Safeguarding

Our Safeguarding Vision


Governors and staff are committed are at Alsager Highfields Primary School to keeping children safe by safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in our care through all our policies, procedures and practices. We expect all our pupils’ parents and visitors to share this commitment and understanding. 
The four main elements to Alsager Highfields Primary School's Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy are;
    1    Prevention – a positive school atmosphere, careful and vigilant teaching and pastoral care.
    2    Protection – all staff respond appropriately and sensitively to child protection concerns.
    3    Reconsideration – following and challenging the progress of new referrals and existing cases to ensure that individual cases are reconsidered if there remains no improvement to a child’s circumstances.
    4    Support – to pupils and school staff and to children who may be vulnerable due to their individual circumstances.


Our Aims


ALL staff must:

  • Ensure that they listen to and reflect on the voice of the child at ALL times and take seriously any concerns raised to them by a child.
  • Ensure that they report ANY concerns of harm to any child to the Designated Safeguarding Lead immediately. (However, ALL staff can refer their concerns directly to the Integrated Contact and Referral Team if necessary and the police in the stated incidents above. They should inform the Designated Safeguarding Lead as soon as possible if they have reported concerns directly.
  • Ensure that they record any information shared directly with them by a child or observed/witnessed with the Designated Safeguarding Lead immediately. This could include sharing information on behalf of the Designated Safeguarding Lead with other agencies.
  • Ensure that they maintain an attitude of ‘it could happen here’ and report any concerns regarding the behaviour of a child /an adult/staff member in school directly to the
  • Designated Safeguarding Lead/Deputy Designated Lead/Headteacher.
  • Ensure that they feel able to raise concerns about poor or unsafe practices of staff and potential failures in the school’s safeguarding regime through whistleblowing procedures and the staff behaviour/code of conduct policy.
  • Ensure that they attend regular formal training/updates at least annually to support them in recognising the signs and symptoms of abuse, particularly in support of early identification of needs of children to prevent an escalation of need or risk to the child.
  • Ensure from the 1st July 2015 that under the Counter Terrorism and Security Act, April 2015 that the school has ‘Due regard’ To Prevent’ and to assess risk of children and young people being radicalised drawn into extremism (based upon potential risks in local area and that clear protocols in place for all visitors so that views are appropriate and not an opportunity to influence others).
  • Ensure from October 2015 that there is mandatory reporting to the police in all cases where teachers discover that an act of FGM appears to have been carried out.
  • Ensure that staff understand through online safety training the additional risks for pupils online and continue to promote the School’s Online Safety Policy in the protection of all pupils. This includes the management of 3G and 4G internet access via children’s own mobile phones or electronic devices which can allow them unlimited access to the internet without any restrictions using their own data allowance.
  • Ensure that they remain vigilant whilst visitors are on site and continue to promote the school’s commitment to keeping children safe through reminding visitors and parents of the school’s appropriate use of personal mobile phones/devices whilst they are on school premises. This includes staff understanding and adhering to the Staff
  • Behaviour Policy inclusive of use of mobile phones and electronic devices.


All staff will undergo an enhanced DBS check and it is their responsibility to notify the governors if there has been any change in their personal circumstance that may pose a risk to children. 


Our Designated safeguarding Team includes:

Designated Safeguarding Lead:  Mrs Dyde  Assistant Headteacher

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads:  Mrs Woollam (headteacher), Mrs Millichap (EYFS teacher), Mrs Harrison (Y6 teacher), Mrs Ryde (teaching assistant) and Mrs Riley (school business manager)

Family Liaison Officer: Mrs Leopold

Safeguarding Governor: Mrs Vanessa Howard


Who to talk to within school:
If you have any concerns about a child’s safety, please contact us on 01270 882472 and ask to speak with either the Designated Safeguarding Lead, Mrs Dyde, or our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads Mrs Woollam, Mrs Millichap, Mrs Harrison, Mrs Ryde or Mrs Riley.

Please find below a number of contact numbers, should you require any support or help during times when school is closed:

Highfields Primary School

01270 882472 or admin@alsagerhighfields.cheshire.sch.uk

Cheshire East Children’s Consultation  Service (CHECS – Social Care)

0300 123 5012 (option 3)

Cheshire East Children’s Consultation Service out of hours emergency number (CHECS – Social Care)

0300 123 5022

Childline

0800 1111

NHS 111

111

Non- emergency police contact

101

The emergency services (Police, Fire, Ambulance)

999

Alsager Foodbank

07743659906 

The Cedars Medical Centre

01270 275606

Merepark Medical Centre

01270 275600

You can also follow the link below for Cheshire East’s Safeguarding Team:

https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/livewell/care-and-support-for-children/are-you-concerned-about-a-child/cheshire-east-consultation-service-checs/checs.aspx

Please follow the below link for Domestic Abuse Guidance from Cheshire East:

CE-Domestic-Abuse-Services-for-you-COVID19

The NSPCC has updated its online safety content for parents and carers on its website and this also now includes new advice on talking to children about upsetting coronavirus content which they may have viewed online.

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/inappropriate-explicit-content

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/talking-child-online-safety

The Safer Schools Home Learning Hub is a free library of resources to support parents and carers who are taking the time to help their children be safer online. The resources have been adapted to make them easily accessible for everyone.

https://oursaferschools.co.uk/home-learning-hub  

There are many websites and organisations that can offer a wealth of safeguarding and e-safety advice much of which is updated regularly. On this page, you will find links to a selection of recommended resources.
If your child has a mobile device, then please monitor it closely and seek help where required. For more information see our 'Keeping children safe online' page.

 

Parentzone Think U Know
Cheshire East Safeguarding NSPCC
UK Safer Internet Centre Virgin Online Safety


 

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