Safeguarding at HWIS

Parents report their children feel safe at school.  Pupils report they feel safe at school.  This is because we have children's safety and well-being as a key priority and have strong safeguarding procedures.

All staff and volunteers are given clear guidance in how to behave and work with children and young adults.  They are highly vigilant and report any concerns they have about a child's well-being swiftly.  We will always talk with parents if concerns have been noted and will keep them informed should we feel it is necessary for us to report these concerns to another agency.  Children know they can talk about their worries to an adult they trust.

If you have any queries or concerns regarding the safety of a child either inside or outside of school, you can contact our designated safeguarding lead teacher who is Sue Boorman (Headteacher).  In her absence, you can contact the nominated deputy Jo Padfield (Deputy Headteacher),  Louise Weston (Year 1 Team Leader) or Sam Flodman (Year 2 team leader).  

Our safeguarding governor can be contacted via the school office.

We have safe computer access, with secure filtering and we train children and staff in e-safety.  We also provide guidance to parents on e-safety. (See Helping your child with internet safety)

Our safeguarding procedures are monitored by the School Governors and by Hampshire County Council.

Hatch Warren Infant School and the Governing Body fully recognises its responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and to work together with other agencies to ensure adequate arrangements within our school to identify, assess, and support those children who are suffering harm.  We also follow safer recruitment practices when appointing new staff and volunteers. Our staff and governors regularly undertake training in this area to ensure the welfare and safety of our children remains paramount.

The school has a Safeguarding Policy, which explains how the school deals with child protection concerns, including allegations about the behaviour of members of staff.

All schools must follow:

·         The law

·         Guidance from the Department of Education and Skills

·         Local multi-agency child protection procedures
 

The School has adopted the definition of the term 'Safeguarding' used in the Children Act 2004. 

In summary this is:

• protecting children from maltreatment;
• preventing impairment of children's health or development;
• ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and
• undertaking that role so as to enable those children to have optimum life chances and to enter adulthood successfully.

The School's safeguarding arrangements cover all aspects of life at School, in particular addressing these issues:

• health and safety;
• bullying;
• other harassment and discrimination, including racism;
• physical intervention;
• meeting the needs of pupils with medical conditions;
• provision of medical first aid;
• drug and substance abuse;
• off-site visits;
• intimate care;
• internet and communications safety;
• physical security of the School site;
• protection from maltreatment; and
• recruitment and vetting of staff and visitors to the site.

If the school is worried about a pupil's safety and welfare they must refer this onto Children First and then after consideration of information this may transfer to the Safeguarding and Assessment Team.

The school will normally let the pupil's parent(s) know when we do this, but we do not contact parents if we think that this could put a child at risk of harm.

When a school refers a child protection concern it must share all relevant information about the pupil.

The Data Protection Act allows schools to share personal information with other agencies when there are child protection concerns about a child.

They may decide that it needs looking into further. What action is taken will depend on the circumstances. Any of the following may be appropriate:

·         An Initial Assessment

·         Child Protection enquiries - this includes agencies assessing the risks to any children based upon the information shared, research ad talking to those concerned.

·         If the referral relates to an allegation about a member of staff, usually a strategy discussion will take place between the school, the local authority, the Local Allegations Designated Officer and the police, to decide what will happen next.

·         They will contact the parent to let them know what is happening as soon as possible.

Domestic Abuse

This school receives information form the police to alert the Designated Safeguarding Lead in the school when there has been an incident of domestic abuse in a household where a pupil lives. We are not informed of the detail of the incident, only that one has occurred. This allows us to monitor and support the pupil. If we have additional concerns we will discuss the need for further safeguarding actions with Social Care. This information would only be shared with other staff on a restricted need to know basis i.e. those who are immediately responsible for the pupil's welfare, such as the class teacher. Where a multi agency risk assessment conference occurs the school may be asked for information and appropriate school related information may be shared with the school after the meeting.

Children and young people have a fundamental right to be protected from harm.

Families have a right to expect schools to provide a safe and secure environment.

All schools have a legal duty to work with other agencies and the police to safeguard children's welfare.

NSPCC The Underwear Rule - click for a link to a parent pack

Playtime with Pantosaurus - There is also a new app available for children from Google Play which teaches the children how to stay

The 'Undressed' rule

Guidance for parents

Useful numbers are listed below, or click on the name to be taken directly to their website. 

National Childline: 0800 1111                        NSPCC: 0800 800500  

Women's Aid: 0845 023 468                          Samaritans: 0845 790 9090 

NAPAC (National Association for Persons Abused in Childhood): 0800 085 333

KIDSCAPE (Preventing Bullying Protecting Children): 0207 730 3300  or 08451 205 204   

National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 200 0247

For useful information about radicalisation and extremism please click here.

Link to CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection):https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/

Prevent Duty at HWIS

As part of Hatch Warren Infant School's ongoing safeguarding and child protection duties we fully support the government's Prevent Strategy.

From 1 July 2015 all schools are subject to a duty, under section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. This duty is known as the Prevent Duty for Schools.

All our staff and governors are completing training on the Prevent Duty and how to recognise and report signs of extremism and radicalisation.