Safeguarding
SAFEGUARDING AT PENWORTHAM PRIMARY SCHOOL
The safety and well-being of the children at Penwortham Primary School is of paramount importance.
Our Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) in school are; Miss Penarski (Head teacher), Mrs Cunningham (Deputy Head teacher) and Miss Flint (Learning Mentor).These staff members have undertaken LCC Designated Safeguarding Lead Training. Our Safeguarding Governor is Mrs Jones and our Deputy Safeguarding Governor is Miss Flint.
All other members of school staff are regularly trained and updated in safeguarding and child protection. We work with relevant agencies to reduce risk and promote the welfare of children.
Safeguarding Children is Everybody's Responsibility
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as:
providing help and support to meet the needs of children as soon as problems emerge
protecting children from maltreatment, whether that is within or outside the home, including online
preventing the impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes
Safeguarding is not just about protecting children from deliberate harm. It relates to aspects of school life including:
pupils’ health and safety
the use of reasonable force
meeting the needs of pupils with medical conditions
providing first aid
educational visits
intimate care
internet or e-safety
appropriate arrangements to ensure school security, considering the local context.
Are you concerned that a child is being abused or neglected?
If you are concerned about a child and you feel they are being abused, neglected or at risk of abuse/neglect, then you should consider making a safeguarding child referral.
Contact Lancashire County Councils Social Care Service for confidential advice and consultation.
Monday to Friday 08.45 -17.00 please call: 0300 123 6720
If you are calling outside these hours please contact the Emergency Duty Team on 0300 123 6722
If you think a child is in immediate danger – don't delay call the police on 999
You can also report your concerns online:
NSPCC Website: www.nspcc.org.uk
Or you can also speak to:
NSPCC 0800 800 5000
Childline 0800 1111
Operation Encompass
In conjunction with Lancashire Police, Penwortham Primary School is involved in a national initiative called 'Operation Encompass'. The purpose of Operation Encompass is to safeguard and support children and young people who have been involved in, heard or witnessed a domestic abuse incident.
Following a domestic abuse incident attended by Lancashire Police, at which children from our school were present, Lancashire Police will notify us prior to the start of the school day. This enables us to offer support to any child arriving at school. Operation Encompass aims to ensure that appropriate school staff are made aware early enough to help and support children and young people in a way that means they feel safe and supported.
Each school has a member of staff (key adult) who is trained to as Designated Safeguarding Lead. These members of staff liaise with the police, when required, whilst ensuring support is available to the child.
These identified adults in our school are Miss Penarski (Head teacher), Mrs Cunningham (Deputy Head teacher), Miss Flint (Learning Mentor). If you would like to speak to someone further about the project or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact Miss Penarski via the school office on 01772 743321 or go to: https://www.operationencompass.org/
Prevent Duty
The aim of the Prevent Duty is to reduce the threat of terrorism in the UK by working actively to stop individuals from supporting terrorism or becoming terrorists. The expectation placed upon schools and childcare settings is that they will work closely with a multi-agency support network (including contacts such as the Police and the Local Safeguarding Children Board) to raise awareness of issues of extremism, and to support individuals who are vulnerable of being drawn into terrorism.
The current legislation surrounding Prevent duty came into force on 1st July 2015, and remains a feature of every UK school, college, nursery, or other childcare setting’s safeguarding policy. If you are a teacher, or work in any of these institutions, you will undoubtedly require Prevent training. Prevent is another aspect of safeguarding.
The Prevent duty guidance requires that:
School staff have undertaken training in the Prevent Duty as identified by their leaders and managers including the Head teacher.
School staff are aware of when it is appropriate to refer Prevent related concerns about students, learners or colleagues to the Prevent officer; Miss Penarski & Mrs Cunningham.
School exemplify British values of “democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs” into their practice.
CEOP - Child Exploitation and Online Protection
Are you worried about online sexual abuse or the way someone has been communicating with you online?
Make a report to one of CEOP's Child Protection Advisors.
CEOP is a law enforcement agency and is here to keep children and young people safe from sexual exploitation and abuse.
For more information or to make a report, go to: CEOP Safety Centre
Adverse Childhood Experiences
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are stressful or traumatic events. ACEs may include abuse, neglect, witnessing domestic violence or growing up with family members who have substance use disorders. They are strongly related to the development and prevalence of a wide range of health problems throughout a person's life.
ACEs can have the following impact upon children and young people:
difficulty learning and limited social skills
exhibit violent behaviour, risky or delinquent behaviour
suffer from low self-esteem and experience increased levels of anxiety
aggressive and violent behaviour, including bullying
lack of conflict resolution skills
lack of empathy for others and poor peer relationships
poor school performance
anti-social behaviour
pregnancy, alcohol and substance misuse
self-blame, hopelessness shame and apathy
post-traumatic stress disorder
Early Help
Penwortham Primary School works to provide Early Help to those children and families in the school community with emerging needs, which may not be appropriate for Social Services intervention. Early help means providing support to our children and families as soon as a problem emerges at any point in a child’s life.
We understand how complicated family life can be. From time to time, there may be situations where you need some extra help and support. You can always come and talk to us.
Successful Early Help will mean:
Children:
·are physically and emotionally healthy
·are resilient and able to learn well
·are supported by our families, community and (when necessary) professionals in order to thrive
·live in safe environments
Parents & Carers:
·support one another in the community
·know where to get help if needed
·have trusted relationships with school, the community & other parents
·are well informed about how best to help their child’s development and are motivated to make great choices
Internet and E-Safety
E-Safety is an important part of keeping children safe at Penwortham Primary School . We have extensive security measures in place in school to help safeguard pupils from potential dangers or unsuitable material. Internet and E-Safety is taught to all pupils explaining and demonstrating how to stay safe and behave appropriately online.
We can only be successful in keeping children safe online if we work with parents to ensure the E-Safety message is consistent. It is important that parents speak to their children about how they can keep safe and behave appropriately online.
It’s essential to be realistic - banning the internet or technology will not work and it often makes a child less likely to report a problem. Education around safe use is essential.
See the Online Safety section for further information and advice.
Useful Contacts
Families can sometimes need support from a wide range of agencies. We recognise that other agencies will be able to support children and families based on their specialised work. Therefore, our role is often to signpost families to the resources that will best support their needs.
Domestic Abuse = https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/your-health-and-wellbeing/domestic-abuse
MindsMatter = https://www.lscft.nhs.uk/Mindsmatter
Lancashire County Council Homelessness Services = https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/lancashire-insight/population-and-households/households-and-housing/homeless-households-in-priority-need/