Safeguarding
Amblecote Primary School is fully committed to meeting its responsibility to protect and safeguard the welfare of children and young people in our care. We recognise the important part we have to play in identifying children and young people at risk of abuse and neglect and in securing appropriate support for them and their families.
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined in the Department for Education’s (DfE) statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ (KCSiE) as:
- Protecting children from maltreatment
- Preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical 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 ‘Children’ includes everyone under the age of 18.
The child’s best interests will remain our paramount focus. We recognise that effective child protection requires sound procedures, good inter-agency co-operation and a workforce that is competent and confident in responding to Child protection to Keep Children Safe.
Child Protection is part of the safeguarding process and focuses on protecting individual children who have been identified as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. Sometimes we need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a child’s welfare. We will ensure that our concerns about a pupil are discussed with parents/carer first, unless we have reason to believe that such a discussion would be contrary to the child’s welfare. Working with outside agencies enables us to ensure that our families are getting the support they need.
SAFEGUARDING TEAM
If you are concerned about the safety or welfare of a child who attends this school; please speak to a member of the Safeguarding Team via the school office on 01384 906535.
| KEY CONTACTS | |
| DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING LEAD | Mrs Jane Cook |
| DEPUTY DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING LEADS | Mrs M Pickett , Mrs A Price , Miss J Careless , Miss L Skirving , Miss H O'Connor , Mrs G Dunckley , Mrs J Sparrow, Mrs E Bradley |
| LOOK AFTER CHILD LEAD | Mrs Jane Cook |
| SAFEGUARDING GOVERNOR | Mrs D Robinson |
| SEND GOVERNOR | Mrs L Pinches |
The Safeguarding Team attend termly update meetings and regular training in all aspects of Safeguarding, including Prevent, Domestic Abuse, Neglect and Early Help and where applicable Safer Recruitment.
Every other member of staff in school including Teachers, Teaching Assistants, Lunch Time Supervisors, Site Team, Governors and the Office Team have achieved Level 1 Safeguarding Training as a minimum, with many team members having furthered their training in other aspects of safeguarding children.
SAFEGUARDING AT AMBLECOTE – it’s everyone’s responsibility.
If any parents, families or visitors have concerns about the welfare or safety of any children from Amblecote Primary School, please contact any of our Safeguarding Team without delay or the children’s services referral and advice service on 0300 555 0050 during office hours (9am – 5pm), contact the Emergency Duty Team on 0300 555 8574 (out of hours).
Cause for Concern
Our first priority is of course your child’s welfare and school is required to take any reasonable action to ensure the safety of its pupils. However there may be occasions when we have reason to be concerned that a child may be subject to ill-treatment, neglect or other forms of abuse. We will ensure that our concerns about a child are discussed with his/her parents/carers first, unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child’s welfare. In this case school is obliged to follow the Child Protection procedures and inform the Social Services of the concern.
Our Early Help Offer
Amblecote Primary School works to provide Early Help to those children and families in the school community with emerging needs, which may not be appropriate for Social Services intervention. Early Help means providing support to our children and families as soon as a problem emerges, at any point in a child’s life.
We understand just how complicated family life can be. From time to time, there may be situations where you need some extra help and support.
If things are not right at home, please come and talk to us.
We can help in many ways.
Photographs and Videos
Whilst lots of parents and carers really enjoy seeing photos and videos of their children’s school life, we are very mindful of our duty of care towards all our pupils.
We take the issue of safeguarding very seriously and this includes the use of photographic and video images.
Any photographs or videos taken by parents, carers and relatives at school productions, sports days or other events are for the enjoyment of individual families. They must not be used in any way that could potentially place a child at risk. This would include publishing images in any form of print or on the internet including social media networks sites. This is emphasised before concerts and shows etc.
What is the Prevent Strategy?
Prevent is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorist or extremist causes.
The Prevent strategy covers all types of terrorism and extremism, including political and religious extremism.
How does the Prevent strategy apply to schools?
All schools have a duty to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism.
This means schools have a responsibility to protect children from extremist and violent views, in the same way we protect them from abuse or neglect.
Importantly schools provide a safe place for children to discuss these issues so they can understand how they can protect themselves.
What does this mean in practice?
At Amblecote Primary we have a Child Protection and Safeguarding policy, which includes Prevent which sets out how we plan to educate and protect children from extremism and radicalisation. Many of the things we do in school are as part of our Safeguarding polices and procedures. Our curriculum forms a major part of ensuring we support children and families through:
- The promotion of British values of Democracy, the Rule of Law, Individual liberty and Respect and Tolerance of different faiths an beliefs
- Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our pupils
- Exploration of other cultures and religions through RE, cultural focus days and visits to places of worship
- The use of Smoothwall to filter our internet use in order to protect children from exposure to extremist views
- Challenging prejudice, racist comments and stereotypes
Isn't my child too young to learn about extremism?
The Prevent strategy is not just about discussing extremism, it is about teaching children values such as respect and tolerance of others. We always ensure that nay discussions we have with children are suitable for the age and maturity of our children. We also ensure we understand the risks for children in the Amblecote area and the risks within Dudley and the West Midlands. Our Designated Safeguarding Lead, Mrs Cook, works with other safeguarding partners to ensure staff are kept up to date with local and national issues.
Who are the other safeguarding partners?
Under the Children Act 2004, the three safeguarding partners are:
- Dudley Local Authority
- Dudley Clinical Commissioning Group (NHS)
- West Midlands Police
Where can I get more information?
Contact the school if you have any questions. Refer to the School Safeguarding Team (see above) to see who to talk to.
See our Policies and Procedures page for more information on Safeguarding.
External sources – the following sources may also be useful for further information:
