Safeguarding

At Bedale Church of England Primary School our first and foremost priority is keeping our children safe.  In this section there is a list of school policies, actions and useful signposts that help us all to do that.  

As always, if you do ever have a problem or need more information do get in touch.  

We will ensure that:

• The welfare of the child remains paramount.
• All children and adults whatever their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion, belief, sex or sexual orientation 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 school have a responsibility to report concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead, Mrs Turnbull and in her absence the Deputy Leads are Mrs Ball and Mrs Hunter.  They can be contacted on the school phone number 01677 422401 and your call will be dealt with confidentially.
• All staff are safeguarding level 1 trained and receive regular updates.

Areas of Safeguarding

Our safeguarding policies cover all areas of school life and include:

• Safeguarding Policy 
• Child Protection Policy
• Staff and Visitors - ensuring they are vetted, informed and trained.
• Children's behaviour - promoting positive behaviours
• Intimate Care - including guidelines for if we need to clean pupils
• Administering Medicine 
• E Safety - how you and how we can protect children online

Members of Staff Responsible

We are all responsible for ensuring every child is safe.  The Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mrs E Turnbull.  The Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads are Mrs M Ball and Mrs H Hunter. 

Safer Recruitment

We follow strict procedures to ensure that everyone who works with our children is vetted.  Ongoing checks and 'whistle blowing' are in line with current policy.

Staff Training

• All school staff are trained regularly in child protection issues and they aware of the procedures to follow.  This includes our lunchtime staff, our site supervisor and kitchen staff.
• Staff are encouraged to be vigilant
• All staff are given a copy of the document Keeping Children Safe in Education Part 1
• Senior Staff and Governors are given a full copy of the document Keeping Children Safe in Education
• Our school KCSIE policy can be found by following the link Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024

Prevent Training

All staff have an up to date understanding of current prevent issues and staff are able to identify children who may be vulnerable to radicalisation.

 Please click here for a link to the Prevent Duty for Schools.

Please click here for a link to the official Prevent Strategy document.

Government advice site for parents.

Child Protection with 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.

• 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 

Reporting Concerns or Complaints

Child Protection Concerns

Your child's safety is a priority and the staff and Governors rigorously review safety procedures to ensure policies and safeguards are in place to protect and promote the welfare of children and staff.  These safeguards include a Child Protection Policy, a Safeguarding Policy and procedures for dealing with issues of concern or abuse.  If you have any safeguarding concerns, please speak to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), Mrs Turnbull Headteacher, or in her absence the Deputy DSL Mrs Ball or Mrs Hunter.

Complaints

Further to the above procedures, we have in place a Complaints Policy.  this enables children, staff and carers to report anything they feel is or concern.

Concerns should be raised in the following order

1.  To the Class Teacher.  Then, if there is no resolution;

2.  To the Head Teacher.  Then, if there is no resolution;

3.  To the Chair of Governors.  Then, if there is no resolution;

4.  To the Local Authority

Review of Policy and Practice

In order to ensure that best practice is maintained, our policies are reviewed at least regularly to incorporate the latest statutory guidance emerge.

If you would like more information on safeguarding, please contact the school for all our policies

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.

PARENTS AND 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.

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 with 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.

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.  Our Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator is Mrs M Ball.

Operation Encompass

Our school is part of Operation Encompass, a project that runs jointly between school and North Yorkshire Police.  This project is designed to provide early reporting to schools of any domestic abuse incidents that occur outside of normal school hours and that might have an impact on a child attending our school the following day. 

Mrs Turnbull is our nominated member of school staff and will receive any information as needed from the Police.  This will be shared in confidence.  The aim is to make provision for any possible difficulties experienced by our children or their families.  Information will be shared by the Police where it is identified that a child was present, witnessed, or was involved in a domestic abuse incident. 

We are keen to offer the best support possible to all our children.   

Online Safety

We primarily use Project Evolve's Online Safety resouces (https://projectevolve.co.uk/) in promoting Online Safety, alongside other tools inlcuding Think U Know, ChildNet and Internet Matters. These resources are used in specific computing and PSHE lessons as well as throughout our curriculum where appropriate.

Topics covered include: Grooming, Emailing, Live Gaming, Web Cams & Live Streaming, Social Networking, Radicalisation, Meeting Up Chat Rooms, Online Bullying, In-App Purchases, Internet Safety and Online Safety tips for kids, Online Bullying tips for children.

The ever-changing nature of Online Safety means that while the basic rules and behaviour online can be established, new threats and issues can arise. We keep up-to-date with changing issues, and potential responses, through the above sources and by sharing information at network meetings.

We also have visits from the local police force, who talk to our pupils about the dangers of internet/social media safety and support families and parents in monitoring pupils’ home use. Links to sources of information for parents can also be found on our Online Safety page by clicking here.

Our Information Technology Infrastructure uses Smoothwall technology to help keep our school network and viewable internet content in school safe. See below:

Security in School

All visitors should follow the agreed procedure for access to the school.

Access to the school car park is prohibited, every week day, between the following times:

          8.45am-9.15am       and      3.00pm-3.40 pm

During the above times, the school gates are closed to vehicles and there is a clear sign informing vehicles that access to the car park is prohibited.

During the school day, all playground gates will be locked.  There is no access to school via the bottom gate at any point during the school day.