Safeguarding Statement
“Safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility”
Designated Safeguarding Lead - Caroline Lowe, Headteacher
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads - Monika Sedgwick, Deputy Head Teacher and Leanne Renton, EYFS Lead
Children have a right to be cared for and protected, protecting them is everyone’s responsibility. Here at Egerton Primary School we have a duty of care to ensure that all users of the school are kept safe from harm. We are committed to provide a secure and supportive environment in which children can develop and grow into mature and responsible people. Safeguarding children is an essential part of our holistic approach to ensure that children are protected from abuse and neglect and that every child reaches their full potential.
Safeguarding Policy
The school’s staff, volunteers and service providers have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children as a shared responsibility with parents and other carers. To support this statement, the school may signpost to services that are specialised to promote opportunity, prevent problems, act early and act effectively if and when concerns arise. Therefore, whilst we do not want to worry you, we will report to Children’s Social Care if we have any reason to believe that a child may be at risk of suffering abuse or neglect.
Parents/carers are normally our first point of contact, and if a suspicion of abuse is recorded, parents/carers will be informed, unless where doing so would put a child at risk; we will support parents/carers and ensure we work in collaboration with them to protect children. Working with parents/carers to prevent abuse is our primary aim and only when that has failed or in emergency situations will a referral be made to social care. When a referral is made to social care parents will be notified beforehand, except when guidance from social care or the police does not allow this.
We cannot safeguard children alone. All children’s services agencies work in partnership with each other. There are duties and rules about information sharing but if staff, parents or carers have any concerns about a child, other parent, provider, agency or any person, they have a responsibility to report those concerns and we must record and act on them We have an ‘Egerton Primary School safeguarding /child protection policy’ which is underpinned by Cheshire Safeguarding Children Board Procedures and the document “Working Together to Safeguard Children” and Safer Recruitment guidance. The policy applies to all children and young people regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality or religion. It is a requirement that all users are informed of these policies and practice guidance and what they should do if they have concerns. The safeguarding policy is available on our policies page.
What you can do - Concerns and Contact
Parents and carers play a role in safeguarding children in their community. If you have any concerns, no matter how small, you should report them to someone who you trust will listen. The school is required to have a designated safeguarding lead (DSL) for this purpose. Parents and children should speak to the DSL if they have any concerns about a child or staff member. (Mrs Lowe DSL and Mrs Sedgwick and Miss Renton Deputy DSL's).
If you think a child or young person may be in immediate danger, call 999. Otherwise contact Cheshire East Consultation Service: 0300 123 5012 (option 3).
Designated Safeguarding Lead: Caroline Lowe
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead: Monika Sedgwick & Leanne Renton
Chair of Governors & Safeguarding Lead: Neil McKinlay
Mental Health Lead: Stephanie Taylor Wattam
Local Contacts
- Cheshire East Consultation Service (CHECS): 0300 123 5012
- Emergency Duty Team: 0300 123 5022
- Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO): 01270 685904 / 01606 288931
- Prevent referrals: Prevent/Channel Referral Process (stopadultabuse.org.uk)
- Police: 999 (Emergency) / 101 (Non-emergency)
- Mental Health Helpline: 0300 303 3972
- Adult Safeguarding: 0300 123 5010
For out of hours support call: 0300 123 5022
Internet Safety
Electronic communications - via mobile phones, internet resources such as social networking sites, and email - play a very significant role in the lives of children and young people. Their use, however, is not always safe; electronic media can be involved in the victimisation and abuse of children.The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre have developed a website 'Think you Know'.
With sections on internet safety aimed at:
- children aged 5 - 7
- children aged 8 - 10
- young people aged 11-16
- parents, and
- teachers
Further Guidance for Parents - Keeping Safe Online
Parentzone - includes online safety activities and adventures to support understanding. Be Internet Legends and Legends Adventure.
Parental Controls - both Internet Matters and Think you know cover information regarding using and setting up Parental Controls.
Report Criminal Online Content
The Internet Watch Foundation was established in 1996 by the internet industry to provide the UK internet IWF Hotline for the public and IT professionals to report criminal online content in a secure and confidential way.
- Childnet offers a toolkit to support parents and carers of children of any age to start discussions about their online life, and to find out where to get more help and support;
- Commonsensemedia provide independent reviews, age ratings, & other information about all types of media for children and their parents;
- Government advice about protecting children from specific online harms such as child sexual abuse, sexting, and cyberbullying;
- Internet Matters provide age-specific online safety checklists, guides on how to set parental controls, and practical tips to help children get the most out of their digital world;
- How Can I Help My Child? Marie Collins Foundation - Sexual Abuse Online;
- Let’s Talk About It provides advice for parents and carers to keep children safe from online radicalisation;
- London Grid for Learning provides support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online, including tips to keep primary aged children safe online;
- Stopitnow resource from The Lucy Faithfull Foundation can be used by parents and carers who are concerned about someone’s behaviour, including children who may be displaying concerning sexual behaviour (not just about online);
- National Crime Agency/CEOP Thinkuknow provides support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online;
- Net-aware provides support for parents and carers from the NSPCC and O2, including a guide to social networks, apps and games;
- Parentzone provides help for parents and carers on how to keep their children safe online;
- Talking to your child about online sexual harassment: A guide for parents – This is the Children’s Commissioner’s parent guide on talking to your children about online sexual harassment;
- #Ask the awkward – Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre guidance to parents to talk to their children about online relationships.
Where a child under the age of 16 attends A&E or is admitted onto a hospital ward following a self-harm incident, the hospital will communicate this, at the earliest opportunity, to the Safeguarding Lead in school.
Operation Encompass
Our school is part of a project, which is run between Cheshire East schools and Cheshire Police. The project called Operation Encompass, has been designed to provide early reporting of any domestic violence incidents that occur outside school, which might have an impact on a child in school. This is done through a phone call to school following an incident. The project ensures that at least one member of the school staff, known as the Key Adult, is trained to liaise with the police and to use the information that has been shared, in confidence. In this way, we aim to support each child who has been involved in, or witnessed, a domestic abuse incident. If we receive an Encompass call we will make sure that a person the child trusts is available to support. Most of the time this support is silent; keeping a careful eye on him or her and make sure the child has a calm school day.
All schools have a duty to share any information with other organisations if they feel a child is at risk of being hurt. The key adult may contact other organisations. This is described in our child protection policy. Parents can come and talk to our key adult. The key adult can point you towards other people that can help. Our aim is to support children and their families. Our key adult includes Mrs Lowe (Headteacher), Mrs Sedgwick (Deputy Headteacher) and Mrs Broadbent (Designated Safeguarding Lead/Inclusion Lead).
Please find listed below links if you are concerned about your own or safety of others, or need support:
Please find attached information in 'Files to Download' for Parents and Carers regarding Private Fostering. Private fostering is where a parent arranges for a child aged under 16 (or 18 where the child has disabilities) to be cared for by someone other than a close relative for 28 days or more. If you aren't a close relative of a child you are looking after for 28 days or more, you must let Cheshire East Social Services know by calling 0300 123 5012. If school become aware of a Private Fostering arrangement, it is our duty also to inform Cheshire East.