Safeguarding at St Mildred’s Infant School

At St Mildred’s we regard the safeguarding of children as our main priority. We believe that children maximise their potential in an environment which is safe, secure and supportive of all their needs, including any needs they have for protection from abuse. We all have the right to be happy, to be safe and to learn and we all have the responsibility to make this happen.

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Mrs H Crutchley

Our Deputy Safeguarding Leads are Mrs E Hill, Mr N Reeves and    Mrs A Rosedon

Our Governor responsible for Safeguarding is Mrs L Spencer

Our Online Safety Lead is Mrs E Hill 

Child Protection & Safeguarding

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, and our practice is underpinned by 3 key principles:

1. Safeguarding is the responsibility of all staff, governors, volunteers, visitors and parents/carers, with safeguarding being 'an important part of everyday life' in our school

2. Our school operates a child-centred approach, with a clear understanding of the needs, wishes, views and voices of children

3. All staff have a clear understanding regarding abuse and neglect in all forms: including how to identify, respond and report. This also includes knowledge in the process for allegations against professionals. We deal with all matters of safeguarding children swiftly and securely, following the correct procedures with the safety and wellbeing of the children in mind at all times. 

What is Safeguarding?

Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm.

‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’, DfES, 2014, 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’.

For more information please visithttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-childrensafe-in-education–2

 This guidance also affirms (page 6) that 'all staff members should be aware of systems within their school or college which support safeguarding and these should be explained to them as part of staff induction. This should include:

• the child protection policy;

• the staff behaviour policy (sometimes called a code of conduct); and

• the role of the designated safeguarding lead (See Annex B/Page 58)

It is imperative that all staff (including volunteers) read this guidance (Have to read at least Part 1) and provide consent that they have done so (A register exists to determine this) Schools must have regard to the guidance when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. This document contains information on what schools should do and sets out the legal duties with which schools must comply. 

What is Child Protection?

Child Protection is part of Safeguarding and promoting welfare. It refers to the activity that is undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering, or are likely to suffer, significant harm.

Safeguarding within our 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.

Staff Training

• All staff receives Safeguarding and Child Protection training annually.
• Safeguarding training for governors annually.
• Channel Program – Online training on The Prevent Strategy
• Prevent training for Teaching and Support staff annually

DSL Training (every 2 years)

• Mrs Hannah Crutchley
• Mrs E Hill
• Mr N Reeves
• Mrs A Rosedon

Online training - Mrs E Hill (every 2 years)

The Executive Head Teacher and Head of School, other staff responsible for recruitment and some Governors responsible for appointments have completed ‘Safer Recruitment Training’.

Procedure

• If a concern is raised regarding a child the designated safeguarding lead is informed immediately and a written entry is made on a green form. 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 Executive Headteacher.

• If a concern is raised regarding the Executive 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 Policy’ (above). 

Concerns

If you have any questions regarding the safety of a child during term time please contact one of the designated safeguarding leads via the school office.

If you need assistance outside of school hours, at a weekend or during a school holiday you can contact the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) 24 hours a day.

You can do this via their website at: www.nspcc.org.uk/what-you-can-do/report-abuse/ by telephone: 0808 800 5000, by text: 88858 or by email: help@nspcc.org.uk

If you think a child is in immediate danger do not delay: CALL 999 straight away. 

Online Safety

Online Safety is a key part of Safeguarding. It has its own section of our website dedicated to this very important area and is where you will find our policy, resources and lots of other useful information and websites. Click here to go straight to our Online Safety section.