. Any concerns from staff are reported to any of the above and an initial examination is carried out, assessing what action needs to take place.
· Health and Safety is a regular agenda item at each School Council meeting.
· Each term there is a fire drill that practises efficient evacuation from the buildings. The school conducts an annual Fire Risk Assessment. The Caretaker carries out a weekly test of the Fire Alarm.
· There is also a Critical Incident plan that details what staff should do in the case of emergencies.
· In addition to the Health and Safety Policy there are Safe Working Practice files which cover a range of school situations.
First Aid
· In school there are always members of staff who have First Aid qualifications, who oversee general first aid. All staff have completed basic first aid training and use of defibrillator. There are a number of first aid kits situated around school. Each classroom has its own First Aid bag, and there are kits available in the staffroom and by the KS2 door. The Mid-day Assistants also carry small First Aid kits. When a child is ill, or has suffered an accident in school or on the playground there is a protocol for staff to follow.
1. A trained first aider is consulted.
2. The incident is recorded on a green form and sent to the office.
3. For head injuries a Head Note is issued. If the accident occurs at lunchtime it is the responsibility of the MDAs to inform class teachers, and issue a sticker (younger pupils).
4. If there is any doubt at all, a parent is contacted.
· Should a child require medication during the school day, then parents are welcome to come to school to administer it.
· Alternatively, a Request to Administer Medication form must be completed by parents, and a record kept of medication administered. Mrs Szczepanek has completed training on the administration of medication in schools.
· Any medication needed to support medical needs is stored in a locked cabinet in the office.
· For matters of an intimate nature, staff are informed to deal with a child with utmost sensitivity and always to seek guidance from the Headteacher or Deputy. Please refer to the Intimate Care Policy for further details.
Site security
· Our Lady’s provides a secure site, but the site is only as secure as the people who use it. Therefore all people on the site have to adhere to the rules. Carelessness can cause potential problems to safeguarding. Therefore –
- Gates should be locked except at the start and end of each day.
- Doors should be closed to prevent intrusion but to allow for smooth exits.
- The hall door is kept locked to prevent unwanted intrusion, and all staff have key fobs to enter the building. The main office and Headteacher’s room are entered using a key fob.
- Visitors, volunteers and students must only enter through the main entrance and after signing in at the office window and receiving a Visitor’s badge.
- Children will only be allowed home with adults with parental responsibility or confirmed permission.
- Children should never be allowed to leave school alone during school hours, and if collected by an adult, signed out at the office window.
- School staff must wear identity badges at all times.
· Should a child leave the school premises without permission, all staff have been informed never to chase after a child, but rather to report immediately to the office and evoke the ‘Missing Child’ Policy.
· Staff must challenge any unknown person not wearing a visitor’s badge.
· Should a child go missing during the school day, then the Missing Child Policy is put into operation.
Attendance
· Excellent attendance is expected of all children, but when children are unwell parents are expected to confirm absence by telephone immediately. Parents are regularly reminded to phone school on the first day of absence through Newsletters etc. If there is no notification school has a policy of phoning home/texting parents each day at 9.30 am to ascertain each child’s whereabouts.
· The school works closely with the Local Authority’s Attendance Officer whenever a child’s attendance and punctuality causes concern. Attendance rates are monitored by the school and the LA and reported annually to DfE and to all parents in their child’s end of year report. Letters are sent regularly to parents of those children whose attendance gives cause for concern, and meetings are set up with the school’s Attendance Officer.
· A class attendance cup is awarded weekly, and individual attendance certificates are awarded termly, and pupils with full year attendance are given a prize.
· Positive measures are in place to encourage children to attend regularly and punctually (“In School and On Time” every day for a week is awarded 2 Praise Points)
· The school is aware of its right to take legal action against parents who do not ensure good attendance and punctuality.
· The school is aware of its responsibilities to monitor the attendance of those pupils who are at risk of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Forced Marriages.
· See Attendance Policy for further details.
· Should any child go missing from the school site during the school day, then the school should evoke the school’s Missing Child Policy.
Appointments of staff and induction of newly appointed staff and work placements
· The school follows the guidance on recruiting staff in ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ April 2014.
· All staff that are 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. This is now completed online. If staff are found to have a criminal record the appointment is reconsidered by the Local Authority, Headteacher and the Personnel Committee of the Governing Body. The LA is informed directly by the Disclosure and Barring Service. Staff also make a Staff Disqualification Declaration and this is included in the Single Central Record. The school’s Single Central Record also holds the Prohibition Order information for teachers.
