Safeguarding Policy

BISHOP MARTIN C. of E. PRIMARY SCHOOL SAFEGUARDING POLICY Ethos At Bishop Martin it is integral to our mission and vision that all individuals are nurtured in order to reach their full potential within an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect. Central to this is that our children feel safe, supported and cared for, in their learning and relationships within and beyond the school. All staff are unrelenting in pursuit of this ethos.

We are proud to be a safeguarding school. We understand that the well-being of our children must be at the centre of all we do. Unless our children feel safe, valued, listened to and supported, nothing else can be achieved. Our children enjoy coming to school and are encouraged to feel proud of their achievements. Our staff are committed to this ethos and demonstrate this in their daily interaction with the children and each other.

“I feel safer in school than anywhere else” Child Protection The school follows the Child Protection guidelines robustly and is extremely proactive in working with outside agencies including social services. Multi-Agency Concern meetings are held when necessary. The DSL (Designated Senior Leader) is the Headteacher. In her absence the Deputy Headteacher will act as DSL. These are attended by the appropriate school staff, class teacher or teaching assistant, DSL (Designated Senior Leader), Learning Mentor, SENCo/Inclusion Manager when required. Weekly Pastoral meetings are held which identify a hierarchy of need for vulnerable pupils ranging from mild concern to pupils in distress. This is monitored by the DSL. Vulnerable pupils’ progress is tracked and monitored so that early intervention can take place. Whenever a concern arises it is brought to the attention of the DSL or Deputy Headteacher who then log the concern and initiate appropriate action.

A Safe Environment Our children enjoy coming to school and we welcome parents and visitors whilst maintaining careful checks as to who is let in. We aim to provide a secure environment for our pupils.

Doors and gates are kept closed and locked as appropriate. All visitors to the school must report to the main office, sign in and be allocated a visitors pass before entry. Staff and children are aware of the requirement to wear badges and will challenge or report as appropriate anyone not doing so. Upon leaving all visitors are required to sign out at the school office. Pupils are frequently reminded not to open any outside door no matter who is knocking. All staff and regular visitors to school are required to have enhanced CRB/DBS checks and the school maintains a single central record.

The physical environment is well maintained and provides a safe area in which children can work and play. Fire equipment and PAT safety checks are carried out annually and Health and Safety guidelines are followed closely. Weekly, monthly and annual premise checks are conducted by the site manager and school business manager and these are monitored by Governors Premises committee. Risk assessments are in place within school and are carried carried out for visits out of school which are carefully planned and monitored according to government guidelines.

“Mr Tedford and the teachers make sure that our buildings are safe” Staff Training All our staff and volunteers are trained annually in safeguarding and the DSL (Designated Senior Leader) or Deputy Headteacher attends all updates and passes any information or changes in procedure on to staff at staff meetings. The policy is regularly updated and all information regarding safeguarding is kept by the Headteacher as the DSL. Staff are rigorously trained in safety procedures. The Headteacher has completed the accredited Safer Recruitment training, alongside several other members of the Senior Leadership Team and several Governors have also attended Safer recruitment training in order to ensure that correct procedures are carried out. The local authority provides updates on Vetting & Barring and safeguarding information via the Schools Portal.

Staff undertake a rigorous programme of Continuing Professional Development including those aspects which pertain to the safety of our pupils. These include:        

Annual child protection updates Safe Recruitment Vetting & barring Common Assessment Framework Physical Intervention Working with children with ASD and ADHD Positive Behaviour Management Guidance for Safer Working Practice for Adults Who work with Children and Young People in Education Settings.

The Assistant Headteacher and EYFS leader maintain up to date DSL Training and staff in school are Team Teach trained in de-escalation and positive handling techniques.

“Nothing bad ever happens in school because the adults are everywhere and they take care of you” Outside Agencies The school engages with a range of outside agencies to provide support for both parents and children. The Pastoral Team works closely with appropriate agencies and ensures that regular communication takes place and information is shared at weekly meetings.

Pupil Welfare The school has worked hard to improve attendance by working closely with the children, parents, our local cluster schools and outside agencies. The Learning Mentor undertakes daily first response calls to ensure that we know where our children are, if we have no information about why they are not in school. Calls are followed up by a visit if school has reasons for concern. School liaises with the Local Authority Child Missing education officer if a child has not attended school for period of time. Improving Attendance and Punctuality remain key priorities for school improvement.

Special Needs We aim to provide quality first teaching to all our pupils, where activities, support and the learning environment are differentiated to cater for all our learners. We understand that a

significant number may at times require individual or group intervention. Through the ASSESS-PLAN-DO-REVIEW cycle, identified pupils are monitored carefully and both parents and pupils are consulted about the support they need. Pupils may be referred for extra support to the SENCo/ Inclusion Manager who may request extra support from external agencies if deemed necessary. Pupils who receive support which is additional to and different from that of their peers may have a School Support Plan (SSP) which outlines current needs, support and targets. Those pupils who have a statement or EHC will have support to help them to meet the targets identified on the Statement/EHC. There are also children in school who are tracked and monitored carefully due to Additional Educational Needs. These children may have medical needs, difficult home circumstances, be suffering from bereavement or could be new to the country. In such cases, the Learning Mentor, Class teachers and Support Assistants work closely together to ensure that the needs of these children are met. This could take the form of 1:1 sessions with the Learning Mentor, Butterfly Room provision or more specific child/family support.

