SAFEGUARDING

Our Commitment to Safeguarding

At St. Michael’s CE Primary School, safeguarding is central to our mission and vision. Grounded in our Christian values of Love, Serve, Grow, we believe every child is uniquely created in the image of God and deserves to grow up in safety, free from harm. Our vision compels us to provide a school environment that is calm, secure, and nurturing, where children can flourish academically, personally, and spiritually.

We recognise our legal and moral duty to safeguard all pupils and create a culture of humility, gentleness, and compassion. We work in partnership with families and external agencies to ensure every child receives the highest standard of care and protection.

Designated Safeguarding Lead

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is responsible for safeguarding and child protection. The Designated Safeguarding Lead is: Mrs Harris - Headteacher

The Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads are: 

Mrs Dodman - Deputy Headteacher 

Mrs Jennings - Assistant Headteacher 

Miss Bostock - Assistant Headteacher

Janet Ayinde - After School Care Manager

The Designated Safeguarding Governor is: Mr Whitehouse - Co-Chair

The key role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead is to:

• manage referrals from school staff or any others from outside the school;

• work with external agencies and professionals on matter of safety and safeguarding;

• undertake training;

• raise awareness of safeguarding and child protection amongst the staff and parents; and

• ensure that child protection information is transferred to the pupil’s new school;

• be aware of pupils who have a social worker;

• help promote educational outcomes by sharing the information about the welfare, safeguarding and child protection issues with teachers and school and college leadership staff.

All safeguarding staff are trained in line with the latest version of Keeping Children Safe in Education and regularly updated.

Safeguarding Policies and Procedures

We follow national and local guidance including the latest version of Keeping Children Safe in Education. All staff and volunteers comply with our policies and receive regular training.

Training includes:

• Child protection

• Prevent duty

• Peer-on-peer abuse

• Online safety

• FGM awareness

• Safer working practices

1st of the Month Monitoring

There are a series of 1st of the month checks which take place to ensure school compliance. They are as follows:

• Monthly ’Safeguarding Single Central Record (SCR) Check:  The SCR is reviewed and monitored on a monthly basis and kept up to date daily as/when a visiting person arrives or a new application for clearance is approved. This monitoring, by members of the SLT, involves checking those who have been uploaded onto the register as well as those who need to be reviewed to ensure compliance of all safer recruitment and Disclosure Barring Service checks. 

• Monthly Pupil Voice: Each month the Phase Leaders ask a random sample a question relating to safeguarding. Please refer to the link to get an overview of their responses.

• Monthly Staff Monitoring: Each month a safeguarding question is presented in phase meetings for discussion. Results, discussions and reflections are reported back to the Senior Leadership Team each month.

• Reporting to Governors: All Staff monthly safeguarding discussion questions are reported to governors and Safeguarding is a minuted discussion point where questions and challenges are presented to the Headteacher.

Looked after Children (LAC) & Internationally Adopted Previously Looked After Children (IAPLAC) 

At St. Michael’s we are fully committed to the well-being of all our pupils.  We do recognise that children who are designated as “Looked After Children (LAC)” including the  "Internationally Adopted Previously Looked After Children" (IAPLAC) due to their social circumstances may require additional support.  We have designated members of staff and Governors who oversee and support this area.

The Designated Teacher for LAC/IAPLAC at St. Michael’s CE School is Mrs Constable (SENCo)

The Designated Governor Safeguarding and LAC/IAPLAC Lead at St. Michael’s CE School is Mr Whitehouse (Co-Chair of the Board of Governors) . 

The designated LAC/IAPLAC Leads must:

• Promote a culture of high expectations and aspirations for how Looked After Children (LAC) including the Internationally Adopted Previously Looked After Children (IAPLAC) and learn;

• Ensure the young person has a voice in setting their learning targets;

• Be a source of advice for staff about differentiated teaching strategies appropriate for individual children;

• Ensuring that the pastoral support is in place to support learning and development;

• Have lead responsibility for the development and implementation of the child’s personal education plan (PEP).  Ensure interventions are in place to raise attainment and progress;

•  Monitor the use and impact of Pupil Premium Grant (PPG) focused on raising attainment and use of wider enrichment eg after school clubs;

• Working in partnership with the parents to ensure the children are developed nurtured and supported.

Children Missing in Education

At St. Michael’s CE School we have a due regard to ensure that we are aware of when children are not attending school and are potentially deemed ‘missing from education’. Knowing where children are during school hours is an extremely important aspect of safeguarding. Missing school can be an indicator of abuse and neglect and may also raise concerns about others safeguarding issues, including the criminal exploitation of children.

We will always follow up with parents/carers when pupils are not at school. This means we need to have a least two up to date contacts numbers for parents/carers as well as two additional non parent/carers points of contacts. We ask that parents remember to update the school as soon as possible if the numbers change.

Safer Recruitment

The Leadership and Board of Governors of the school ensure that we have robust safer recruitment procedures in place. All aspects of safer recruitment are followed when appointing staff and Governors to any post / role at our school preventing the risk of allegations about adults who may be a risk to children working in our school.  Any issues that are identified prior to start are acted upon following the advice from our HR consultants and the Local Authority. 

The Senior Leadership Team, School Business Manager and two governors have received Safer Recruitment Training.

E-Safety

Whether on a computer at school, a laptop at home, a games console or mobile phone, children and young people are increasingly accessing the internet whenever they can and wherever they are. As you would protect your child in the real world, you will want to make sure that they are safe whatever they are doing. Like learning to cross the road, online safety skills are skills for life. If your child understands the risks and can make sensible and informed choices online, they can get the most from the internet and stay safe.

We teach online safety across the curriculum. This includes:

• Online safety lessons

• Safer Internet Day

• Acceptable Use Agreements

• Guidance for parents

Whistleblowing and Staff Culture

Staff are encouraged to report concerns without fear. We uphold openness, transparency, and accountability.

A Christian Ethos of Care

Safeguarding is a Christian responsibility founded in our mission to love, serve, and grow. We are committed to protecting God's children through just, compassionate care.

...so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God... Colossians 1:10