Safeguarding

Safeguarding at Sunning Hill

Sunning Hill Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all pupils and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The health, safety and well-being of all children is our first priority.

We follow safer recruitment practises and all staff are DBS checked. Our staff and volunteers undertake safeguarding, PREVENT and FGM training. We provide regular updates in relation to government guidance 'Keeping Children Safe in Education'.

What is safeguarding?

Schools have a statutory responsibility to keep children safe from harm. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) defines safeguarding as:

• Protecting children from abuse and maltreatment.

• Preventing harm to children’s health or development.

• Ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care.

• Taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes

What does safeguarding look like in our school?

• We have a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all our children.

• If we have concerns about the welfare of a child we have a responsibility to take action and will always act in the best interest of the child.

• We also have a legal duty to work alongside other agencies with any child protection inquiries.

• We protect information about your child and only share it appropriately.

• We respond appropriately to an unplanned absence, or to a pattern of poor attendance.

• We track concerns about children confidentially.

• We teach pupils about safeguarding issues, including how to respond to concerns in lessons on personal, social, health and economic  education (PSHE).

• We supervise pupils as they enter and leave the school building at the start and end of the day.

• Any child who reports a concern will be listened to with respect and their concerns acted upon following our safeguarding procedures.

How do we report concerns?

• If a disclosure is made to a member of staff they will listen and record in writing what they have been told. Disclosures can come directly from a child or another adult or parent.

• Staff do not ask leading questions. They will report the disclosure immediately to a member of the senior leadership team who are all trained as Designated Safeguarding Leads.

• Staff will report any concerns relating to a child’s attendance, behaviour, general or physical wellbeing to a DSL immediately.

• After reporting the incident to the DSL, they will record it on CPOMS (our in house safeguarding system).

• Depending on the details of the disclosure the DSL may contact parents or refer directly to social services (Bolton Council’s Referral and Assessment team). Most issues are resolved quickly with parents.

• If Referral and Assessment believe a child is at risk of immediate or significant harm they escalate the matter in accordance with their safeguarding processes and procedures.

• For more information please click the link. Home – Bolton Safeguarding Children

Key terms

Disclosure
A child informs a member of staff, or volunteer, of a specific incident or issue which is of cause for concern.

Abuse
Abuse is a form of maltreatment of a child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm or by failing to act to prevent harm.

Prevent Training
Prevent is a government duty to tackle the causes of radicalisation. Staff undertake training to learn the signs and behaviours which may require school to put safeguards in place to support and protect our pupils.

FGM Training
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is illegal in the UK. Staff undertake training to identify the risks to pupils and the warning signs which need to be reported.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
A certificate of checks carried out on those working with children and vulnerable people. Those who work regularly with children require a more in-depth DBS check. This is completed by school on behalf of all staff and volunteers working in school.

Safer Recruitment
Recruiting staff using thorough checks on their suitability to work with children, including the right to work in the UK and mental and physical fitness to carry out their responsibilities

DSL
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). Sunning Hill has five designated safeguarding leads who monitor and respond to safeguarding concerns across school. We regularly have discussions with parents and will report any disclosures of abuse to the Local Authority, Referral and Assessment team.

Our Designated Safeguarding Leads

Miss Whalley – Headteacher

Mrs Rawlinson – Deputy Headteacher

Mrs Torpey – Assistant Headteacher & SENCO

Mrs Diggle – Assistant Headteacher

Miss Atkinson – School Business Manager