Safeguarding

Our Commitment to Keeping Your Children Safe

Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm; keeping them safe in every way within our community, and helping them to learn about how to keep themselves safe.

Safeguarding means:

• 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

Pupils’ concerns and worries are listened to in our school and are taken seriously.

As well as educating the children in our care, the staff and governors of Atlas Community Primary School take the safeguarding of all of its pupils seriously, and have a duty to ensure that systems are in place to support this.

The children are encouraged to speak to staff if they have anything that is worrying or upsetting them either at school, at home or elsewhere.  Staff are trained to listen to the children in a calm, encouraging and sensitive manner, and any emerging issues are then dealt with appropriately.  Posters around our school show the children which staff are the people to speak to.

When recruiting new staff, the school follows a robust Recruitment and Selection Policy, and ensures that all staff involved have undergone Safer Recruitment Training.  No posts will be taken up until there have been full and satisfactory reference checks and a fully enhanced Criminal Record Bureau check.  These checks are completed for all staff, governors and volunteers, and a record of this information is kept in school.  We also ensure that any external bodies who have access to the school site have undertaken relevant checks with their staff.

Child protection is part of the safeguarding process. It focuses on protecting individual children identified as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. This includes child protection procedures which detail how to respond to concerns about a child.  We have a fully compliant Child Protection Policy (available on our policies page) which is reviewed annually.  All staff receive regular Child Protection training and we have five ‘Designated Safeguarding Leads’ in school who oversee and child protection issues.  We also have a designated Safeguarding Governor who meets with the leadership team to ensure that policies and procedures are followed.

Safeguarding children and child protection guidance and legislation applies to all children up to the age of 18.

Safeguarding Governor:

Nicola Haigh

Designated Safeguarding Leads:

Mrs L Simpson – Headteacher

Miss J Snowden – Deputy Headteacher

Mrs L Whitfield – Phase 1 Leader

Mr B Riches – Cover Supervisor and Mental Health Champion

At Atlas Community Primary School the health, safety and wellbeing of all of our children is our highest priority.  We do not take this responsibility lightly; we understand the trust that every parent and family places in us when dropping their child off with us each day and we do everything we can to ensure that we continue to provide a safe and secure environment where every child can thrive.

In order to do this, a wide range of measures are put in place:

Health & Safety

The school has a separate Health and Safety Policy, which is monitored each term by the relevant members of the Trust/governing body.  We have regular Health & Safety inspections and risk analysis meetings to ensure that we are compliant with our responsibilities.  The Headteacher, Office Manager, Caretaker and Governors oversee this and ensure that action is taken promptly should any issues arise.

All staff at Atlas have a responsibility to report any Health and Safety concerns immediately, and the children are increasingly involved in assessing risks and reporting concerns.

On at least a termly basis, there is a fire drill to ensure efficient evacuation from the building.  The school conducts an annual Fire Risk Assessment and receives regular visits from the Fire Service and Local Authority Fire Officers.

First Aid

We have a large number of staff members who are fully trained in first aid and there are kits located around the school.  In every cloakroom there is a ‘triage kit’ so that first aid can be administered as soon as possible in the event of playground accidents.  Where there is any further concern, first aiders will always seek a second opinion and further guidance from a member of the leadership team.  Wherever necessary, parents will be contacted or asked to come into school immediately to ensure that we are working together when making decisions.

In case of an emergency, the school will call for emergency treatment before contacting parents.

Attendance

We expect excellent attendance from all pupils and staff.  However, we do understand that children do get ill from time to time.  In the event that your child is unwell, parents are asked to report any absence by 9.00am on the first day using our main school number (01274 495190).  This is to ensure that we can account for your child’s whereabouts on that day.  Should we receive no phonecalls and are unable to make contact with family members, we will conduct a home visit to ensure the wellbeing of the child.

On occasions where a child’s attendance and/or punctuality causes concern, the school may work closely with the Local Authority.  Attendance rates are reported each term to the Trust, annually to the government and to all parents.  Positive reward systems are in place to encourage regular attendance and good timekeeping.  The school reserves the right to issue fixed penalties to parents who do not support and ensure good attendance and punctuality.

Curriculum Design

The curriculum supports and promotes safeguarding through cross-curricular topics and themes around Personal, Social and Health Education, giving ongoing opportunities for discussion around relevant issues with the children.  Specific topic examples are themes such as Drugs, Relationships and Stranger Danger.  Children are encouraged to explore and discuss issues together and with their teachers at an age appropriate level.  We also have a weekly PSHE assembly in which we discuss a range of current affairs and issues relating to behaviour, safety and wellbeing.

Any activities or visits are subject to full risk assessments which are always discussed with pupils prior to the event taking place, and appropriate adult:child ratios are maintained.

When using the internet, pupils are reminded of the need to keep themselves and to maintain the same respect to others that we expect in face-to-face exchanges.  We have robust monitoring software, so that any misuse or inappropriate language is flagged with the Headteacher and this will be dealt with accordingly.

Behaviour

We expect good behaviour at all times in our school.  Our policy (found on our policy page) shows our strong emphasis on positive approaches, but also set out clear boundaries and consequences in responding to poor behaviour choices.  Our policy is in line with our POWER values – each of us has the power to make the right choice.