Further Safeguarding Information for Parents

‘Our school recognises our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils.  We will endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued.  We will be alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and will follow our procedures to ensure that the children receive effective support, protection and justice.’

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We have put together this further information to give you some more detail about how we meet our safeguarding and child protection responsibilities.  We have also included some tips to help you to keep your child safe.

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Our designated person for child protection is our Head Teacher: Mr Alan Scarr                                                  

Our Deputy Headteacher: Miss Joy Hodgkinson (DSL)

Our School Office Manager is: Mrs Laura White

All of our school Department Leaders are also DSL trained.                                                    

Telephone: 01429 820594

Email: Wheatleyhill@durhamlearning.net

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Here at Wheatley Hill 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.

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Wheatley Hill Primary School is a safeguarding community where:

Everyone sees
Everyone hears
Everyone is responsible

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We will ensure that:

• The welfare of the child remains paramount.

• All children whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious beliefs and/ or sexual identity have the right to be protected from harm.

• All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.

• All staff and volunteers working at our school have a responsibility to report concerns to the designated officers for Safeguarding.

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Areas of Safeguarding

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

• Staff & Visitors- ensuring they are vetted, informed & trained.

• Children’s Behaviour- promoting safer & happier behaviours & lifestyles.

• Parents & Carers- promoting links & supporting families.

• Premises -keeping them safe, pleasant & fit for purpose.

• Curriculum -providing positive, life affirming learning experiences.

• Outside School- ensuring safer activities and environments outside school.

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Shared Responsibility

We are all responsible for ensuring that each child remains safe, however the Designated Lead for Safeguarding is Alan Scarr (Headteacher).

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Safer Recruitment

We follow strict procedures to ensure that everyone who works with our children is vetted, keeping our children as safe as possible. Ongoing checks and ‘whistle-blowing’ are in line with current policy. Members of our governing body from the personnel committee have also completed Safer Recruitment training.

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Staff Training

• 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 children.

• All Staff & Volunteers are directed to the document ‘KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE IN EDUCATION 2022’.

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Child Protection

All staff have an up-to-date understanding of safeguarding children issues and are able to implement the safeguarding children policy and procedure appropriately. Policies are in line with current guidance and procedures.

Staff are able to respond appropriately to any:

• significant changes in children’s behaviour;

• deterioration in their general well-being;

• unexplained bruising, marks or signs of possible abuse;

• signs of neglect;

• comments children make which give cause for concern.

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

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Information Sharing

We have an obligation to obtain necessary information from parents in advance of a child being admitted to school, including:

• emergency contact numbers;

• the child’s special dietary requirements, preferences or food allergies the child may have;

• the child’s special health requirements;

• information about who has legal contact with the child; and who has 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/carers must inform school of any changes to these details.

We take confidentiality very seriously. Any information which we hold is treated as confidential and shared on a ‘need-to-know’ basis.

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Links with External Agencies

Because our first concern must be the well-being of your child, there may be occasions when we have to consult other agencies before we contact you. The procedures we have to follow have been laid down in accordance with the local authority child protection procedures.

We are fortunate to be supported by a range of external agencies which can be called upon to support the work we do in school. These include School Nurse, Health Practitioners, Educational Psychology, Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services, Behaviour Support, Social Services and Specialists in supporting Special Educational Needs.

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Reporting Concerns or Complaints

Further to the above procedures, we have in place a concerns and complaints policy. This enables children, staff and carers to report anything they feel is of concern.

Concerns should be raised in the following order.

1. To the Class Teacher. Then, if there is no resolution;

2. To the Head Teacher. Then, if there is no resolution;

3. To the Chair of Governors. Then, if there is no resolution;

4. To the Local Authority.

The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) contact details are available from the school office.

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IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OR WELFARE OF YOUR CHILD, OR A CHILD YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD ACT WITHOUT DELAY

YOU CAN ASK FOR ADVICE, OR REPORT YOUR CONCERN TO:

Children, Social Care                                            Police

Tel: 03000 267 979                                               Tel: 101 or 999 (in an emergency)

                                                                                NSPCC Child Protection Helpline

                                                                                Tel: 0808 800 5000

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Reporting Concerns

Many people worry that their suspicions might be wrong, or that they will be interfering unnecessarily.  If you wish, you can telephone for advice without identifying the child.   If the conversation confirms that you are right to be concerned you can then give the child’s details.  You will be asked for your name and address too, but the agencies will take anonymous calls, so if you really do not want to say who you are, you do not have to.  Remember, it is always better to be safe than sorry.

