ST ILLTYD’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

SAFEGUARDING POLICY

Introduction 

St. Illtyd’s Primary School fully recognises the contribution it makes to safeguarding. 

There are three main elements to our policy:  

• prevention through the culture, teaching and pastoral support offered to learners  

• procedures for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases, of abuse – because of our day-to-day contact with children our staff are well placed to observe the outward signs of abuse  

• support to learners who may have been abused. 

Our policy applies to all staff and volunteers working in the education setting and governors. Learning support assistants, mid-day supervisors, caretakers, secretaries as well as teachers can be the first point of disclosure for a child. 

Prevention 

We recognise that high self-esteem, confidence, supportive friends and good lines of communication with a trusted adult helps to safeguard learners. The school will therefore:  

• establish and maintain an ethos where children feel secure and are encouraged to talk, and are listened to  

• ensure children know that there are adults in the education setting whom they can approach if they are worried or in difficulty  

• include in the curriculum, activities and opportunities for relationships and sexuality education which equip children with the skills they need to stay safe from abuse and to know to whom to turn for help  

• include in the curriculum material that will help children develop realistic attitudes to the responsibilities of adult life, particularly with regard to childcare and parenting skills  

• build relationships with other agencies and ensure early and appropriate referrals for support and intervention are made before risks escalate  

• take a whole-school (setting) approach to well-being which will incorporate safeguarding and preventative measures to support children and families. 

  
  

Procedures 

At this school we will follow the Wales Safeguarding Procedures, which can be downloaded as an App, or accessed via https://safeguarding.wales/ and other guidance and protocols that have been endorsed and agreed by Gwent Safeguarding www.gwentsafeguarding.org.uk.

St.Illtyd’s Primary School will:  

• ensure it has a Designated Safeguarding Person (DSP) and deputy for safeguarding, who have undertaken the appropriate training.

  • The DSP for St. Illtyd’s Primary School are:

    • Mrs A Matthews

    • Mrs K Banks (Group C Practitioner)

    • Mrs C Hughes

    • Mr T Senior

    • Mr L Williams

• recognise the role of the DSP and arrange support and training 

• ensure every member of staff and every governor knows: 

• the name of the DSP and their role, 

  • the local authority point of contact (Mrs S Dixon) 

  • and the designated governor for safeguarding (Mr S Doel)

• that they have an individual responsibility for reporting children at risk and protection concerns to social services, or to the police, within the timescales agreed with the Regional Safeguarding Board 

• how to take forward those concerns when the DSP is unavailable. That advice can be sought from the Social Services Information, Advice and Assistance (IAA), and /or the Safeguarding in Education Manager if necessary when a report is being considered. When out of hours, advice will be sought from the South East Wales Emergency Duty Team (SEWEDT)

• ensure that all members of staff are aware of the need to be alert to signs of abuse and neglect, and know how to respond to a learner who may disclose abuse or neglect  

• ensure that members of staff who are EWC registrants are aware of the Code of Professional Conduct and Practice for registrants with the Education Workforce Council and the expectation within the Code that the registrant has regard to the safety and well-being of learners in their care and related content (see www.ewc.wales/site/index.php/en/fitness-topractise/code-of-professional-conduct-and-practice-pdf.html )

• ensure that parents/carers have an understanding of the responsibility placed on the school setting and staff for safeguarding and child protection by setting out its obligations in the school brochure  provide training for all staff so that they:

• understand their personal responsibility 

• know the agreed local procedures and their duty to respond 

• are aware of the need to be vigilant in identifying cases of abuse and neglect 

• know how to support a child who discloses abuse or neglect

• understand the role online behaviours may have in each of the above  notify the local authority’s social services team if: 

• a learner on the child protection register is excluded, either for a fixed term or permanently 

• there is an unexplained absence of a learner on the child protection register of more than two days’ duration from school (or one day following a weekend)

• work to develop effective links with relevant agencies and cooperate as required with their enquiries regarding child protection matters, including attendance at initial review as well as child protection conferences and core groups and the submission of written reports to the conferences 

• keep written records of concerns using the MyConcern Platform about children (noting the date, event and action taken), even where there is no need to refer the matter to the local authority immediately  

• ensure all records are kept secure and in locked locations  

• adhere to the procedures set out in the Welsh Government‘s Disciplinary and dismissal procedures for school staff: Revised guidance for governing bodies 

• ensure that recruitment and selection procedures are made in accordance with Welsh Government‘s Keeping learners safe guidance  

• designate a governor for safeguarding who will oversee the school’s child protection policy and practice. 

