What is Safeguarding?
Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm.
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.
Safeguarding children and child protection guidance and legislation apply to all children up to the age of 18.
What is Child Protection?
Child Protection is part of Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children. It refers to the activity that is undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering, or are likely to suffer, significant harm.
We have a number of policies and procedures in place that contribute to our safeguarding approach, including the WLT Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy, which can be viewed in the Policies section of our website and is also included below.
Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a child’s welfare. We will ensure that our concerns about our pupils are discussed with his/her parents/carers first unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child’s welfare.
Safeguarding Provision Statement
Weare Academy First School recognises that the safety and welfare of children is paramount and that we have a responsibility to protect children in all the academy’s activities. We take all reasonable steps to ensure, through appropriate procedures and training, that all children, irrespective of sex, age, disability, race, religion or belief, sexual identity or social status, are protected from abuse.
We foster a culture of vigilance amongst staff, children, parents and visitors. We always listen to children and take their concerns seriously. Please do not hesitate, if you have any concerns or queries, to contact the academy immediately and you will be directed to a member of staff who will endeavour to help you.
Safeguarding Team
| Safeguarding Team | |
|---|---|
| Dawn Tomkies | Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) |
| Felicity Gibb | Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) |
| Sara Packer | Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) |
| Lana Whittaker | Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) |
| Baishali Chatterjee | Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) |
| Martin Horton | Safeguarding Governor |
The Safeguarding Team can be contacted by emailing office@weareacademy.co.uk or by telephoning the school on 01934 732270.
The Safeguarding Governor can be contacted by email at mhorton@wessexlearningtrust.co.uk.
We share information about concerns with agencies who need to know; and involving parents and children appropriately.
Further information can be found from the Somerset Safeguarding Children Board website.
Contact details are available on our Safeguarding/Child Protection Policy.
Staff: reporting a concern
Staff are asked to and submit their concern by filling out this form, the DSL / DDSL will respond within 48hrs.
Please can you ensure you provide as much information as possible. If appropriate please give detailed descriptions of any physical injury, including place and size of injury. Please only report facts – what you have been told or seen – using the young person’s words where possible and applicable to the incident. If you have concerns outside of the school day and you feel the concern puts someone at immediate and significant risk of harm, please report to Somerset Direct 0300 123 2224 or the police 101/999 and then please also provide a report on this link, so that the School Safeguarding team is made aware.
If you have concerns within the school day and you feel the concern puts someone at imminent and significant risk of harm, please also report verbally to the DSL (or DDSL if DSL not available) as soon as possible and they will ensure a call is made to Somerset Direct 0300 123 2224 or the police 101/999.
Mandatory Reporting of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Procedural Information
It is mandatory for teachers, health and social workers to report to the police if they find, or are told, that someone under 18 has undergone FGM.
For more information please visit the Government training on FGM.
Somerset Direct
If you are worried about a child or young person who could be in danger please contact
- Children’s Social Care on 0300 123 2224
- by email at childrens@somerset.gov.uk
- or the police 101 or in an emergency 999
More information about reporting a child at risk to the local authority can be found on the Somerset County Council website.
Allegations Against Staff
Staff and Volunteers must immediately report a concern involving a member of staff directly to Emma Tovey, Executive Headteacher or if the allegation is regarding Emma Tovey, you need to contact Martin Horton, Safeguarding Governor of Wedmore and Weare Local Governing Body. You can contact him via email mhorton@wessexlearningtrust.co.uk or via the school office at Weare School on 01934 732270, email office@weareacademy.co.uk alternatively you can contact Wedmore School on 01934 712643, email office@wedmorefirstschool.org.uk.
An Allegations Reporting Form (ARF) will need to be completed. The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) (Anthony Goble) can be contacted via Somerset Direct on 0300 1232224.
Online Safety
Our pupils are increasingly using Information Communication Technology (ICT) in schools and in the home. Online-safety (previously e-safety) is concerned with supporting our children and young people to develop safe on-line behaviours both in and out of school. We need to educate our whole school community about the risks and benefits of new technologies so that we are confident and responsible users.
- We would encourage children to use SafeSearch whilst using the internet.
- Use the links below to help you and your family with all matters of online safety, such as:
- Support for parents
- How to restrict settings on iPads and other devices
- Dealing with cyber-bullying
- Checking if games and apps are age-appropriate
- How to report issues
Useful Links
| Safer Internet | A website providing support and services to children and young people, adults facing online harms, and professionals working with children. |
| ThinkUknow | Information and advice for parents to help keep their children safe on the internet. |
| Childnet | Parents and Carers Toolkit – Three resources that offer practical tips and advice on different aspects of keeping your child safe online. |
| NSPCC | Keeping Children Safe Online – advice to help you learn about staying safe online as a family. |