Safeguarding Policy

In this Section

“Safeguarding is not just about protecting children from deliberate harm. It includes a wide range of issues relating to pupil’s welfare, health and safety.” (Inspecting safeguarding in early years, education and skills settings, 2022)

All safeguarding policies will be reviewed on an annual (minimum) basis by the Governing Body which has responsibility for oversight of school safeguarding and child protection systems. The Designated Safeguarding Lead / Head of Schools will ensure regular reporting on safeguarding activity and systems in school to the Governing Body. The Governing Body will not receive details of individual pupil situations or identifying features of families as part of their oversight responsibility.

The school acknowledges that this policy will incorporate a range of specific safeguarding issues including (but not limited to):

Bullying (including cyberbullying)
Children Missing Education (CME)
Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
Domestic violence
Drugs and alcohol misuse
Fabricated or induced illness
Faith abuse
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Gender based abuse and violence against women and girls
Hate
Honour based abuse
Mental health
Missing children and adults
Online safety
Prevent duty (radicalisation and extremism)
Private fostering
Relationship abuse
Human trafficking and modern slavery
Youth produced sexual imagery or “Sexting”

Every member of staff at Rosebay Schools recognises that children experiencing specific safeguarding issues identified above are no different to safeguarding against any other vulnerability or concern and will be approached and responded to in the same way as protecting children from any other risks.

We are aware that safeguarding is fundamental to the welfare of all children in our care. This policy is therefore one of a series in the school’s integrated safeguarding portfolio and should be read in conjunction with the policies as listed below:

Behaviour Management, linked to the Use of Physical Intervention
Searching, screening and confiscation
Online Safety and Social Media
Anti-Bullying
Data Protection and Information Sharing
Image Use
Drugs
Sex Education
Personal and Intimate Care
Health and Safety
Attendance (Children Missing Education)
Risk Assessments (e.g. school trips, use of technology)
First Aid and Accidents
Managing Allegations Against Staff
Code of Conduct for Staff (including Acceptable Use of Technology/AUP)
Safer Recruitment
Whistle-Blowing

Key Responsibilities

Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play in safeguarding children. Schools form part of the wider safeguarding system for children.
The school has a nominated a lead for safeguarding named on the front of this document. The nominated leads will take the lead role in ensuring that the school has an effective policy which interlinks with other related policies; that locally agreed procedures are in place and being followed; and that the policy and structures supporting safeguarding children are reviewed at least annually.
The Leadership Team will ensure that the DSL(s) is properly supported in this role at time and resource level.

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

The school has appointed a member of staff, Mrs. Tosin Fatoye, as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). The DSL has the overall responsibility for the day to day oversight of safeguarding and child protection systems in school.
The DSL will undergo appropriate and specific training to provide her with the knowledge and skills required to carry out this role. The DSL’s training will be updated formally every two years but the knowledge and skills will be updated through a variety of methods training, conferences at regular intervals, at least annually, to keep up with any developments relevant to the role.
The school will appoint additional staff to deputise for the DSL. Deputy DSL will attend appropriate training which enables them to fulfil this role. Whilst the activities of the Designated Safeguarding Lead may be delegated to the deputy, the ultimate lead responsibility for safeguarding and child protection remains with the Designated Safeguarding Lead and this responsibility will not be delegated.

It is the role of the DSL to:

Act as the central contact point for all staff to discuss any safeguarding concerns
Maintain a confidential recording system for safeguarding and child protection concerns
Coordinate safeguarding action for individual children
Liaise with other agencies and professionals in line with Working together to safeguard children
Ensure that locally established procedures are followed and making referrals to other agencies.
Represent, or ensure the school is appropriately represented at inter-agency safeguarding meetings (including Child Protection conferences)
Manage and monitor the school’s part in Early Help / Child in Need / Child Protection plans
Be available during term time (during school hours) for staff in the school to discuss any safeguarding concerns
Ensure all staff access appropriate safeguarding training and relevant updates.

Members of Staff

All members of staff have a responsibility to:

provide a safe environment in which children can learn
ensure all children are able to develop appropriate strategies to recognise and respond to risk and build resilience
identify and recognise children who may be in need of early help, who are suffering, or are likely to suffer significant harm
provide help for children, where appropriate and reasonable
take appropriate action to prevent safeguarding concerns escalating
safeguard children’s wellbeing and maintain public trust in the teaching profession as part of their professional duties
be aware of and take appropriate action to raise concerns regarding poor or unsafe practice or potential failures in the school safeguarding regime (this may include accessing the school whistleblowing policy)
maintain an attitude of ‘it could happen here’ where safeguarding is concerned and to always act in the best interests of the child
respond to and refer any concerns about children or other members of the community in accordance with this policy
Contribute towards, read and adhere to the school policies.

All members of staff in Rosebay Schools know what to do if a child tells them he/she is being abused or neglected. Members of staff know to maintain an appropriate level of confidentiality whilst at the same time liaising with relevant professionals such as the DSL and other agencies as appropriate. Members of staff know they must never promise a child that they will not tell anyone about a concern or allegation as this may ultimately not be in the best interests of the child.

The welfare and safety of children are the responsibility of all staff in school and ANY concern for a pupil’s welfare MUST always be reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead(s).

Children and Young People

Children and young people (pupils) have a responsibility to:

Contribute to the development of school safeguarding policies
Read and adhere to (at a level appropriate to their age and ability) the schools safeguarding policies and procedures
Seek help from a trusted adult if things go wrong, and support others that may be experiencing safeguarding concerns
Develop and take responsibility (at a level that is appropriate to their individual age, ability and vulnerabilities) for keeping themselves and others safe, including online

Parents and Carers

Parents/carers have a responsibility to:

Read the relevant school/policies and procedures, encourage their children to adhere to them, and adhere to them themselves where appropriate
Discuss safeguarding issues with their children, support the school in their safeguarding approaches, and reinforce appropriate safe behaviours at home
Identify changes in behaviour which could indicate that their child is at risk of harm online
Seek help and support from the school, or other appropriate agencies, if they or their child encounters any safeguarding concern
Contribute to the development of the school’s safeguarding policies
A statement in the school prospectus will inform parents and carers about our school’s duties and responsibilities under child protection and safeguarding procedures.
Parents can obtain a copy of the school Child Protection Policy and other related policies on request.

Referral Process

FOR PUPILS

If a pupil has any concerns about their health and safety, if they feel something may be troubling them, they need to share this information with the class teachers right away.

If the concerns involve their class teachers/form tutors, the pupils should speak with the Child Protection Officers directly. Teachers should direct the pupils to speak with the Child Protection Officers directly, if they have any concerns about their personal welfare in the school.

FOR STAFF

If there are any concerns about the health and safety of a child at CIS or you feel that something may be troubling them, you should share this information with your Head of Department right away.

Some issues e.g. a child’s appearance, hygiene, general behaviour, can be shared – as such seemingly small concerns may be the symptoms of much bigger concerns.

However, if you think the matter is very serious and may be related to a child protection concern, e.g. physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect, you must speak with the Child Protection Officer/Head of School immediately.

The referral process can be summed up as follows:

Observation of concerning behaviour
Notes made of observations and any feedback from questioning the pupil.
Discussion with Head of Department
Report to Child Protection Officer/Head of School
Meeting with Parents

In this Section

Safeguarding Policy

Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

School Lunches

Safeguarding Policy

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