Safeguarding

Link to Safeguarding policies 

Parents and carers play a role in safeguarding children in their community. If you have any concerns, no matter how small, you should report them to someone who you trust will listen. The school is required to have a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for this purpose. Parents and children should speak to the DSL if they have any concerns about a child or staff member.

Safeguarding is a priority at South Green Junior School and we have several policies in place to help keep our children safe.

Safeguarding Statement

At South Green Junior School, we are committed to safeguarding children and young people and we expect everyone who works in our school to share this commitment. Adults in our school take all welfare concerns seriously and encourage children and young people to talk to us about anything that worries them. Staff must identify and the school must action any concerns brought to them.

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and all staff working in school receive regular training and are familiar with the statutory guidance of Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023. Training includes a range of safeguarding issues, including the Prevent strategy to protect children from radicalisation and extremism, child sexual exploitation and Online Safety.

Health & Safety

The school has a health and safety policy, which is monitored regularly by the Head, the Health and Safety Governor and the site Manager.  Any concerns from staff are reported to any of the above who carry out an initial examination, assessing what remedial action needs to take place.  Each term there is a fire drill that practices efficient evacuation from the buildings.  Electrical safety testing (PAT) takes place annually.  There is also a critical incidents plan that details what staff and parents should do in the case of emergencies.

First Aid

In school there are always trained members of staff who volunteer to oversee first aid.  There are a number of first aid kits situated in the medical room and Midday Assistant carry equipment for minor injuries.  When a child is poorly, or has suffered an accident in school or on the playground, there is a protocol for staff to follow:

• A trained first aider is consulted
• The incident is logged in the accident book
• For head injuries a Head Note is issued to children  with a head injury
• If there is any doubt at all a parent is contacted

School policy is that members of staff will only give medicines when the parent has completed and signed the appropriate form requesting that staff administer medicine; the decision to meet the request is at the discretion of the Head.  For the majority of medicines, however, a dose before and after school is perfectly adequate.  Naturally the parents should consult doctors before giving any form of medication.  For matters of an intimate nature, staff are informed to deal with a child with utmost sensitivity and always to seek guidance from the Head teacher or Deputy.  In almost all situations the parents will be asked to come into school immediately so that they are part of the decision making process for such matters.  In rare circumstances of a serious accident or health issue, staff will call an ambulance and a member of staff will accompany.  Parents will be informed immediately. 

Site Security

South Green provides a secure site but the site is only as secure as the people who use it.  Therefore all people on site have to adhere to the rules that govern it.  Laxity can cause potential problems to safeguarding.  Therefore:

• The gates leading in to the playground will be closed and locked at all times excluding 15 minutes during arrival time in the morning and departure time at the end of the school day.
• All security exit doors should be closed to prevent intrusion.
• Visitors must only enter through the main entrance and after signing in at the office.  They should be given a visitors badge on entry.  ID will be required.
• 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.
• Should a child leave the school premises without permission, staff have been informed never to chase after a child, but rather to report immediately to the office. Then parent and police will be informed of the circumstances.

Attendance

Excellent attendance is expected of all children, but when children are unwell parents are expected to confirm absence by telephone.  If there is no notification, school will phone home to ascertain each child’s whereabouts.  The school works closely with the Local Attendance Officer and CME (Children Missing Education) whenever a child’s attendance and punctuality causes concern.  Attendance rates are recorded and maintained by the school office staff.  Positive measures are in place to encourage children to attend regularly and punctually and the school is aware of its right to take legal action against parents who do not ensure good attendance and punctuality.

Parents are reminded to take holidays in school holiday periods and if possible to try and make dental, doctor appointments etc. after school hours or in school holidays.

Appointment of Staff and Induction of Newly Appointed Staff and Work Placements

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.  If staff are found to have a criminal record the appointment is reconsidered by the Head and Governing Body.  The Head, Deputy Head, Chair of Governors and Safeguarding Deputy Governor have undertaken the training on Safer Recruitment.  New staff are inducted into safeguarding practices.  Newly appointed staff are assigned a mentor for the induction period.  It is the responsibility of the mentors to familiarise new staff with procedures and policies which affect the health and safety of all at school but especially the children.

All staff appointments are subject to a probationary period and will not be confirmed unless the school is completely confident that the applicant can be safely entrusted with children. 

Induction of Volunteers

Volunteers must also have a DBS check.  For a brief activity, such as a school visit, which does not involve the lone supervision or close contact with children the school may telephone for a List 99 check.  For extended contact with children, when children may be left alone with an adult, or when an adult visitor may be in and around the school building, a full DBS search will be conducted.  The office performs this.  Visitors who do not yet have clearance will under no circumstances be left alone with a child or group of children.

Welcoming Visitors

It is assumed that visitors with a professional role e.g. police already have relevant clearance but the office will endeavour to check this before admittance is granted, take a copy of photographic ID and a note made of anyone entering without clearance.

Child Protection Policy

The school follows the guideline of the Child Protection Policy .This policy is available to view on the school website.

The designated adult for Child Protection is the Head teacher.  It is the Head’s duty to ensure the Child Protection Policy is reviewed annually and any deficiencies within the policy addressed immediately.  The Head and all the staff have had appropriate child protection training, which is updated regularly (annually for all staff, Designated Person update every two years). All allegations of abuse by or complaints of a teacher will be dealt with following the Local Safeguarding board procedures.

Risk Assessment

The school recognises that there is risk in many school activities.   Through its risk assessment procedures the school works to recognise risk and limit it as far as possible.   Risk assessments are kept either electronically or in a file in the school office and reviewed regularly.

Visits off-site are subject to particular scrutiny and the school’s Educational Visits Coordinator, who has received appropriate training, is available to assist staff in the preparation and planning for such visits.

The Design of the Curriculum

The curriculum deals with safeguarding in two ways.  Firstly, the curriculum, in subjects such as Personal, Social Health and Economic Education discusses relevant issues with the children.  Topics include such themes as Drugs, Sex and Relationships and online safety (age appropriate content).  Children are encouraged to explore and discuss these issues.  Secondly, the curriculum is designed so that safety issues within the subject are discussed and safe practices taught, such as road safety, using equipment properly in PE and Design and Technology.  At all times there has to be appropriate staffing levels and when the curriculum is taken 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 authorized by the Head.  Visiting speakers, with correct clearance are always welcome into school so that they can give specialist knowledge to the children.

Online Safety

Children should be encouraged to use the internet during lessons (e.g. research), but at all times in a safe way.  Pupils must never be left unattended whilst online and teachers should ensure that this does not happen.  If teachers know of misuse, either by a teacher or child, the issue should be reported to the Head without delay.  As DSL, the Head has overall responsibility for online safety.  (see Online Safety policy)

Photographing and Videoing – Please see Use of Mobile Phones etc. Policy

There has been much controversy about adults photographing and filming young people.  The concerns are genuine, however we have taken a balanced approach which allows parents to photograph and film providing they follow certain guidelines:

• Parents consent to school taking photographs when they first join.  School photographs that are for use outside of school are anonymous unless specific permission has been received from parents.
• Parents may take photographs at school events for their own use, but these must not be published on social networking sites unless the parents of other children in the photographs have given their permission. 
• Parent Helpers accompanying children on school trips may not take photos on mobile phones or their own cameras.  All photos need to be taken on school cameras.

Whistleblowing

If members of staff ever have any concerns about the behaviour or intentions of any person within the building, school grounds or within the proximity of the children, they have a professional duty to inform the HT. This can be done in writing or verbally but staff should be prepared to discuss in the confidence that any such matters will be dealt with sensitively and with the necessary degree of confidentiality.