Safeguarding Statement
At Christ Church School we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of all our children.
Safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility. This safeguarding statement applies to all staff, governors, volunteers, and other adults working in, or on behalf of, our school. It is an over-arching document which pulls together all of our safeguarding policies and procedures, including our Child Protection Policy which can be found on the school website.
All school staff undertake annual child protection training, and children are made aware of the adults they can talk to if they have any concerns. We know how important it is to listen to our pupils and take seriously what they tell us. Staff are trained to look out for signs of physical/emotional harm or neglect and are required to report these to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). On rare occasions where our concern about a child means that we have to consult other agencies, we ensure that these concerns are discussed with parent/carers first in line with our Child Protection Policy.
Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mrs Diane Cooper (Headteacher). Our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mrs Karen Baines (Assistant Head teacher/SENCO). The Governor with responsibility for safeguarding in our school is Dr Kate Ward.
All North Yorkshire schools, including Christ Church C.E. (VC) Primary School, follow the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (NYSCP) safeguarding procedures and practice guidance. Their website has additional information for parents and carers which can be found here.
If you are worried about a child, please contact us through the school office on 01756 793030 or by email: [email protected]
For further information about our safeguarding policies and procedures, please see below.
Child Protection Policy and Practice
Our Child Protection Policy outlines our commitment to safeguarding, roles and responsibilities of all adults that work with children in our school and detailed practice guidance. This policy is available on the school website. Alternatively, a hard copy can be requested through the school office.
A remote learning addendum to the Child Protection Policy is also available.
Keeping Children Safe in Education
Christ Church School, like all schools and colleges in England, follows the Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory guidance from the Department for Education when carrying out our duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. This guidance can be accessed here.
Safer Recruitment and Selection
We ensure that all appropriate measures are applied in relation to everyone who works in the school who is likely to be perceived by the children as a safe and trustworthy adult, including volunteers and staff employed by contractors.
Our safer recruitment practice pays full regard to current DFE guidance Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education and Keeping Children Safe in Education.
The DSL, deputy DSL and governor responsible for safeguarding undertake safer recruitment training. Our Safer Recruitment policy is in line with the NYSCP guidance and is available from the school office.
Safer Working Practice – Code of Conduct
Our school complies with the Guidance for Safer Working Practice for Adults Who Work With Children and Young People and the North Yorkshire Child Protection procedures (www.safeguardingchildren.co.uk) at all times. Safe working practice ensures that pupils are safe and that all staff, volunteers and governors:
Whistleblowing
If members of staff, volunteers or governors have any concerns about people working in a paid or unpaid capacity with children, they have a duty of care (and in some cases a professional duty) to inform management accordingly. This can be done in writing or verbally and such issues will be managed with sensitivity and the necessary degree of confidence.
The school follows the Local Authority’s policy on whistleblowing and a copy of the School Whistleblowing Policy is available on the school website or from the school office.
Safeguarding Information for Pupils
All children in our school are aware of a number of adults in school who they can talk to. The school is committed to ensuring that pupils are aware of behaviour towards them that is not acceptable and how they can keep themselves safe.
All pupils know that we have a senior member of staff with responsibility for child protection and know who this is. They know where they can get additional support from other agencies, for example the NSPCC and Childline, and how they can access this support.
Children are taught, through PSHE lessons, assemblies, awareness days and through day-to-day interactions with adults, ways they can keep themselves safe both in real life situations and online.
Other related Policies:
