At Belle Vue Primary School...

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families and carers has a role to play in safeguarding children. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all professionals should make sure their approach is child-centred. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child.

Belle Vue Primary School is committed to ensuring the welfare and safety of all our children in school. We believe that children have a right to learn in a supportive, caring and safe environment which includes the right to protection from all types of abuse; where staff are vigilant for signs of any pupil in distress and are confident about applying the/our safeguarding processes to avert and alleviate any such problems.

Safeguarding is about ensuring that everyone is safe from harm – safe from bullying, safe from people who could abuse, safe from discrimination or harassment – and that we all feel safe in our environment. If you are ever concerned about the safety or well‐being of someone at our school please talk to one of the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead s (DSLs).

This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This means that we have a Child Protection Policy and procedures in place. Parents and carers are welcome to read the Policy on our website. Sometimes we may 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 our pupils 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. If a member of staff is concerned about a child’s welfare, they will record their concern, and any observations or conversation heard, and report to one of the DSLs as soon as possible the same day.

Keeping Children Safe

At Belle Vue Primary School the welfare of our children is our main priority and we aim to provide you with all the information you need to help you understand our role when it comes to keeping your child safe.

We take safeguarding very seriously at Belle Vue Primary school; therefore, we have a number of policies in relation to safeguarding such as the child protection Policy. All staff have been trained in level 1 safeguarding; however, some have received more advanced training such as our safeguarding team.

As a school we aim to:

• Take a child centred approach
• Look out for signs of a safeguarding issue.
• We teach our pupils about staying safe and introduce lessons on bullying, healthy eating, internet safety and road safety so that the children are aware of how to keep themselves safe.
• Work with carers, parents and children to resolve concerns brought to our attention.

Types of Abuse

PHYSICAL - Deliberately harming or injuring a child with intent- hitting, biting, punching, nipping and blows to the body

SEXUAL - The forceful act of making a child engage in sexual activity/ influence them This is physical and non-physical.

NEGLECT - When the child's overall well-being is being ignored by parents or carers. Examples are poor hygiene, malnutrition, absences from school, being left in isolation and even disregarding appointments.

EMOTIONAL - A child can be mentally affected by being made to feel unloved, scared and unworthy. This can be caused by children being exposed to violent situations such as parents fighting or even something appearing threatening to the child such as shouting, swearing, bullying and threats.

Our Safeguarding Team

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Mrs Gail Adams

Deputy DSL:  Mr Andrew Cairns, Mr Mark Shenton, Miss Lucy Holland

Safeguarding Governor: Mrs Rosemary Watling

Family Support Manager: Mrs Gail Adams

Key Documents

• Keeping Children Safe in Education
• Working together to safeguard children
• Safeguarding Information for Visitors.pdf

Working with Other Agencies

 In order to ensure all children are safe and cared for, all professionals should make sure their approach is child-centred. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child.

Police

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Under the Children Act 1989, the police service, working with other agencies such as local authority children’s social care services, health services and education services, is responsible for making enquiries to safeguard and secure the welfare of any child within their area who is suffering (or is likely to suffer) significant harm.

The police are duty-bound to refer to the local authority those children in need whom they find in the course of their work.

Their role includes:

• the identification of children who might be at risk from abuse and neglect;
• the investigation of alleged offences against children;
• their work with other agencies, particularly the requirement to share information that is relevant to child protection issues; and
• the exercise of emergency powers to protect children.

Operation Encompass

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Operation Encompass was set up to provide early reporting to schools etc about any domestic abuse incidents that occur outside of school hours to which a young person attending our school has been exposed, and which might then have an impact on them attending school the following day. Information will only be shared with the school by the police where it is identified that a young person was present, witnessed or was involved in a domestic abuse incident. 

For more information, visit the Operation Encompass website.

Social Care

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Social Workers have a central role within the local authorities with a duty to promote, support and safeguard the wellbeing of all children in need in their area, and, insofar as is consistent with that duty, to promote the upbringing of children by their families by providing a range and level of services appropriate to children’s wellbeing needs.

