Safety & Safeguarding
The safety and well-being of our children at St Mary Magdalen's Catholic Primary School is of utmost importance to us and we will always act in the interest of the child.
What is safeguarding?
Safeguarding can be defined by promoting the health, safety and welfare of all pupils. Safeguarding is the responsibility of all adults, especially those working or volunteering with children. The school aims to help protect the children in its care by working consistently and appropriately with all relevant agencies to reduce risk and promote the welfare of children.
What is child protection?
Child protection is a part of safeguarding and promoting welfare. This refers to the activity which is undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering, or at risk of suffering, significant harm.
Safeguarding at our School
Our Designated Senior Lead in Child Protection (DSL) is Mrs C McKinnon (Headteacher).
Our Deputy DSLs are Mrs Nolan-Williams and Mrs Bradley.
All other members of school staff are regularly trained and updated in safeguarding and child protection. The Safeguarding Governor is Mr T Roberts.
All disclosures from children or concerns from adults are taken seriously, recorded on our Safeguarding and Child Protection Software for Schools (CPOMs) and investigated thoroughly in line with Lancashire County Council's Safeguarding Children Board guidelines.
Other support
More information and guidance on safeguarding, child protection, child abuse or neglect can be found on the following websites:
- NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children)
- CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre)
- Child Line (Call 0800 1111)
ENCOMPASS PARTNERSHIP
The school has been given the opportunity to take part in a project that will run jointly between schools and Lancashire Police: ENCOMPASS is the reporting to schools, by the next school day, when a child or young person has affected by a domestic incident.
ENCOMPASS will ensure that a member of the school staff, known as a Key Adult, will be shared the information in confidence, while ensuring that the school is able to make provision for possible difficulties experienced by children, or their families, who have been involved in, affected or exposed to a domestic abuse incident.
The Designated Safeguarding Lead, Mrs C McKinnon and the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads, Mrs Nolan-Williams and Mrs Bradley are the 'Key Adults' in the school and we are keen to offer the best support possible to all our pupils and we believe this will be extremely beneficial for all those involved.
Prevent Duty
Preventing Radicalisation in school
Building resilience in our young people and the promotion of British values is at the heart of preventing radicalisation. We do this by providing a safe place in which children can discuss issues, and we aim to give them the knowledge and confidence to challenge extremist beliefs and ideologies. (Click here to see British Value Policy)
Prevent duty, is carried out under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, which legally requires us to take steps to prevent pupils from being drawn into terrorism. We take this duty seriously and carry out the four main actions responsibly, namely: risk assessment, working in partnership, staff training and IT policies. If we assess a child as at risk, we will refer to the Channel Programme, which focuses on providing support at an early stage to people who are identified as being vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism.
In terms of training, staff do annual Prevent training to familiarise them with the Prevent Duty. In terms of internet safety, we ensure suitable filters are in place to keep children away from extremist materials, in keeping with Lancashire guidelines.
We recognise that we play a vital role in keeping children safe from harm, including from the risks of extremism and radicalisation, and in promoting the welfare of children in our care.
What we do if there is a concern
If we have a concern about a particular pupil we will follow the school’s normal safeguarding procedures, including discussing with the school’s designated safeguarding lead, and where deemed necessary, with children’s social care. In Prevent priority areas, the local authority will have a Prevent lead who can also provide support.
We may also contact the local police force or dial 101 (the non-emergency number). They can talk to us in confidence about concerns and help us gain access to support and advice.
The Department for Education has dedicated a telephone helpline (020 7340 7264) to enable staff and governors to raise concerns relating to extremism directly. Concerns can also be raised by email to counter.extremism@education.gsi.gov.uk. Please note that the helpline is not intended for use in emergency situations, such as a child being at immediate risk of harm or a security incident In an emergency situation we will follow the recommended emergency procedures.
Additional help:
