At Racemeadow Primary Academy, we regard the safeguarding of children as our main priority. We believe that we all have the right to be happy, to be safe and to learn. We all have the responsibility to make this happen. 
 

We will ensure that:

• The welfare of the child remains paramount.
• All children whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious beliefs and/ or sexual identity have the right to be protected from harm.
• All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and
  appropriately.
• All staff and volunteers working at our school have a responsibility to report concerns to: Mrs Collinson (Executive Headteacher & Designated Safeguarding Lead), Mrs Everitt (Head of School & Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead) or  Mrs Deeming (Senior Leadership Team & Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead).
   

Areas of Safeguarding

Our safeguarding policies cover all areas of school life and include:

• Staff & Visitors- ensuring they are vetted, informed & trained.
• Children’s Behaviour- promoting safer & happier behaviours & lifestyles.
• Parents & Carers- promoting links & supporting families.
• Premises -keeping them safe, pleasant & fit for purpose.
• Curriculum -providing positive, life affirming learning experiences.
• Outside School- ensuring safer activities and environments outside school.

We have a duty to ensure that we safeguard children across wide and varied aspects of children and families needs. These are set out in the government publication; Keeping Children Safe in Education, and are detailed as:

Abuse

• physical Abuse
• emotional abuse
• sexual abuse
• neglect

Plus the Specific Safeguarding Issues of:

• child missing from education 
• child missing from home or care
• child sexual exploitation (CSE) 
• child on child abuse
• contextual safeguarding
• bullying including cyberbullying
• domestic violence
• drugs
• fabricated or induced illness
• faith abuse
• female genital mutilation (FGM) 
• forced marriage
• gangs and youth violence
• gender-based violence/violence against women and girls (VAWG)
• mental health
• private fostering
• preventing radicalisation – and see page 1
• sexting
• teenage relationship abuse
• trafficking

Members of Staff Responsible

We are all responsible for ensuring that each child remains safe, however the Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mrs Collinson (Headteacher) and Mrs Everitt (Deputy Headteacher) is Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.
 

Safer Recruitment

We follow strict procedures to ensure that everyone who works with our children is vetted, keeping our children as safe as possible. At least one senior member of staff is qualified in Safer Recruitment Procedures.

Staff Training

• Staff are trained in child protection issues and they are aware of the procedures to follow. Staff training is delivered via a variety of means: face to face in and out of school training , online refreshers and information raising, document sharing and on-going professional dialogues during staff meetings.
• Staff and volunteers are encouraged to be vigilant in order to maintain the safety of our children and their concerns are discussed and handled appropriately.
   

Child Protection with Safeguarding Policy

All staff have an up-to-date understanding of safeguarding children issues and are able to implement the safeguarding children policy and procedure appropriately. Policies are in line with current guidance and procedures. A copy of the policy is on our policies page.

Staff are able to respond appropriately to any:

• significant changes in children’s behaviour;
• deterioration in their general well-being;
• unexplained bruising, marks or signs of possible abuse;
• signs of neglect;
• comments children make which give cause for concern.

All staff and volunteers are aware of the need to maintain privacy and confidentiality. Parents are informed via the school brochure, website and through newsletters in relation to our duty and procedures to protect their children.
 

Information Sharing

We have an obligation to obtain necessary information from parents in advance of a child being admitted to school, including:

• emergency contact numbers;
• the child’s special dietary requirements, preferences or food allergies the child may have;
• the child’s special health requirements;
• information about who has legal contact with the child; and who has parental responsibility for the child.

Written parental permission is requested, at the time of the child’s admission to the provision, to the seeking of any necessary emergency medical advice or treatment in the future.
 

PARENTS & CARERS MUST TELL US OF ANY CHANGES TO THESE DETAILS.

We take confidentiality very seriously. Any information which we hold is treated as confidential and shared on a ‘need-to-know’ basis.
 

Links with External Agencies

Because our first concern must be the well-being of your child, there may be occasions when we have to consult other agencies before we contact you. 

We are fortunate to be supported by a range of external agencies which can be called upon to support the work we do in school. These include School Nurse, Health Practitioners, Educational Psychology, Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services, Social Services and Specialists in supporting Special Educational Needs.

If you have a safeguarding concern, then this should be brought to the attention of Mrs Collinson or Mrs Everitt in the first instance.
 

Review of Policy and Practice

In order to ensure that best practice is maintained, our policies are reviewed regularly to incorporate the latest statutory guidance.

If you would like more information on safeguarding, please contact Mrs Collinson, who will be happy to discuss matters further with you.

What to do if you are concerned about a child

If you are worried about any child and think they may be a victim of neglect, abuse or cruelty, contact the school or if you wish, you can contact MASH (Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub) on 01926 414144.

The MASH Operating Times are:

• 8.30am – 5.30pm: Monday – Thursday
• 8.30am – 5.00pm: Friday

If the concern can not wait until the MASH reopens and is an Emergency. Out of Hours contact the Emergency Duty Team on telephone number 01926 886922

In an emergency contact the Police by ringing 999.