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Safeguarding
Ashford St Mary’s C of E Primary School is a community and all those directly connected (staff, governors, parents, families and pupils) have an essential role to play in making it safe and secure. We recognise our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children with their best interests at the centre of our work. Safeguarding children well enables them to shine as lights in the world, in line with our Christian vision.
We recognise the importance of providing an ethos and environment within school that will help children to feel safe, secure and respected; encourage them to talk openly; and enable them to feel confident that they will be listened to. We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow our procedures to ensure that children receive effective support, protection and justice.
It is one of the school’s beliefs that children learn well and develop as individuals when they feel safe, secure and happy and our safeguarding work is concerned with protecting all of our children from harm. Safeguarding is also concerned with providing a school environment where children feel secure and are respected, where children are encouraged to talk and are listened to, to allow children to develop a feeling of trust and build the life skills that will keep them safe - for life.
Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mrs Nicola Hirst
Our Deputy Safeguarding Leads are:
Mr Mark O’Gormley
Mrs Sarah Beaney
Mrs Harsharn Birring
Mrs Joanna Wright
Mrs Kerry Smith
All can be contacted on: dsl@st-marys-ashford.kent.sch.uk
Our Governor with responsibility for Safeguarding is Lizzie Worthen
Safer Recruitment
St Mary’s C of E Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Any posts at the school are subject to an enhanced Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service and a check against the ISA Barred List for children.
We also follow KCC guidelines in regard to DBS checks for volunteers that help at our school.
Kent Safeguarding Children Board
Kent Safeguarding Children Multi-agency Partnership works to protect and safeguard the children of Kent: https://www.kscmp.org.uk/
There is a wealth of information on the KSCMP website for professionals, parents, carers and young people.
Online Safety
With technology advancing at a super quick rate, and with the added pressure of children being at the forefront of exposure to this advanced technological age with regard to the internet, mobile phones, laptops, computers and tablet devices, we believe that online safety awareness and safe practice is of paramount importance.
We understand and appreciate the need for children to learn about and embrace these technologies and as a result we equally understand the need to teach them to use them responsibly, ethically, wisely and to guide them on how to best prepare themselves to stay safe while online.
CEOP Safety Centre:
CEOP helps any child or young person under the age of 18 who is being pressured, forced or tricked into taking part in sexual activity of any kind. You can visit the CEOP Safety Centre for information and advice and make a report directly to CEOP.
Childline:
If you are experiencing online bullying or something else online has worried you please speak to an adult you trust, or you can talk to Childline at any time on 0800 1111 or at the Childline website.
Internet Parental Controls:
The four big internet providers – BT, Sky, Talk Talk and Virgin Media – provide their customers with free parental controls that can be activated at any time. Video tutorials on how to download and use these controls are available on the website: www.saferinternet.org.uk/parental-controls
Safety Tools on Social Networks and Other Online Services:
Information and advice on the safety tools, age requirements and terms and conditions for a variety of online services popular with young people. www.saferinternet.org.uk/safety-tools
Online Gaming:
https://www.childnet.com/
Contains helpful advice and information on supporting children and young people playing games online and many other resources for parents. No need to add contact details, just scroll down for all the parent guides.
https://nationalonlinesafety.com/resources/
Young People and Social Media:
Social Media information on Childnet aims to help parents understand the positive and creative ways young people are using social media (e.g. Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram). It also points out the potential risks of using these sites/ apps and ways to minimise these risks.
https://www.childnet.com/help-and-advice/social-media/
Social Network Checklists:
Free guides produced by the UK Safer Internet Centre contain detailed instructions and information on privacy and account settings on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram.
www.saferinternet.org.uk/checklists
Contacting Social Services:
If you have any urgent concerns with regard to safeguarding and you wish to make direct contact, please call KCC below:
- During the day and in office hours
- Concerned about an adult?
- Call 03000 41 61 61 (text relay 18001 03000 41 61 61) or email social.services@kent.gov.uk
- Concerned about a child?
- Call 03000 41 11 11 (text relay 18001 03000 41 11 11) or email social.services@kent.gov.uk
- Out of hours and in an emergency
If you think someone is in immediate danger, the best thing to do is call 999 for the emergency services.
Operation Encompass:
We are an Operation Encompass School - we will receive information from the police for any child who is experiencing or witnessing domestic abuse within the home setting that the police are called to. We will follow up any report in a timely and sensitive manner to offer support to families.
https://www.operationencompass.org/
KCSIE
The Government has produced a document called Keeping Children Safe in Education, (KCSIE), which is updated annually or before if there are any important changes.