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Internet and mobile phone safety

Mobile phones and computers are a part of everyday life for many children and young people.  Used correctly, they are an exciting source of communication, fun and education but used incorrectly, or in the wrong hands they can be threatening and dangerous.

The risks include:

• Cyber-bulling, where hurtful texts or emails are sent to children.

• Children accidentally or deliberately accessing violent or sexually explicit websites, either on a computer or a mobile phone.

• Paedophiles talking to children by mobile phone or online and enticing them to engage in sexual conversations, photographs, video or actual meetings.

Children and Young people are excited and engaged by all types of technology and you should encourage your child to use them safely. They also need to learn how to manage risks as they will have to all through their lives.  Younger children will be much easier to supervise and you will decide if and when they should begin to use these technologies.

Here are some tips to help you to manage the risks.

• Try to put the computer in a family room where it will be easier for you to supervise your child’s online activity.

• Ensure that your child knows they should never give their full name, address and contact details to people they chat to on the internet.

• Gently explain that some people they talk to on the internet may not be who they say they are and might say or do unpleasant or hurtful things.

• Investigate whether the ‘parental controls’ available from some internet service providers like BT or Virgin Media will be helpful and consider installing software that can filter out inappropriate material.

• Talk to your child about their internet use.  Ask them which sites they enjoy most, and why.  Show you are interested, while understanding their need for some privacy.

• Impress on your child that they can talk to you if they are worried about something that has happened during their internet use.

• Make it very clear that your child must never arrange to meet someone they have chatted to online without your permission.  Their new ‘friend’ might well be a local young person of similar age, but they might not.

For further advice and information visit:

Internet Watch Foundation: www.iwf.org.uk

Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre: www.ceop.gov.uk

Stop It Now! www.stopitnow.org.uk

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You may be alerted to question your child’s online activity if they are:

• Spending more and more time on the internet.

• Being secretive – reluctant to talk about their internet activity, closing the screen page when you are close by.

• Spending less time with the family, or giving up previous hobbies and interests.

• Losing interest in their schoolwork, regularly failing to complete homework.

• Starting to talk about ‘new friends’ that you have not met and who do not visit your home.

• Overly possessive of their mobile phone or computer – perhaps overreacting if someone picks it up or asks to borrow it.

• Showing fear or discomfort when their phone rings, or quickly turning it off without answering.

• Undergoing a change in personality that you cannot attribute to any obvious cause.

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Child abuse and what to look for

No parent wants to think about the possibility of their child becoming a victim of abuse, and most children are never abused.  Even so, it is important for parents to be aware of the possibility and to know that help is available if the unthinkable does happen.

Although there is always a lot of media focus on ‘stranger danger’, the abduction of children is rare and the threat from strangers is quite small.  You should still ensure that your child knows the rules about keeping safe when they are out alone.

Most children know their abusers.  They may be family members or friends of family, someone who works with the child or someone who lives in the community.

There are four types of abuse: physical, emotional and sexual abuse and neglect.

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There are many signs, or indicators that a child might be suffering abuse.  There may be injuries, but it is more likely that you will notice some change in your child’s behaviour.

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If you notice anything that concerns you, talk to your child to see if you can find out what is happening.  Remember that, if your child is being harmed, she or he may be too frightened to tell you.  If your child becomes distressed or you are not happy with the explanations, you could talk to an adult you trust or call a helpline or children’s social care services.  Our designated person at school will also try to help.

Some signs to look for are:

• Bruises or other injuries

• A change in behaviour – from quiet to loud, or from happy-go-lucky to withdrawn

• Pain or discomfort

• Fear of a particular person, or a reluctance to be alone with them

• Secrecy around a relationship with a particular person

• Reluctance to discuss where they go, or who they are with

• Sexual talk or knowledge beyond their years

• Being watchful, or always on edge

• Losing interest in their appearance, hobbies or family life

• Alcohol or drug taking

• Having money and refusing to say where is has come from

• Wetting the bed

• Becoming clingy

You will find more useful information in the school’s "Keeping Children Safe in Education" Policy.

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If you have any questions about this information, or if you would like to see our child protection policy please contact Mrs Laura White in the School Office.