  
  

Supporting those at risk 

We recognise that children/young people who are at risk, suffer abuse or experience violence may be deeply affected by this. St. Illtyd’s Primary School may be the only stable, secure and predictable element in the lives of children at risk. Nevertheless, when at school, their behaviour may be challenging and defiant or they may be withdrawn. The school will endeavour to support the learner through:  

• the content of the curriculum to encourage self-esteem and self-motivation  the school/college ethos which: 

• promotes a positive, supportive and secure environment 

• gives learners a sense of being valued (see section 2 on Prevention)  

• the school’s behaviour policy, which is aimed at supporting vulnerable pupils in the school/college.

  
  

  All staff will agree on a consistent approach that focuses on the behavioural outcome of the child but does not damage the individual’s sense of self-worth. The school will endeavour to ensure that the learner knows that some behaviour is unacceptable but that they are valued and not to be blamed for any abuse which has occurred  liaison with other agencies who support the learner such as local authority officers – for example the educational psychology service, behaviour support services or the Education Welfare Service – child and adolescent mental health services, and advocacy services  

• keeping records and notifying the local authority as soon as there is a recurrence of a concern. 

• When a learner on the child protection register leaves, we will transfer information to the new provider immediately and inform social services. 

  
  

Anti-bullying 

Our policy on anti-bullying is set out in a separate document (Anti-Bullying Policy) and is reviewed annually by the Governing body. 

Physical intervention 

Our policy on physical intervention is set out in a separate document and is reviewed annually by the Governing body, and is consistent with the Welsh Government’s guidance Safe and effective intervention – use of reasonable force and searching for weapons. 

Children with additional learning needs 

We recognise that statistically children with additional learning needs are most at risk of abuse. Staff who work with children with an additional learning need, such as a profound and multiple disability, sensory impairment or emotional and behavioural problem, need to be particularly sensitive to signs of abuse.

Care Experienced Children 

St. Illtyd’s Primary School recognises that Children Looked After (CLA) are often the most vulnerable. Advice and guidance can be sought from the Local Authority’s Education Coordinator for Children Looked After. 

Community Cohesion – Preventing Extremism 

This school is committed to providing a safe environment for all of our students and practitioners. There is no place for extremist views of any kind in our setting. If we become aware of information involving identification of potential instances of extremism and radicalisation, we will refer to Children’s/Adult Services in the same way as for all safeguarding concerns. The Local Authority has ‘Secure and Shelter’ (Lockdown) procedures that may be activated in response to any number of situations and includes the requirement to carry out practice procedures.

Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (VAWDA&SV) 

The Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015 aims to improve arrangements for the prevention of gender based violence, abuse and sexual violence. The protection of victims and support for people affected is underpinned by the ‘Ask and Act’ duty placed on public service staff to ask potential victims about the possibility that they may be experiencing VAWDASV and act so as to reduce suffering and harm. The regional VAWDASV board has also prioritised a ‘whole school approach’ to training and support in order to continue a preventative agenda to domestic abuse. This approach is relevant for all education settings. Every school should have a designated lead responsible for supporting learners with relationships and sexuality education. The school participates in Operation Encompass. The purpose of Operation Encompass is to safeguard and support these children and young people who have witnessed and/or been present at the time of a domestic abuse incident. Operation Encompass aims to ensure that appropriate practitioners are made aware at the earliest possible stage in order to provide relevant and tailored support to children and young people in a way that means they feel safe and included. 

The Designated Senior Person for safeguarding at this school is:- Adele Matthews

The Deputy Designated Senior Persons for safeguarding at this school is: Kirsty Banks

Designated Safeguarding Persons (DSP) Ceri Hughes, Thomas Senior and Latimer Williams

The designated governor for safeguarding at this school is: Mr S Doel

The Chair of Governors at this school is: Mrs Keri Jones

The Council’s Safeguarding in Education Manager is:- Sarah.Dixon@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk 

Social Services can be contacted as follows:- 

Telephone- 01495-315700 / Out of hours number 0800 328 4432