Safeguarding at Winford
Our school is dedicated to looking after all our children the best we possibly can. We have a planned curriculum for safeguarding, which teaches your child how to keep themselves safe and what to do if any adult makes them feel unsafe.
Our school has a duty to promote the welfare of children who are our pupils. We have a safeguarding policy and procedures in place, and we take our responsibilities very seriously. All staff are safeguarding trained and are constantly vigilant. Safeguarding covers many areas, including child protection, e-safety, the prevent duty, behaviour, attendance, mental health and wellbeing, welfare and health and safety.
We work hard to ensure that children are safe from harm and feel respected in school. We have links to social care, educational welfare and the North Somerset Safeguarding Children Board.
Part of our responsibility in this area is to work with outside agencies such as Educational Welfare or Social Care to make sure all pupils are kept safe. This means that at times we are obliged to pass on concerns or information to these agencies. The school will always do this in consultation with parents unless to do so could put a child at risk.
We have dedicated safeguarding leads along with a governor who has a responsibility for safeguarding.
If you are concerned about a child, and would like to contact someone for support
If they are in immediate danger, dial 999 and ask for the Police.
For most concerns, speak with the designated teacher. They will ask you to record your concerns, and they will decide on the necessary next steps.
For more information and advice, you can also visit the North Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership (NSSCP) website.
https://nsscp.co.uk/parents-carers-community
Our Designated Safeguarding lead are:
- Mrs Jenny Campbell (Headteacher)
- Mrs Claire Tiernan (Deputy Safeguarding Lead)
Our designated child protection governor is:
- Mrs. Michelle Byrne
email: governor@winford.n-somerset.sch.uk
Local safeguarding officer-NSC 01275 888211
Click below for a link to the School's Safeguarding Policy and the North Somerset Safeguarding Children Board.
E-Safety
E- Safety forms part of our computing and PSHE curriculum in school. Please follow the links below for tips around e-safety and how you can support your children and keep them safe online.
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/
https://www.internetmatters.org/
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/
The Prevent Agenda
Please find a link to a government website that supports schools, teachers and parents in proactively working with children to respect and tolerate the wide variety of beliefs we have in our society.
Prevent defines extremism as: “vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. We also include in our definition of extremism calls for the death of members of our armed forces”.
Radicalisation is defined by the UK Government within this context as “the process by which a person comes to support terrorism and extremist ideologies associated with terrorist groups.”
However…
We live in a wonderfully diverse world, with both differences and similarities to celebrate. Exploring religious and different social beliefs, in a peaceful and non-violent way, is part of growing up and should not be confused with something more sinister. The best way to PREVENT extremism and radicalisation is by open discussion and increased understanding of each other.
As a parent…
- You know your child better than anybody else. Having open, honest conversations on a regular basis will allow your child to explore new ideas in a safe environment.
- Talk to your child about their online viewing. Social media such as YouTube and Facebook can be used to groom children towards a certain point of view.
- Discuss different points of view concerning topics in the news, modelling that there is always more than one point of view.
- Encourage your child to take an active part in their local community. This could be part of a sports club, social group, volunteering. Getting out, meeting and talking to people around you helps to understand and become part of a community.
As a school…
- All staff have had Prevent training.
- We have updated our safeguarding procedures to reflect statutory requirements in the Government’s Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015.
- We have direct contact with the Local Prevent Officer and other external professionals to receive ongoing support and two-way communication.
- Students are encouraged to discuss and explore issues.
- If you have any concerns that someone you know may be at risk of radicalisation, please contact the local police on 101. If your concern is of an URGENT nature, please dial 999 or the Anti-Terrorist Hotline 0800 789 321. If you have a concern about a student attending this school, please contact Mrs Campbell, the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
For more information about the Government’s Safeguarding Prevent Agenda, please look at the website – Educate against Hate This is a resource for school leaders, staff and parents. It is designed to give advice on preventing extremism and helping to protect children and young people from radical views.
If you have any concerns, please speak to the Headteacher Mrs Campbell.
