Children laughing

At Kildwick CE VC Primary School, we regard the safeguarding of all pupils as our main priority. Safeguarding is at the centre of our practice and policies. We believe that all pupils have the right to be happy, to be safe and to learn and work in partnership with all members of the school community to protect our children from harm. It is the responsibility of everyone who comes into contact with children to keep them safe.

We will ensure that:

  • All pupils, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender identity, language, racial origin, religious beliefs and/or sexual orientation have the right to be safe and protected from harm;
  • All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately;
  • All staff and volunteers at Kildwick CE VC Primary School have a responsibility to report any concerns to the designated leads for safeguarding.

Members of Staff Responsible for Safeguarding

At Kildwick CE VC Primary School the designated lead for safeguarding (DSL) is the headteacher Mr Tim Whitehead, he is the single point of Contact (SPOC). The deputy safeguarding officer is Miss Donna Akrigg.

Areas of Safeguarding

Our safeguarding policies cover all areas of school life and include:

  • Staff and Visitors – we ask all staff and visitors to sign in and identification lanyards are issued for visitors to wear whilst they are in school. It is our responsibility to ensure that everyone is vetted, informed and trained. Staff are trained in child protection issues and they are aware of the procedures to follow. Staff are encouraged to be vigilant in order to maintain the safety of our pupils. All staff and volunteers are given a copy of the relevant documentation outlining safeguarding procedures at our school. They are also referred to the document below 'Keeping Children Safe in Education';
  • Safer Recruitment – we follow strict procedures to ensure pupils are safe. On-going checks and ‘whistle-blowing’ are in line with current policy;
  • Children’s Behaviour – we promote safe and happy behaviours and lifestyles. This is embedded in our curriculum;
  • Parents and Carers – we encourage collaboration and support families, our Family Inclusion Mentor is Mrs Hunter;
  • Premises – we keep children safe in our environment and ensure it is fit for purpose;
  • Curriculum – we provide positive learning experiences and we teach children how to keep themselves safe. Our curriculum is enhanced by visits and visitors e.g. police, fire brigade, NSPCC;
  • E-Safety – we work with a number of professionals to ensure that children are knowledgeable about dangers online and how to protect themselves;
  • Outside School – we work in collaboration with others to ensure that children work in safe environments and participate in safe activities when out of school.
  • We participate in the Growing Up In North Yorkshire Survey and use this to help us support our children and families more effectively.

Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy

All staff have an up-to-date understanding of safeguarding children issues and are able to implement the safeguarding policy and procedures.

Staff are able to respond appropriately to any:

  • significant changes in a pupil’s behaviour; deterioration in general well-being;
  • unexplained marks, bruising or signs of possible abuse;
  • signs of neglect;
  • comments pupils make which may give cause for concern;

All staff are aware of the need to maintain privacy and confidentiality.

Information Sharing

We have an obligation to collect necessary information from parents and carers in advance of a pupil being admitted to school including:

  • emergency contact numbers;
  • the child’s special dietary requirements;
  • the child’s special health requirements;
  • information about who has the legal contact with the child and 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.

PARENTS AND CARERS MUST NOTIFY US IMMEDIATELY OF ANY CHANGES TO THESE DETAILS.

We will explain how your data will be used.

Online Safety

The impact of COVID-19 means that most of us will be at home for an extended period and are likely to be spending increasing amounts of time online.

The online world is a necessity for many children in accessing school work and it delivers huge benefits, not least in enabling us to stay connected to family and friends during this period. However, many parents may feel concerned about the content their children are accessing.

Although rare, there is a risk that increased online activity and feelings of stress and isolation may be exploited by negative influences and online groomers of all kinds to target vulnerable children and young people directly. An understanding of digital safety will help parents and carers safeguard loved ones from a range of harms, whether that’s child sexual exploitation, fraud, or extremist influences seeking to radicalise vulnerable people. Extremists may use the COVID-19 outbreak to promote hateful views, for example through conspiracy theories blaming a particular group for the virus, or through spreading misinformation regarding these groups’ responses to it.

What steps can I take to keep my child safe online? Please click on the link below to access advice and guidance.

Online Safety Advice

Links with External Agencies

Our first concern must be the well-being of the pupil. There may be some occasions where we liaise with other agencies before we contact parents. The procedures we follow have been laid down in accordance with the Local Authority Child Protection Procedures.

Other agencies we work with include the prevention service, community police, social services, CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), educational psychologists etc. and specialists who support pupils with specific needs.

Please request our complaints policy if you have any comments or complaints about our safeguarding procedures.

Review of Policy and Practice

Our policies and practice are reviewed at least annually to incorporate the latest statutory guidance and Department of Education information.

PDF Attachments