Gifted and Talented Children are identified early and a programme of special activities helps to encourage and extend their learning and experiences. More able pupils receive differentiated tasks in class to extend their learning.

Learning We recognise that our pupils have a wide range of learning styles and staff have been trained to plan lessons which take these into account. Brain breaks are incorporated into lessons and pupils have access to water at all times. Music is also sometimes played during lessons and this adds to the calm atmosphere throughout the school. Pupils are encouraged to take responsibility for their learning through individual targets and shared lesson objectives. Strategies such as think pair and share and peer assessment are employed to enable pupils to feel safe when answering questions and offering opinions. Through the PSHE curriculum, Collective Worship and RE lessons pupils are encouraged to share feelings and experiences in a way which helps them to understand and come to terms with their feelings and alleviates frustration and anger.

Bishop Martin recognises the importance of teaching children the social and emotional aspects of learning which helps them to understand and come to terms with their emotions which, if not understood and recognised, provide barriers to effective learning. Topics are raised at whole school level and then are explored in class through circle time and lessons.

They understand that when they are angry or frustrated they do not learn as well as when they are happy and relaxed. The PHSE curriculum has had a beneficial effect on the learning environment, issues are dealt with calmly and pupils trust school staff to respond fairly and positively and is an intrinsic part of the school ethos.. Above all they know that staff will listen to and respond to what they have to say. Each class also have a worry eater which children can use if they have worries or concerns.

Safeguarding & Welfare in the Early Years Foundation Stage ‘Children learn best when they are healthy, safe and secure, when their individual needs are met, and when they have positive relationships with the adults caring for them.’ (Statutory Framework for EYFS 2014)

At Bishop Martin Primary School, we embrace the welfare requirements as stated in the Statutory Framework for Early Years Foundation Stage 2014. Keeping our children safe and happy is paramount and at the forefront of everything that we do in our Early Years.

We educate children on boundaries, rules and limits and help them understand why they exist. We encourage children to take risks and highlight the importance of keeping themselves safe by teaching them how to recognise and avoid dangers. We aim to protect the physical and psychological well-being of all children.

Our Early Years Foundation Stage provides a setting that is welcoming, safe and stimulating where children can grow in confidence and achieve their best. Behaviour is managed effectively in a manner appropriate for the children’s stage of development and individual needs. We ensure that all adults who look after our children, or who have unsupervised access to them, are suitable to do so. Records, policies and procedures required for the safe efficient management of the setting are maintained and meet the needs of the children. The setting furniture and equipment is safe, suitable and accessible for all children. We promote good health at Bishop Martin and in the Early Years all children are provided with a healthy snack each day as well as being given the choice to have milk. Children have access to water at all times and fruit is provided daily.

Intimate Care At Bishop Martin we follow the guidelines as set out in the Service Children’s Education Policy Intimate care Issued March 2013.

“Intimate” care is any care which involves washing, touching or carrying out an invasive procedure that most children are able to carry out themselves. However, depending on a child’s age and stage of development, they may need some support, for example dressing, wiping their bottom after using the toilet and changing underwear following an accident. In most cases, intimate care is to do with personal hygiene and it is good practise for the school to inform the school nurse of all children requiring intimate care. Every child has the right to privacy, dignity and a professional approach from all staff when meeting their needs and it is important that staff work in partnership with parents to give the right support to an individual child. e-Safety Bishop Martin CE Primary school provides a safe, diverse, balanced and relevant approach to the use of ICT technology and children are encouraged to maximise the benefits and opportunities that technology has to offer. The school has developed a secure ICT framework to protect the children and staff from any action that could adversely affect them at the school. Access to the internet is controlled and monitored through an approved filtering system. Bishop Martin provides suitable e-Safety education to all pupils and ensures that pupils develop an understanding of the importance of the school’s Acceptable Use Policy both within and outside school. Staff are made aware of the precautions to be undertaken when using mobile devices in school and are only allowed to use them in an emergency.

Staff have been made of school’s safeguarding procedures to minimise cyberbullying from happening. Access to social network sites or chat rooms by pupils during the school day is prohibited. Pupils are not allowed to use mobile devices such as mobile phones in school Bishop Martin recognises the substantial benefits to education of the use of digital media but also recognises the risks associated in particular with the posting or sharing of images and media on the internet, through mobile technologies and social networks. Any images taken at school will only be used for school purposes, taken using school equipment and staff

ensure that subjects are appropriately dressed and not participating in activities that could be misinterpreted. The school complies fully with the Data Protection Act (1998) and has written permission for their use of images and videos from individual parents or carers.

Parents are kept informed and given advice on e-safety via the weekly school newsletter and website.

