At Brandon Community 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.
Definition of ‘safeguarding’
‘Keeping children safe in Education, DfE, 2018, defines safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children as:
‘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. ‘Children’ includes every one under the age of 18’.
Keeping Children Safe in Education 2020
Safeguarding within Brandon Primary School
Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play in safeguarding children. School staff are particularly important as they are in a position to identify concerns early and provide help for children, to prevent concerns from escalating. Schools and their staff form part of the wider safeguarding system for children working with social care, the police and health services both to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm.
Safeguarding children permeates all aspects of our work as a school, with a preventative role to inform and boost the resilience of all students by enhancing protective factors in their lives. Accordingly this policy links with many other related policies in school:
- School Behaviour policy
- Whole-school Anti-bullying policy, including cyber-bullying
- Health and Safety policies
- Medication in school/First Aid policies
- Intimate care policy
- School visits including risk-assessments
- ICT/e-safety
- SEN/LAC
- Equal Opportunities
Children are encouraged to express and discuss their ideas, thoughts and feelings through a variety of activities and have access to a range of cultural opportunities which promote respect and empathy for others. As part of our new Prevent duty under s.26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 we are aware of the importance of building pupils’ resilience to radicalisation by promoting fundamental British values and enabling them to challenge extremist views. Schools can build pupils’ resilience to radicalisation by providing a safe environment for debating controversial issues and helping children and young people understand how they can influence and participate in decision making.
Safeguarding at Brandon Primary School – Training
3 members of staff are trained in Level 2/3 safeguarding and child protection
- Mrs J Hodgson (Headteacher)
- Mrs K McGough (Deputy Head & SENDCO)
- Mrs L Bell (Parent Support Advisor)
All other staff and governors have been trained in Level 1 safeguarding and child protection and this is renewed on a 3 year cycle. Mrs Hodgson along with all school staff has completed Prevent training.
Procedure
All safeguarding concerns are recorded electronically using CPOMS. If a concern is raised regarding a child, this is recorded by an adult and the designated safeguarding lead is informed immediately by the system. The decision of the next step is then made and recorded.
If a concern is raised regarding a member of staff this must be given to the Headteacher.
If a concern is raised regarding the Headteacher this must be given to the Chair of Governors.
All of these concerns are taken very seriously and correct procedures are followed as stated in our Safeguarding keeping children safe policy which can be found on our Policies page.
Further Information
If you would like further information on Safeguarding please use the following link:
Keeping children safe in school please view the Child Protection within Safeguarding Policy in the School Policies section of our website.
Visitors to Brandon Primary School
All visitors are expected to sign in the visitors’ book and will be given a badge to identify them as a visitor. Visitors are asked to read the ‘Protocol for adults and students working in school’. Regular visitors are provided with a leaflet to ensure they follow school protocol.
Protocol for Adults & Students Working in School
Recruitment at Brandon Primary School
The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Any offers of employment are subject to receipt of a satisfactory DBS Enhanced Disclosure and a minimum of two satisfactory references.
Mrs Hodgson, Mrs Cooke and a Governor have completed the Safer Recruitment Training. All DBS checks are renewed on a continuous cycle.
