Safeguarding
‘The safety of children and young people is paramount. St. Mary’s School is fully committed to the rigorous implementation of safeguarding procedures and arrangements. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.’
Parents should know that the school will take any reasonable action to ensure the safety of its pupils. In cases where the school has a safeguarding concern about a child staff will follow the Local Authority Safeguarding / Child Protection Procedures.
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as:
- protecting children from harm;
- 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.
How does the school keep all its children safe?
The Headteacher is the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). The Deputy Headteacher is the Deputy DSL. The DSL is responsible for ensuring all staff receive an annual refresher safeguarding training. The DSL will also plan in more regular topical safeguarding training as required and disseminate other safeguarding information via email. All staff are trained to be able to fulfil their statutory PREVENT duties to ‘prevent people from being drawn into terrorism’. Both the DSL and Deputy DSL receive multi-agency safeguarding training at least every two years. The DSL attend Trafford’s safeguarding and designated teacher forum meetings. The school participates in 'Operation Encompass', a Police initiative which informs schools about domestic abuse incidents.
The school maintains a Safeguarding & Child Protection Register which lists all the pupils in the school where there is a concern about their welfare: either as a result of a disclosure/observation reported to the DSL; the child id supported or ever been support by a social worker; the child is subject to Child Protection; or the child is receiving proactive pastoral intervention.
Parent Helpers in school are provided with Safeguarding guidance on how to report a concern should one arise whilst helping in school.
In addition to the PSHE & Relationships Education element of the school’s curriculum, the school also takes part in Anti-bullying week and Safer Internet Day.
Information to help keep children safe e.g. ChildLine contact information, abuse in education, anti-bullying and e-safety posters.
The school’s safeguarding is monitored by Trafford Council via an electronic audit known as the Section 175.
The school's internet is filtered by Trafford Local Authority and the school uses Smoothwall to monitor its users online activity. More detail on e-safety can be found here.
The Chair of Governors is the Governor responsible for safeguarding. They check the school’s single central record (SCR) to ensure all recruitment checks are completed. The Board of Governors approve the school’s Safeguarding Policy. All the safeguarding activity within school is monitored by the Board of Governors.
Mr. W. Hitchcock (Headteacher) is the Designated Safeguarding Leader (DSL) for Safeguarding & Child Protection. Mr Lang (Deputy Headteacher) is the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leader (Deputy DSL) for Safeguarding and Child Protection. Mrs. J. Galloway (Chair of Governors) is the Safeguarding Governor. All may be contacted via the school office.
NSPCC Sexual Harassment or Abuse Helpline
The DfE have commissioned the NSPCC to operate a helpline for children and young people who have experienced sexual harassment or abuse at school, and for worried adults and professionals that need support and guidance. More information can be found here.
Phone: 0800 136 663 or Email: help@nspcc.org.uk
What is PREVENT?
The Prevent strategy, published by the Government in 2011, is part of our overall counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST. The aim of the Prevent strategy is to reduce the threat to the UK from terrorism by stopping people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. In the Act this has simply been expressed as the need to “prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”.
The 'Action Counters Terrorism' (ACT) website, found here, emphasises early detection and is aimed at family and friends and are encouraged to call the Prevent advice line on 0800 011 3764.
Keeping Children Safe in Education
What to do if you're worried a child is being abused: advice for practitioners