All adults working with or on behalf of children have a responsibility to protect children. There are, however, key people within schools and the Local Authority who have specific responsibilities under Safeguarding and child protection procedures.
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 and contextual. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child including the wider environmental factors that are present in a child’s life that are a threat to their safety and/or welfare.
Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play in safeguarding children. School and college staff are particularly important as they are in a position to identify concerns early and provide help for children, to prevent concerns from escalating. Schools and colleges and their staff form part of the wider safeguarding system for children. This system is described in statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018. Schools and colleges should work with social care, the police, health services and other services to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. This includes providing a co-ordinated offer of early help when additional needs of children are identified and contributing to inter-agency plans to provide additional support to children subject to child protection plans
Our school will therefore:
(a) Establish and maintain an ethos where children feel secure, are encouraged to talk
and are listened to.
(How will this be achieved?)
(b) Ensure that children know that there are adults in the school who they can approach
if they are worried or are in difficulty.
(How will this be achieved?)
(c) Establish and maintain an ethos where children are supported with their
Emotional Well Being and Mental Health
(How will this be achieved?)
(d) Include in the curriculum, material which will help children develop realistic attitudes
to the responsibilities of adult life, particularly with regard to childcare and parenting
skills.
(Specify where more information in this respect can be obtained)
(e) Ensure that every effort will be made to establish effective working relationships
with parents and practitioners from other agencies.
Our school fully recognises the contribution it can make to protect children and support pupils in school and beyond.