· Any new member of staff who holds already a Disclosure that has not been requested through Warrington Borough Council may begin work if a Risk Assessment has been carried out.
· All Staff and regular volunteers must renew their DBS every 3 years. It is good practice for all Governors to hold a disclosure from the DBS.
· The Headteacher sits on all appointment panels where the candidates are external applicants. The Headteacher has undertaken the NCSL training on Safer Recruitment. The Administrative Assistant and some members of the Governing Body have also completed this training.
· New staff are given an induction pack which includes a Staff Handbook, a Code of Conduct, Health and Safety Policy, and a Use of Internet Policy.
· Staff are expected to sign and follow the school’s Staff Code of Conduct.
· A guidance document has been drawn up for students on work placement.
· The school keeps its Single Central Record up to date, and this is checked and signed termly by the Headteacher.
Induction of volunteers
· Volunteers must also have Disclosure and Barring Service clearance. For a brief activity, such as a school visit, volunteers may not be left alone with children. For extended contact with children, including Residential Visits, or when children may be left alone with an adult, or when an adult visitor may be in and around the school building, an enhanced 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.
· A guidance document has been prepared for volunteers.
Welcoming visitors
· We check that visitors with a professional role - i.e authors, presenters etc already have relevant clearance and a record of their DBS clearance is taken and added to the Central Record.
· All WBC and NHS staff have undertaken a DBS clearance and wear identification.
Child Protection Policy
· There is a detailed Child Protection Policy and it is the Governing Body’s duty to ensure the policy is reviewed annually and any deficiencies within the policy addressed immediately. All staff have had appropriate child protection training, which is updated every second year. New members of staff have the training within their first term.
· Our school follows the non-statutory guidelines of the DfE’s ‘Use of Reasonable Force’ July 13, which states that reasonable force can be used to prevent pupils from hurting themselves or others, from damaging property, or from causing disorder.
It also states that on no occasion should such physical contact be used as a punishment. Any incident of use of reasonable force must be recorded, using the appropriate forms. Parents do not need to give permission for staff to restrain their child. Where possible, reasonable force should be implemented by a “Team Teach” member of staff.
· All allegations of abuse by or complaints of a teacher will be dealt with following the Local Safeguarding Board procedures. The Chair of the Governing Body should be contacted directly if it is a complaint about the Headteacher.
· The school’s Designated Senior Person for Child Protection is Mrs A Emerton(or Mrs O’Hara in her absence).
The Design of the Curriculum
The curriculum deals with safeguarding in two ways.
· Firstly, the curriculum, in subjects such as Personal, Social and Health Education discusses relevant issues with the children. Topics include such themes as Drugs, Sex and Relationships and Stranger Danger. Children are encouraged to explore and discuss these issues, at an age-appropriate level.
· 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 taking place 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 finally authorised by the Headteacher. Risk Assessment forms are completed for all visits.
· Visiting speakers, with correct clearance, are always welcome into school so that they can give specialist knowledge to the children.
Internet Safety
· Children should be encouraged to use the internet as much as is possible, but at all times in a safe way. Parents are asked each year if they agree to their child using the internet. Pupils must never be left unattended whilst online and teachers should ensure that this does not happen. If teachers know of any misuse, either by a teacher or child the issue should be reported to the Headteacher without delay. E-safety briefings for parents are also held annually.
· All staff are aware of the school’s e-safety policy and have signed the Acceptable Use Policy.
· All internet access is filtered by the LA.
Equal opportunities
· At Our Lady’s we try 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 and design specific programmes.
· Children with disabilities must be able to take a full and active part in every lesson and every measure must be taken to ensure this.
Behaviour policy
· Good behaviour is essential and we have high expectations for this. Although the emphasis is always on the positive, there are also times when children have to be disciplined in order to maintain the safety and security of all children.
· There are numerous rewards available to children –
Stickers
Praise Points
Showing another teacher good work
Book of Stars Certificates
Star of the Week
· But the sanctions range from –
Verbal warnings
Being removed from the class to another teacher
Loss of playtime
Time out zone
Reporting to a senior member of staff
Child telephones home to explain.
Parents are asked to attend a meeting with the Headteacher
Fixed term or permanent exclusion
Anti Bullying Policy and Racial Equality
· We regard bullying and racist behaviour as extremely serious and take firm action against it. We promote the celebration of diversity and equal opportunities throughout school life and support children to stand up against bullying or racist behaviour, for themselves and to help others. We encourage children and parents to always let teachers know of any incidents so we can take action against it. The children are reminded of this in class, assemblies and other activities throughout the year.
Adults must be informed immediately and action will take place.