Safeguarding
Safeguarding Statement
Swannington C of E Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
We have a number of policies and procedures in place that contribute to our safeguarding commitment, including our Child Protection / Safeguarding Policy.
Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a child's welfare. We will ensure that our concerns about our pupils are discussed with his/her parents/carers first unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child's welfare.
We actively support the Government's Prevent Agenda to counter radicalism and extremism.
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Mr A McLugash (Headteacher)
Deputy DSL: Mrs R Maybury (Year 3 & 4 Teacher and Senior Teacher)
Deputy DSL: Miss L Hickman (Year 1 & 2 Teacher)
Our nominated Safeguarding Governor is: Mrs G Barber.
You can contact any of the safeguarding team through the office on 01530 832655.
Out of Hours Safeguarding Information
Please be aware that during the school holidays and times when the school is closed, you are still able to inform us of any child protection concerns you may have on our out of hours email address: safeguarding@swannington.risemat.co.uk or safeguarding@schools.risemat.co.uk
If you have an immediate concern and feel that a child is at risk of significant harm or danger, please contact the police.
You can also contact Leicestershire Council Children's Family Help Service who will be able to offer further advice and guidance. They can be contacted on 0116 305 8727.
If you would like to discuss a concern with a member of the school's safeguarding team, please call the school office on 01530 832655.
We do check these emails regularly and will respond as swiftly as possible.
Early Help
Children and young people can experience a range of difficulties at any time in their life. Early help is for children and young people of any age and can come from all kinds of services and organisations who work together to support the family.
You can request targeted support if you have concerns about your child’s health, development or behaviour.
The request can be made by yourself or with the support of a teacher, health professional or support worker. During the assessment, you will be fully involved and listened to which will help find the right support that you, your child and family may need.
For more information about Early Help contact 0116 305 8727 or complete the referral form here.
In addition to the services provided by the Early Help Service in Leicestershire, the school is able to provide additional support, guidance and signposting in a variety of forms.
This may include:
- Conversations with parents to identify needs
- Being an outlet for parental and family concerns
- Addressing pupil or parent health needs
- Behavioural Support for young people and their families e.g. through SEMH, EiM
- School nurse referrals
- Guidance on accessing support from a GP/Paediatrician - accompanying parents at appointments
- Support with claiming and accessing benefits such as, Housing, DWP, Food Banks, Employment
- Signposting local children's centres
- Completion of a variety of forms including School Admissions & Free School Meals
- Help with uniform and/or basic hygiene products
- Support for mental health - the school currently has 2 trained mental health first-aiders
- Referrals to UAVA, Living Without Abuse and other charities to support victims of Domestic Violence
- Referral to Emotions in Motion for pupils
- Signposting of SEND support e.g. ADHD Solutions
- Links with Leicestershire County Council - supporting families with Council Tax, Housing Options, Environmental Health issues
- Hosting TAF (Team around the Family) meetings.
School Nurse Information
The School Nurse Team are available to support children, parents and carers. Their team telephone number is 0300 300 3001 which is a confidential answer machine and is listened to twice a day (Mon–Fri). Parents and carers can directly contact the Healthy Together (School Nurse) service on 0300 300 3001 and contact details can be found here.
The Healthy Together Digital offer is also available for children and their families:
- For primary schools, the web site address is: www.healthforkids.co.uk. This website also has a parents' section with information on various topics and access to the emotional booklets.
- For information relating to Behaviour and Continence, you can find useful information here.
The Healthy Together confidential text messaging service, ChatHealth, continues to be available between the hours of 9-5 from Monday-Friday. For parents and carers, the numbers are:
- Leicestershire text service: 07520 615382.
Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse Support
If you require specialist domestic and sexual abuse support, please click here for the the city council website.
You can get expert support from Freeva by clicking here or calling their helpline on 0808 802 0028.
If you require any support, please contact any of our school DSLs on the school number (01530 832655) or by email.
We are an Operation Encompass School
What is Operation Encompass?
In every force: Our aim is to ensure that schools have timely information about all police-attended incidents of domestic abuse, no matter where in the world the child lives.
In every school: Our aim is to enable staff in every school to understand how to support children who are experiencing domestic abuse, no matter where in the world the child lives.
For every child: Our aim is to ensure all child experiencing domestic abuse receive timely support in their school, no matter where in the world the child lives.
All Leicestershire Schools are part of Operation Encompass which was established to improve outcomes for children and families affected by domestic violence and abuse.
Operation Encompass is a police, local authority and education early information safeguarding partnership enabling schools to offer immediate support to children experiencing domestic abuse.