The Local Authority has a duty to make enquiries under Section 47 of the Children Act 1989 if they “have reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm”. This investigation is carried out by a social worker.

School can discuss concerns with duty social workers in the Children’s Hub for further advice and support.

Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)

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If there are allegations against a member of staff, these must be reported immediately to the Headteacher. Where necessary, the LADO must be contacted within one working day in respect of all cases in which it is alleged that a person who works with children has:

• behaved in a way that has harmed, or may have harmed a child;
• possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child; or
• behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children.

The LADO is responsible for:

• Providing advice, information and guidance to employers and voluntary organisations around allegations and concerns regarding paid and unpaid workers.
• Managing and overseeing individual cases from all partner agencies.
• Ensuring the child’s voice is heard and that they are safeguarded.
• Ensuring there is a consistent, fair and thorough process for all adults working with children and young people against whom an allegation is made.
• Monitoring the progress of cases to ensure they are dealt with as quickly as possible.
• Recommending a referral and chairing the strategy meeting in cases where the allegation requires investigation by police and/or social care.

Prevent Strategy

Belle Vue Primary School is fully compliant with the DfE Prevent Strategy for Schools (June 2015). We recognise that we must have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. This duty is known as the Prevent duty and enables us to protect children from the risk of radicalisation.

“In order for schools and childcare providers to fulfil the Prevent duty, it is essential that staff are able to identify children who may be vulnerable to radicalisation, and know what to do when they are identified. Protecting children from the risk of radicalisation should be seen as part of schools’ and childcare providers’ wider safeguarding duties, and is similar in nature to protecting children from other harms (e.g. drugs, gangs, neglect, sexual exploitation), whether these come from within their family or are the product of outside influences. Schools and childcare providers can also build pupils’ resilience to radicalisation by promoting fundamental British values and enabling them to challenge extremist5 views. It is important to emphasise that the Prevent duty is not intended to stop pupils debating controversial issues. On the contrary, schools should provide a safe space in which children, young people and staff can understand the risks associated with terrorism and develop the knowledge and skills to be able to challenge extremist arguments.

                                                                                                                                   (Prevent Duty, June 2015)                                                                                                                                                    

As part of our wider safeguarding duties, we recognise that it is essential that we are able to identify children who may be vulnerable to radicalisation, and know what to do when they are identified. All relevant staff undertake online CPD provided by the Home Office on identification of children vulnerable to radicalisation and the PREVENT strategy every three years. Updates are provided through team meetings sharing relevant government updates and case studies.

Staff are aware of potential indicators that children are vulnerable to radicalisation regardless of age, gender, ethnicity etc.. As a result, they are alert to changes in children’s behaviour which could indicate that they may be in need of help or protection. Children at risk of radicalisation may display different signs or seek to hide their views. School staff use their professional judgement in identifying children who might be at risk of radicalisation and act proportionately. School staff report any concerns and, through discussion with the safeguarding team, understand when it is appropriate to make a referral to the Channel programme.

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​Reporting Concerns 

If you are concerned that somebody close to you is expressing extreme views or hatred, which could lead them to harming themselves or others; please report your concerns by visiting the website below...

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https://actearly.uk/

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• Prevent Duty
• The Prevent Strategy and the Channel Programme Process

Safeguarding Support for Parents

Call the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) helpline for support and advice if you have a concern for your own or another child’s safety on 0808 800 5000.

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If you feel that a child is in immediate danger, call the police on 999.

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You can report concerns to the police on their non-emergency number, 101.

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You can also contact the Safeguarding Hub at the council to report a concern:

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• Carlisle Safeguarding Hub 0333 240 1727
• www.cumbriasafeguardingchildren.co.uk

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Children and young people who have been victims of a crime may need support to cope and recover. You don’t have to report the crime to the police to get support.

You can find free, local support teams across England and Wales on the Victim and Witness Information site.

Suggested websites to support families:

www.cumbrialscb.com

www.bullying.co.uk

www.familylives.org.uk

www.childline.org.uk

The full “Child Protection/Safeguarding policy” and “Behaviour Policy—including our Anti-Bullying Policy” can be viewed at the  office or accessed via our Website