Goldthorn Park Commitment to Safeguarding & Child Protection
‘Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all practitioners should make sure their approach is child-centred. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child.’ (Keeping Children Safe in Education 2022, paragraph 2 p.6).
At Goldthorn Park Primary School we are committed to safeguarding children and young people and everyone who works in our school shares this commitment.
Adults in our school take all welfare concerns seriously and encourage children and young people to talk to us about anything that may worry them. All members of our community will carry out this duty through our teaching and learning, pastoral care, extended activities will at all times establish and maintain a safe and stimulating environment where children feel secure, are encouraged to talk to adults and are listened to. Through training our community will have the knowledge and understanding to fulfil their responsibilities.
Safeguarding Definition
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined:
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Protecting children from maltreatment
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Preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development
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Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
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Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes
Communication with Parents
Goldthorn Park Primary School will always discuss concerns with parents/carers and consent for any referrals should be sought unless to do so would:
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Place the child at risk of significant harm or further risk of significant harm;
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Place a vulnerable adult at risk of harm; and
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Compromise any enquiries that need to be undertaken by children’s social care or the police.
The school will endeavour to ensure that parents understand the responsibilities placed on the school and staff for safeguarding children. In the best interests of safeguarding children there may be occasions when the school must consult with other agencies without a parent or carer’s prior knowledge. Our first concern and responsibility is the child’s welfare and we have a duty to protect children first and always. Such consultation may result in a formal referral which could prompt visits from social care and/or the police. We fully understand that this can be a very distressing set of circumstances. Our school will follow the procedures required by the multi-agency partnership arrangements.
The visit may take place at the school at the request of the police or social care. In the event of the meeting being held at school parents/carers will be asked by the school to remain on the school premises until such time that the police or social care can attend. If parents/carers choose to leave school premises with their child, the school will contact the police or social care to inform them of the parent’s/carer’s decision. Our school will employ the services of an interpreter if required.
Curriculum
Child safety issues and child protection will be addressed through the curriculum where appropriate, especially through PSHE, Computing and Online-Safety, Citizenship, Sex and Relations Education (SRE), Health Education and British values.
We use a variety of resources and approaches to teach the children how to keep themselves safe, build their resilience and manage risks. The curriculum, and the personal, social and health education development strand of the curriculum, includes an emphasis on relationships (relationships and sex education), building confidence and resilience in pupils and in developing preventative strategies to ensure their own protection and that of others.
Opportunities are provided for pupils to develop the skills and strategies they need to stay safe from abuse, including age-appropriate discussions about healthy relationships, their bodies and being able to say no to requests that they do not want to carry out. Clear advice and guidance is built into the curriculum to ensure that pupils understand that there is a range of contacts they can turn to for advice and support and that they know where and how to report abuse.
Our school teaches the children how to keep themselves safe through:
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Cycling Proficiency
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Swimming lessons
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Educational Visits
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PCSO – Talks on Bullying, Cyber-bullying, Stranger Danger, Firework and Park Safety
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People Who Help Us Topics
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PSHE/ Assemblies
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RSE/ School Nurses
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British Values/ Virtues and Values
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NSPCC workshops
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PANTS campaign
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Base 25/Catch 22 etc
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Thrive Programme
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In school behaviour and emotional support