Safeguarding

Under the Education Act 2002 (section 175/157), schools must “make arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children”. 

At Old Leake Primary Academy, we will provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued. We are committed to Safeguarding and actively encourage a strong culture of vigilance in this area.

The school is alert to signs of abuse and neglect and will follow the Local Safeguarding Children Partnership (LSCP) procedures to ensure that children receive appropriate and effective support and protection.

Parents/carers should know that the law requires all school staff to pass on information which gives rise to a concern about a child’s welfare, including risk from neglect, physical, emotional or sexual abuse. The staff will seek, in general, to discuss concerns with the parent/carer, and where possible inform them of the referral to Social Care.  This will only be done where such discussion will not place the child at increased risk of significant harm.

In accordance with local Information Sharing protocols, we will ensure that information is shared securely and sensitively.  Information will only be shared with other services where it is deemed necessary and proportionate to ensure that children and young people are safe and receive the right service.

Definition

It is important to see safeguarding as the “umbrella” term for everything that is done to support children and young people, to keep them safe and promote their welfare. ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015’ defines safeguarding as:

• protecting children from maltreatment;
• preventing impairment of a child’s health and development;
• ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care: and
• taking action to enable all children to have the best life chances.

The welfare of the child is paramount (Children Act 1989/2004)

• All children irrespective of their age, cultural background, disability, gender, language, racial origins, religious beliefs, sexual orientation have the right to be protected from abuse.

Teaching our pupils about safeguarding

At Old Leake Primary Acdemy promotes a culture where children feel confident to speak out if they have a concern about their own or another child’s safety. All children are able to talk to a range of trusted adults that work in school.  Children can ask to speak with any trusted adult at any time and will arrange a regular meeting time for such conversations to take place.

OPERATION ENCOMPASS

We are part of the Operation Encompass Scheme. Operation Encompass is a partnership between the Police and schools. One of the principles of Operation Encompass is  that all incidents of domestic abuse are shared with schools, not just those where an offence can be identified.Every school appoints a trained Key Adult  – the Key Adult is the person who receives information about police attended Domestic Abuse incidents. The Key Adult will be notified prior to the start of the next school day that the police have attended an incident of domestic abuse. This timely information sharing  enables appropriate support to be provided for that child so that all interactions, from when the child first arrives at the school gates, are of a positive nature.

Safeguarding Curriculum

Provision is enhanced by accessing external agency support such as Childline or the NSPCC Learning Talk PANTS resources. Staff also deliver age-appropriate sessions regarding sun, sea and water safety; online safety and consent. We also use the Lincolnshire Stay Safe Partnership to provide our children with E-Safety and Road Safety Workshops.

Click here to access the NSPCC website

Click here to access Childline

Sexual Abuse within Schools: Child on Child Abuse, Sexual Violence and Harassment and Harmful Sexual Behaviour.

Our position as a school is clear: sexual violence and sexual harassment are never acceptable, will never be tolerated and are not an inevitable part of growing up. Such behaviour will never go unchallenged or become accepted and we remain committed to working openly and transparently to promote mutual respect. We will always act on concerns raised

Our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy has guidance within it around the indicators of child-on-child abuse and harmful sexual behaviour along with our response procedures. 

All pupils are taught the Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) curriculum.

Please see the links below for further information.

Prevent Duty Guidance

Lincolnshire Policy for Children Missing in Education

Statutory Guidance for LAs and other groups for supporting Children who are Missing in Education