Children maximise their potential in an environment which is safe, secure and supportive of all their needs, including any needs they have for protection from abuse. At Willington Primary School, we regard the safeguarding of our children as our main priority. We all have the responsibility to make this happen.
We will ensure that:
- The welfare and well-being of each child is of paramount importance.
- All children whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious beliefs and/or sexual identity have the right to be protected from harm.
- We respect and value each child as an individual.
- We are a listening school, and encourage an environment where children feel free to talk, knowing that they will be listened to.
- The protection of children from abuse is a whole-school issue, and the responsibility therefore of the entire school community.
- All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
- All staff and volunteers working in our school have a responsibility to report concerns to the Designated Lead for Safeguarding – Mrs Harker.
Areas of Safeguarding
Our safeguarding policies cover all areas of school life and include:
- Staff & Visitors – ensuring they are vetted, informed & trained.
- Children’s Behaviour – promoting safer & happier behaviours & lifestyles.
- Parents & Carers – promoting links and supporting families.
- Premises – keeping them safe, pleasant and fit for purpose.
- Curriculum – providing positive, life affirming learning experiences.
- Outside School – ensuring safer activities and environments outside school.
Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
At Willington Primary School we have various safeguarding policies which are written with due regard to the Department of Education statutory guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education.
You can view our safeguarding policies here:
| Safeguarding Policies & Documents | Download |
| Low Level Concerns Policy and Guidance | Download |
| Online Safety Policy | Download |
| Safeguarding Policy | Download |
| Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024 | Download |
Designated Safeguarding Leads
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Duputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for Safeguarding and Child Protection at Willington Primary School is Mrs Harker (Headteacher).
Mrs Harker coordinates action for child protection within the school.
This includes ensuring that all staff, teaching and non-teaching (including supply staff) know who the Designated Member of Staff is and that they are aware of their individual responsibility to be alert to the signs of abuse and to discuss any concerns with the Designated Member of Staff.
In Mrs Harker’s absence the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSL) for Safeguarding and Child Protection is Mrs Britton (Deputy Headteacher) and Mrs Barnett (Assistant Headteacher).
Internet Safety
Children and young people spend lots of time on the internet. They may go online to research information for homework or to play games, chat with friends and make new ones.
The internet holds a massive amount of useful information and can also be a really good way of learning about new things and keeping in contact with friends and family. It can also be a very dangerous place so it is important that children are protected and monitored when they are online.
Click here to access information about how to keep your children safe online.
Child Sexual Exploitation
Child Sexual Exploitation, or CSE, is a form of sexual abuse which sees young children or young people being manipulated or coerced into sexual activity for receiving ‘something’ such as: gifts, food, attention, somewhere to stay, money.
Technology is very often used to groom victims. This may occur through social networking sites and mobile phones with internet access.
CSE has gained a large amount of media attention recently as lots of services involved with children and young people have seen a rise in cases of CSE. Charities such as NSPCC and Barnardos have been campaigning to raise the profile of this form of abuse. Information regarding CSE can be found here:
PACE (Parents Against Child Sexual Exploitation) is a national charity that works with parents and carers whose children are sexually exploited. PACE offers one-to-one telephone support, national and local meet-ups with other affected parents and information on how parents can work in partnership with school, police and social care.
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
In April 2014 every school in England received new safeguarding guidelines and detailed information on identifying and responding to Female Genital Mutilation.
FGM is a procedure carried out on young girls between the ages of infancy and 15 years of age. Female Genital Mutilation is classified as a form of Child Abuse in the UK. It therefore makes the procedure of it a serious Child Protection issue. It is illegal for anyone to perform FGM in the UK or to arrange for a child to be transported to another country for the procedure. The maximum sentence for carrying out FGM or helping it to take place is 14 years in prison.
There is lots of information and support available online for parents/carers concerned about this subject or if you know someone who is at risk:
Contact the Police if you think that a girl or young woman is in danger of FGM and is still in the UK.
Contact the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (020 7008 1500) if she’s already been taken abroad.
The Daughters of Eve website helps to raise awareness of this issue and sign-posts those affected by it to supportive services.
The NSPCC has detailed advice on how to spot the signs, symptoms and effects of FGM and provides support for people who are concerned about a child or who have been affected themselves.
The NSPCC offers a free and anonymous FGM 24 hour helpline. Call 0800 028 3550 or email fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk
Preventing Radicalisation
From 1 July 2015 schools are subject to a duty under section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, in the exercise of their functions, to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”.
Willington Primary School is clear that extremism and radicalisation should be viewed as safeguarding concerns. We value freedom of speech and the expression of beliefs and both pupils/students and adults have the right to speak freely and voice their opinions.
Our school ethos seeks to build pupils’ resilience to radicalisation by promoting fundamental British values and enabling them to challenge extremist views.
DfE guidance on the Prevent Duty can be found here:
Prevent Duty Departmental advice for Schools and Colleges
The NSPCC have information for parents/carers about radicalisation and dangers associated with extremism. There is also links to other supportive services on the NSPCC web page.
Information and resources to download for Parents, Carers and Staff can be found here:
Educate Against Hate – website resource for schools and parents/carers
NSPCC
The NSPCC has a wide range of resources that help adults keep children safe from abuse and other dangers, both online and in the physical world.
- P.A.N.T.S: Teach your child the Underwear Rule and help protect them from abuse. It’s a simple way that parents can help keep children safe from sexual abuse.
- Share Aware: Help your child stay safe on social networks, apps and games.
- Online safety: Helpful advice and tools you can use to help keep your child safe whenever and wherever they go online.
- Staying safe away from home: Your guide to when your child’s old enough to be out on their own, and how to teach them to keep safe while they’re away.
- Home alone: How to decide when it’s safe for your child to be home on their own, and what you can do if they’re too young.
Reporting a Concern of Abuse or Neglect
If you suspect or believe a child is suffering or is likely to suffer significant harm, including any form of mistreatment or abuse, you should report your concerns.
If you are a member of the public take the following steps.
Emergency
If a child is in immediate danger, you should contact the police – call 999.
Not an emergency
If there is no immediate danger, or you need advice or information, you should:
- contact First Contact Service 03000 26 79 79
- contact the NSPCC helpline 0808 800 5000
What happens when you ring First Contact Service?
First Contact are experienced children’s services professionals, who are trained to deal with sensitive issues. They will ask you a few short questions to find out how best to deal with your concern. They work closely with other professionals to make sure that action is taken and the right level of support can be given to the right people at the right time.
