Safeguarding and Child Protection
The safeguarding and protection of children is paramount at Whitchurch Primary School.
What is Safeguarding?
Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. Safeguarding means:
• protecting children from abuse and maltreatment
• preventing harm to children's health or development
• ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care
• taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes
• Safeguarding children and child protection guidance and legislation applies to all children up to the age of 18.
What is Child Protection?
Child Protection is part of Safeguarding and promoting welfare. It refers to the activity that is undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering, or are likely to suffer, significant harm.
Prevent Strategy
From 1st July 2015 all schools are subject to a duty under section 26 of the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015, in the exercise of their functions, to have "due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism". This duty is known as the Prevent Duty. It applies to a wide range of public-facing bodies, including all primary and secondary schools.
Schools can build pupils' resilience to radicalisation by providing a safe environment for debating controversial issues and helping children to understand how they can influence and participate in decision making. Schools are already expected to promote the spiritual, moral and cultural development of pupils and, within this, fundamental British values.
Mandatory Reporting of FGM (Female Genital Mutilation)- Procedural Information
From 21st October 2015 it is mandatory for teachers, health and social workers to report to the police if they find, or are told, that someone under 18 has undergone FGM.
To obtain more information on FGM please click the link below for Keeping Children Safe in Education.
Online safety
Whitchurch Primary recognises the benefits and opportunities that new technologies offer to teaching and learning. We encourage the use of technology in order to enhance skills and promote achievement. However, the accessible and global nature of the internet and variety of technologies available mean that we are also aware of potential risks and challenges associated with such use.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE A CONCERN:
You can also contact FIRST RESPONSE, who will assist you in safeguarding and child protection matters should you not wish to go through our school and/or remain anonymous:
WHAT TO DO IF YOU NEED HELP:
Speak to a DSL in the school, or contact EARLY HELP:
WHAT IS EARLY HELP?
Early help is extra support that some children and families need to be healthy, safe and achieve their full potential. It's for:
- parents, children and whole families
- every stage of a child or young person's life, from before they're born up to 18, or 25 if the young person has special educational needs or disabilities (SEND)
You might need extra support with:
- parenting or your child's behaviour
- your or your child's health or emotional needs
- debt, finances or the cost of living
- a crisis or bereavement
- domestic abuse
To contact Early Help follow this link: https://www.bristol.gov.uk/residents/social-care-and-health/children-and-families/help-for-families/early-help
POLICIES AND PAPERWORK
Below are our school policies and paperwork we use to keep children safe.
