SAFETY, SAFEGUARDING AND THE ROLE OF SCHOOLS

All schools are required to ensure they adhere to statutory safeguarding procedures in order to keep children safe in and out of school and to promote their welfare.

The following policies are key documents in informing our practice as a school and details what actions school should take when a child has suffered or is likely to suffer harm.

• Keeping Children Safe in Education 2022
• Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018
• Guidance for safer working practice for those working with children and young people in education settings 2022
• Children Missing Education – Statutory Guidance

Here is a link to;

• The Lancashire Strategy for Children who go Missing

Particularly relevant for schools is Section 3.7 Children Missing Education and Appendix 3 which outlines the procedures which should be followed in this instance.  The responsibility for tracking children missing in education comes within the remit of the Local Authority Pupil Access Team. If at any point we are aware that a child may not be receiving an education school would refer to the Children Missing Education team so that the matter can be investigated.

Taking advice from these key documents and regular safeguarding training and advice from the government and Local Authority and in consultation with parents/carers, children, staff and governors we have produced the following local policies/procedures to keep our children safe.

• Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
• Code of Conduct
• Intimate Care Policy
• Statement of Ethical Standards
• Online Safety Policy
• Policy on the use of Social Networking Sites and Social Media Policy
• Acceptable Use of Technologies Policy
• Image Use Policy
• Whistleblowing Policy

Further policies can be found in the Policies section of this website under the School Information tab.

In practical terms we keep our children safe in our curriculum through a variety of ways including;

• Weekly Assemblies and Collective Acts of worship.
• Our work through our UNICEF Rights Respecting School Ambassadors, Sports and School Councils.
• Our PSHE (including annual SRE for Year 6) and Computing Curriculum
• Annual NSPCC Speak out – Stay safe programme for KS1 and KS2.
• Annual 2 day visit from Coram Life Education Centre providing age appropriate Health, Wellbeing and Drugs Education to all our children. In addition, tailored sessions are delivered to both parents and staff.
• Regular visits from the school nursing team including height, weight and hearing and vision checks plus health needs assessments (questionnaires) and follow up work for children in Reception and Year 6.
• Annual visit from the Fire Brigade to Y2 and Year 6.
• Termly visits from the local Police Community Support Officers.
• Weekly swimming lessons in KS2 targeted at non-swimmers.
• Annual Passport to Safer Cycling Scheme for Year 6
• Annual Safety Town Day for Year 6 in partnership with our local high schools as part of our primary/secondary transition work. Topics taught include road and bus safety, bike safety, online safety including ’sexting’ and water safety as Longridge houses several reservoirs.

In addition, school is fully signed up to Operation Encompass.

Pan Lancashire Operation Encompass

The purpose of Operation Encompass is to safeguard and support children and young people who have been involved in or witness to a domestic abuse, vulnerable child or missing incident.

Operation Encompass has been created to address such situations that create a safeguarding risk to young people. It is the implementation of key partnership working between the police and schools/ colleges. The aim of sharing information with local schools/ colleges is to allow ‘Key Adults’ the opportunity of engaging with the child and to provide access to support that allows them to remain in a safe but secure familiar environment.

Following the report of a domestic abuse, vulnerable child or missing incident, by

9.00am on the next school/ college day the school’s Key Adult will be informed of the child or young person’s involvement. This knowledge, given to educational establishments through Operation Encompass, allows the provision of immediate early intervention through silent or overt support dependent upon the needs and wishes of the child/ young person.

The purpose and procedures in Operation Encompass have been shared with all parents and governors, is detailed as part of the school’s Safeguarding Policy and published on our school website.