Parkside Primary School

Safeguarding

At Parkside 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.  

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 Leads for Safeguarding: Miss Curley in the first instance or in her absence Mrs Benson or Miss O’Brien (Headteacher) and Mrs Coxon (Deputy Headteacher)
• All staff and volunteers working within school will undertake training with the Designated Safeguarding Lead to ensure that systems and procedures for reporting concerns are known and understood and that a culture of vigilance is created.  

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.

Along with following advice from the East Riding Safeguarding Children Partnership (ERSCP) we have a duty to ensure that we safeguard children and families across many areas that are set out in the government publication; Keeping Children Safe in Education, and are detailed as:

Staff Training

All staff members undergo safeguarding and child protection training at induction. This training is regularly updated and in-line with local multi-agency safeguarding arrangements.

To ensure all staff have relevant skills and knowledge to safeguard children effectively they also receive regular safeguarding and child protection updates via email and staff meetings as well as annual update training.

Safeguarding Policy

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. A copy of the policy is at the bottom of this page and can be found by clicking on the Policies Tab.

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 both inside and outside of the school building.

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 TELL US 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.

Safer Recruitment   

We follow strict procedures to ensure that everyone who works with our children are vetted, keeping our children as safe as possible. At least one member of staff sitting on interview panels have completed Safer Recruitment training within recommendations set by the ERSCP.

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, which are included as part of our policy below.  

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.  

Review of Policy and Practice

In order to ensure that best practice is maintained, our policies are reviewed at least yearly to incorporate the latest statutory guidance as it emerges.

If you would like more information on safeguarding, please contact Miss Curley, who will be happy to discuss matters further with you.

If you have any concerns outside of school hours, or are concerned a child has suffered or is likely to suffer significant harm and is at immediate risk call the Children’s Safeguarding Hub on (01482) 395500 or ring 999 (asking for the Police). 

Policy

Please click here to see our Child Protection Policy in full.

Further Help and Information

For further information and support, you can visit the NSPCC website at www.nspcc.org.uk

Operation Encompass

Our school continues to be part of Operation Encompass which is a national scheme that operates jointly between schools, local authorities and police forces.

Operation Encompass is the reporting to schools, the following day, when a child or young person has experienced a domestic incident or a domestic incident has taken place at their home.

As a school we have ensured that our Designated Safeguarding Lead, Miss Curley, has been trained in the Operation Encompass procedures, this is known as a ‘Key Adult’. This allows us to then use the information that has been shared, in confidence, to support the child/ren in our care.

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 identifies children who experience domestic abuse as victims of domestic abuse in their own right.

By receiving this information early via Operation Encompass, school can be better placed to support the child/ren.

If you have any question relating to Operation Encompass or Safeguarding please contact Miss Curley, who will be happy to discuss matters further with you.

For more details see http://www.operationencompass.org/

Key Documents

• Working Together (July 2018)
• Children Missing Education (Sept 2016)
• Keeping Children Safe in Education (2021)
• Guidance for Safer Working Practice for Those Working with Children and Young People in Education Settings (Feb 2022)

eSafety

You can find eSafety information on our dedicated page. Click here.