Data Management Bishop Martin CE Primary school ensures sensitive or personal data is recorded, processed, transferred and made available for access in school in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act (1998) which is enforced by the Information Commissioners Office .All data is kept secure and staff informed of what they can or can’t do with data. Privacy Notices are displayed in school to inform both Parents and Staff that data is only collated and stored within school in line with The Data Protection Act. Behaviour All staff follow a programme of positive behaviour management in which rewards are considered far more important than sanctions. All pupils and parents are made aware of the school behaviour policy. This policy is vigorously followed. The class teacher gives support to pupils throughout and parents are informed, involved and supported.

“Our Golden Rules keep everybody safe” Bullying The school has an anti-bullying policy which is closely adhered to. The school operates a policy of zero tolerance of bullying. We have a culture of telling about bullying and all the adults in the school listen and take the issue very seriously. Bullying incidents are recorded and the Headteacher, Senior staff and Class teachers involve parents. We subscribe to national anti bullying week and regular assemblies heighten ongoing awareness.

Healthy Schools Bishop Martin has achieved the Healthy Schools Award. Through the curriculum we teach children how to keep themselves fit and healthy through sensible eating and exercise.

Through PLT we have access to a wide range of sports and dance activities both within and outside the day to day curriculum. We encourage children to take part in sports outside school. Our school kitchen provides healthy meals and there is always a salad bar which pupils enjoy. Pupils learn how to keep themselves safe and who can help them to do so.

Before & After School Clubs – Extended Schools The school runs a Breakfast club, 8.00am – 8.40am.The Breakfast Club is staffed by members of staff. The school also runs a wide range of clubs after school which are well attended. These include the arts, sport, cookery, music, science, PE environment, ICT and academic subjects. Pupils of all ages mix together and help each other. There is a mixture of in-house and outside provision for after school clubs and all external providers are carefully vetted for CRB/DBS checks.

Pupil Voice Pupils are represented by the School council. Our School Council is working to ensure that every child reaches all the outcomes of Every Child Matters. Pupils are trained to become

playground buddies and in peer Mentoring. In this role they help to identify any pupils who may need help or support School council provide a forum for pupils to contribute their ideas: one such suggestion was that more games equipment should be purchased for break times and that more organised games should take place. This was acted upon and has resulted in an improvement in behaviour and far fewer minor disputes on the playground. The school sends pupil representatives to the town wide Pupil Parliament which is operated by SHAREs Governors The governors of our school are very proactive and supportive of all the initiatives described.

They are regular visitors to school and have been particularly active in designing the building development plans to secure safer access. Our Chair of Governors is also safeguarding Governor and meets regularly with the DSP to monitor child protection procedures and logs.

Secondary Transfer We welcome teachers of schools to which our pupils will transfer for their secondary education so that we can discuss their needs and facilitate the process which can be daunting for some children. We give support to parents who may have difficulty filling in the secondary transfer form. All child protection records are forwarded to the relevant secondary schools. Any LAC children are discussed in detail and any information pertaining to them is passed on.

Induction All new members of staff follow a step by step process which enable them to understand the ethos, policies and procedures of our school, including Child Protection, Health and Safety, duties and responsibilities. Children in Reception and Year 3 are given tours in small groups of their respective buildings. Pupils joining after the start of the school year are given a buddy to show them around and introduce them to other children. Our children are exceptionally warm and welcoming and we find that new pupils settle in very quickly. Parents have expressed delight at how happy their children have been in their new setting.

Visits Out The school follows government guidelines, ensuring that risk assessments are carried out for each activity and that proper procedures are followed for the safety of pupils. We believe in the importance of visits out to enhance awareness of our local area and beyond, to gain life skills and to meet people from other walks of life. Our children understand the need to behave in a manner which reflects on the ethos of the school and their good behaviour has been commented on many times by activity providers. These trips out are usually subsidised by the school fund and/ or Pupil Premium funding, no child ever misses out through non payment of charges.

Medical Issues Several staff members have first aid qualifications and the guidelines for treatment of minor injuries are closely followed. Four members of staff working in the Foundation Stage have specialist paediatric first aid training qualifications. School operates a clear policy on the administration of medicines, including inhalers. Parents are informed by a written form, sent home with their child, if their child has a minor bump to the head accident. They are contacted by phone and called into school for more serious incidents. All incidents are recorded carefully in an Accident Book. First Aid Kits are located around the school. Children

with particular medical needs have an individual medical plan drawn up in conjunction with the school nurse and there photographs and details are displayed in the office.

Staying Safe outside School We work closely with the local Police, Fire Brigade, Safer stronger Communities group and other agencies as appropriate to give our children the skills and understanding that will enable them to keep themselves safe beyond the school gates. For example the health and safety executive came into school to give a talk on safety around building sites recently when there was building work going on in the local area. Year 5 and year 6 pupils have Cycle Proficiency lessons to teach them how to ride a bicycle safely. This exercise includes being out in the community.

In Conclusion In Bishop Martin School the well being of our children is paramount and the whole school team recognises the importance of this. Our pupils depend on us to be caring, fair, supportive and consistent and experience school as a safe and happy place to be. We are not complacent and will always look to improve what we do to enhance the experience of school life for all our children.