Operation Encompass ensures that there is a simple telephone call or notification to a school’s trained Designated Safeguarding Lead /Officer (known as Key Adult) prior to the start of the next school day after an incident of police attended domestic abuse where there are children related to either of the adult parties involved.
Information is shared with a school’s Key Adult (Designated Safeguarding Lead or Officer) prior to the start of the next school day after officers have attended a domestic abuse incident. This sharing of information enables appropriate support to be given, dependent upon the needs and wishes of the child.
Children are negatively impacted by experiencing domestic abuse and without early intervention and support this negative impact can last through a child’s life course. Domestic abuse can impact upon social, psychological, physical, emotional and behavioural outcomes with an often negative impact upon a child’s academic success. Experiencing domestic abuse has been identified as an Adverse Childhood Experience.
Operation Encompass aims, by directly connecting police and schools, to secure better outcomes for children, to enable schools to better understand the impact living with domestic abuse has upon children, to help schools to better understand a child’s lived experience and to therefore be able to support and nurture each child, making a child’s day better and giving them a better tomorrow.
Our aim is to have Operation Encompass in every force, in every school, for every child no matter where they live. It is simply every child’s right.
https://www.operationencompass.org/
National Helplines
Domestic Violence Assist - https://www.dvassist.org.uk/
Women’s Aid - https://www.womensaid.org.uk/
Men’s Advice Help - https://mensadviceline.org.uk/
National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Help - http://www.galop.org.uk/domesticabuse/
National Stalking Help - https://www.suzylamplugh.org/Pages/Category/nationalstalking-helpline
Victim Support - https://www.victimsupport.org.uk
The Prevent Duty
What is the Prevent duty?
- Prevent is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorist or extremist causes.
- The Prevent duty covers all types of terrorism and extremism, including the extreme right wing, violent Islamist groups and other causes.
How does the Prevent duty apply to schools?
- From July 2015 all schools (as well as other organisations) have a duty to safeguard children from radicalisation and extremism.
- This means we have a responsibility to protect children from extremist and violent views the same way we protect them from any other harm.
- Importantly, we can provide a safe place for pupils to discuss these issues, at an appropriate level, so they better understand how to protect themselves.
What does this mean in practice at Swanningto CofE Primary School
Many of the things we already do in school to help children become positive, happy members of society also contribute to the Prevent duty. These include:
- A strong focus on celebrating diversity and exploring other cultures and religions
- Focusing on core values.
- Challenging prejudices and racist comments.
- Developing critical thinking skills and a strong, positive self-identity.
- Promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils, as well as British values such as democracy.
- We will also protect children from the risk of radicalisation, for example by using filters on the internet to make sure they can’t access extremist and terrorist material, or by vetting visitors who come into school to work with pupils.
Different schools will carry out the Prevent duty in different ways, depending on the age of the children and the needs of the community.
Isn't my child too young to learn about extremism?
The Prevent duty is not just about discussing extremism itself, which may not be appropriate for younger children. It is also about teaching children values such as tolerance and mutual respect. This is what we will focus on at Swannington.
The school will make sure any discussions are suitable for the age and maturity of the children involved.
Is extremism really a risk in our area?
Extremism can take many forms, including political, religious and misogynistic extremism. Some of these may be a bigger threat in our area than others. Our Safeguarding Team ensure they are up-to-date on threats in our local area which is monitored through our school context.
We will endeavour to give children the skills to protect them from any extremist views they may encounter, now or later in their lives.
Further information
Contact the school - If you have any questions or concerns about the Prevent duty and what it means for your child, please do not hesitate to contact the school.
See our policies - You will find more details about radicalisation in our safeguarding policy, available on our website. We also have information about spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and British values. The school has a risk assessment for Prevent which may be made available on request.
Key Terms
Extremism – vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values
Ideology – a set of beliefs
Terrorism – a violent action against people or property, designed to create fear and advance a political, religious or ideological cause
Radicalisation – the process by which a person comes to support extremism and terrorism
External Sources
The following sources may also be useful for further information:
Useful Links for Parents and Carers
NSPCC Underwear - Talking PANTS teaches children important messages, like the fact their body belongs to them and they should tell an adult if they're upset or worried.
NSPCC Safeguarding - Everyone has a responsibility to keep children and young people safe - find out more about what you can do here.
Childline - If you need support or advice, Childline is here for you. Click here if you are a child who needs extra support.
FGM Centre - Find out more about FGM, including signs to look out for.
MindEd - A free online educational resource on children and young people's mental health for all adults, which can support parents and carers through these exceptional circumstances.