Safeguarding
At Winslow CE School, the health, safety and well-being of every child is our paramount concern. We expect all staff, governors and volunteers to share this commitment to safeguarding our pupils. To promote a safe environment for pupils, our selection and recruitment policy includes all checks on staff and regular volunteers’ suitability, including Criminal Records Bureau checks, as recommended by Buckinghamshire County Council in accordance with current legislation.
We listen to our pupils and take seriously what they tell us. All school staff are regularly trained in Child Protection, and children are made aware of the adults they can talk to if they have any concerns. In accordance with our responsibilities under section 175/157 of the Education Act 2002, and “Keeping Children Safe in Education 2022”, we have a Designated Person for Child Protection (Samantha Dimbleby – Headteacher) and Deputy Designated Person for Child Protection (Tracy Thomas and Katie Epps) who have received appropriate training for this role. It is their responsibility to ensure that all staff in contact with children receive child protection awareness training on a regular basis.
There are occasions that our concern about a child may mean that we have to consult other agencies. Whilst we would always aim to work in partnership with parents there may be exceptions to this when concerns are raised for the protection of a child.
On very rare occasions Social Care, whilst undertaking an investigation under S47 of the Children Act 1989, may want to speak to a child without parents’ knowledge. This would be a decision made in collaboration with partner agencies and would only be done in situations where a child might be at immediate risk. To gain consent at this point may increase the level of risk to the child or cause evidence of a crime to be lost.
Designated Safeguarding Leads
Mrs Samantha Dimbleby (Headteacher)
Mrs Tracy Thomas (Deputy Headteacher)
Mrs Katie Epps (Deputy Headteacher)
The procedures, which we follow, have been laid down by the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board, and the school has adopted a Child Protection Policy in line with this for the safety of all. If you want to know more about our procedures, please speak to the Headteacher, Samantha Dimbleby or your child’s class teacher. The Policy can be found by clicking the link below or if you require a paper copy please contact the school office.
Child Exploitation and Online Protection. Follow the link if you have concerns about the exploitation of a child and would like to report it to the police.
Visit Think U Know for helpful advice on Keeping Sage on the internet.
Helpful information
As we continue to rely on technology for entertainment and keeping in touch with friends and family, the following articles may help keep
children safer online:
• A parent’s guide to privacy settings (including important information about how to switch off location setting)
• Gaming: what parents and carers need to know
• What is the Internet of Things (IoT)?
Please also see below guidance from the Children’s Commissioner for parents and carers, on how to talk to your child about online sexual harassment . Based on the voices of children and young people it gives tips to adults about how they can support children to stay safer online.
For any parents who were unable to attend the parent presentation ‘Safeguarding from Online Harms’, please see the useful summary provided by Alison Watts, which may be of interest.
Some parents also requested the Family Agreement which was mentioned. This is also attached for your use.