Safeguarding

SAFEGUARDING AT NETTLEWORTH INFANT AND NURSERY SCHOOL

Staff and Governors at Nettleworth are aware that many children are the victims of different kinds of abuse and neglect and that they can be subjected to social factors that have a negative impact upon their lives – including domestic violence, substance misuse, bullying, mental health and radicalisation. We also acknowledge that safeguarding incidents could happen anywhere and staff should be alert to possible concerns arising. 

Through our curriculum we teach children to stay safe and happy. We encourage the understanding that any problem or worry that they may have is legitimate, and to share their worries, big or small with their trusted adult; at home; school or with ChildLine.

Safeguarding and Promoting the welfare of Children

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 are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and

• Undertaking that role so as to enable those children to have optimum life chances and to enter adulthood successfully.

   

  Child protection is a key element in work to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Child Protection refers to work undertaken with children identified as being at risk of significant harm.

Key Contacts - Designated Safeguarding Leads

                       Mrs Debbie Hyslop

                   Headteacher

                           Mrs Carly Ripley

                           Deputy Headteacher

                     Mrs Claire Dunn

Policies/ Guidance

Please see our policies page for policies and guidance relating to safeguarding, these will include:

Attendance policy 

Behaviour policy

Anti-bullying policy

Safeguarding policy

Child protection policy

Missing pupil and children missing in education policy

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

NSPCC: Preventing Child Sexual Abuse

The NSPCC has launched a video exploring steps we can take to keep children safe from sexual abuse by thinking through the potential risks in children’s daily lives and taking action to protect them. Examples include: ensuring babysitters have trusted references; ensuring robust safeguarding procedures are in place in schools and other organisations; and thinking about the physical environment, making sure children are kept safe by checking on areas that are infrequently used or left unsupervised.

Safer Recruitment

(Recruitment, selection and pre-employment vetting)

Nettleworth school creates a culture of safe recruitment and, as part of that, adopts the LA Recruitment & Selection Policy that helps deter, reject or identify people who might abuse children from working in any capacity at, or visiting the school 

This is based on checks and evidence such as:

• Criminal record checks (DBS checks) for staff & volunteers that engage in regulated activity / unsupervised contact with children.
• Barred List checks
• Teacher Prohibition checks
• References, employment history and interview information
• Professional Qualification evidence
• Identity verification (Eg.Passport, driving licence, Birth Certificate, address confirmation)
• Mental & Physical fitness to carry out their work (Interview & pre-employment declaration of health)
• Right to Work in the UK verification

Schools keep a Single Central Record (SCR) as a register of information of all the above checks on staff and volunteers.  This document is scrutinised & checked during an Ofsted inspection.

Contractors, Coaches and other visitors on the school site are checked according to the level of contact (unsupervised, supervised) contact with children.

Since Sept 2016 all school Governors are required to undertake a DBS check.

Useful contacts

Childline

Contacting Childline:

You can talk to us about anything. No problem is too big or too small.

Call us free on 0800 1111 or get in touch online. However you choose to contact us, you're in control. It’s confidential and you don’t have to give your name if you don’t want to.

https://childline.org.uk/

NSPCC

Offers some helpful information for parents and carers on a range of issues, such as internet safety, protecting children at home and positive parenting tips.
tel: 0808 800 5000
website: www.nspcc.org.uk

Bullying

If you think that bullying is just a part of everyday school life, you're wrong. No-one deserves to be bullied and you shouldn't ignore the problem.
website:http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/YoungPeople/HealthAndRelationships/Bullying/DG_10031370

Family Lives

A national charity that works for, and with, parents. It works to offer help and support through an innovative range of free, flexible, responsive services.
tel: 0808 800 2222
website: www.familylives.org.uk

Barnardos

Helps all kinds of families to cope with a wide range of issues including poverty, abuse, and homelessness.
tel: 01268 520224
website: www.barnardos.org.uk

Kidscape

Gives information for parents on a range of ways children can be bullied including cyber bullying and gives advice on keeping children safe online.
tel: 020 7730 3300
website: www.kidscape.org.uk

Missing Person Helpline

tel: 0500 700 700 (24 hours)

National Drugs Helpline

tel: 0800 77 66 00 (24 hour free advice)

NHS Direct

tel: 0845 4647
website: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

Parents Centre

Information and support for parents on how to help with your child's learning, including advice on choosing a school and finding childcare.
website: www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents