Safeguarding
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is of paramount importance at Buckden C of E Primary and underpins all that we do. We are committed to providing an environment that safe and secure for all our children, staff and visitors. We actively promote a climate where children and adults feel confident about sharing any concerns which they may have about their own safety or the wellbeing of others.
Buckden C of E Primary Academy fully recognises the responsibility it has under section 175 of the Education Act 2002, the Education Regulations 2014, and the Education and Training (Welfare of Children) Act, 2021 to have arrangements in place to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
We endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued.
Should you have any concerns about any child please contact the school Designated Person for Child Protection or/and the Headteacher.
Safeguarding Email: Safeguarding@bpa.act-academytrust.org
Our Designated Safeguarding Officers are:
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Michelle Heather - Head Teacher (Safer Recruitment)
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSL)
Melanie Anderson - Assistant Head Teacher (Prevent Lead)
Susan Tarpey - Assistant Head Teacher (Domestic Abuse Lead)
Nicola Butcher - SENDCo (Mental Health Lead)
Laura Fozzard - SENDCo
Michelle Dunford - Pastoral/Attendance Lead /Home School Hub
Other staff responsibilities that overlap with an element of safeguarding but not DSL trained:
Kate Woodward & Laura Freeman – Online Safety Lead
Safeguarding Link Governor
Hamish Anderson (he can be contacted by the school office on 01480 810241)
All other staff are trained to identify and report any concerns they have to the designated safeguarding officers. This training is updated annually. As a school we use 'My Concern' as a reporting tool.
Keeping Children Safe in School
Keeping Records
In line with good practice records are kept of:
- Discussions/observations with a child,
- Discussions/observations with a parent,
- Discussions/observations made by school staff,
- Decisions and actions taken (signed and with time and date noted).
- All confidential records are kept securely.
- We use 'My Concern' Software
Making Referrals
Anyone who has concerns about a child’s welfare can make a referral to a local authority children’s social care service. Referrals can come from the child themselves, professionals such as teachers, the police, GPs and health visitors as well as family members and members of the public. Local authority children’s social care has the responsibility to clarify with the referrer the nature of the concerns and how and why they have arisen.
Curriculum
Through all areas of the curriculum we encourage children to think about how to stay safe: At home, crossing the road, out on their own, or on the internet. Regular PHSE lessons, Philosophy sessions or Computing topics can provide especially good opportunities for children to discuss these issues.
The Role of the Governing Body
The Governing Body has a duty to ensure that the school meets its statutory responsibilities and ensure the the children and young people attending school are safe.
Attendance
In addition to the statutory responsibility to record the attendance of children it is important that Governors follow up the processes for absence. An important risk factor in abuse and neglect is poor school attendance and tackling that is a key aspect of managing children’s safety. Michelle Dunford is our attendance lead.
Safer Recruitment
A key aspect of safeguarding is the vetting of applicants and prospective volunteers working with children to make sure they are suitable.
Our obligations and duties to protect your children
Under the Education Act 2002 (section 175/157), schools must “make arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children”.
We will endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued.
The school will therefore be alert to signs of abuse and neglect and will follow the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) procedures to ensure that children receive appropriate and effective support and protection.
Parents/carers should know that the law requires all school staff to pass on information which gives rise to a concern about a child’s welfare, including risk from neglect, physical, emotional or sexual abuse. The school should make parents/carers aware that records of welfare concerns may be kept about their child. They should be informed that school staff will seek, in general, to discuss any concerns with them including referrals to other agencies. However, in situations where the child is suspected to be at risk of harm, the law says that schools may take advice from other agencies without informing parents/carers.
In accordance with local Information Sharing protocols, we will ensure that information is shared securely and sensitively. Information will only be shared with other services where it is deemed necessary and proportionate to ensure that children and young people are safe and receive the right service.
Schools will seek advice from Social Care when they have reasonable cause to suspect a child may be suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. Occasionally, concerns are passed on which are later shown to be unfounded. Parents/carers will appreciate that the member of staff in the school with responsibility for child protection (known as the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Designated Person) was carrying out their responsibilities in accordance with the law and acting in the best interests of all children.
Under Section 3 (5) of the Children Act 1989, schools or any person who has care of a child “may….do what is reasonable in all the circumstances of the case for the purpose of safeguarding or promoting the child’s welfare”. This means that on rare occasions, a school may need to “hold” a child in school whilst Social Care and the police investigate any concerns further.
Please Click below for our latest Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
Please see further information regarding online safety & e-safety