At St Richard Reynolds Catholic Primary school, the safety and well-being of children is our first priority. Safeguarding is what we do for all children to keep them safe whilst in our care. It means ensuring the safety and welfare of all children and, in addition to child protection, covers aspects of school life such as attendance, behaviour, First Aid and Health and Safety.
Child Protection describes the policy and procedures specifically for those children who are at risk of serious harm or have been seriously harmed. Child Protection means protecting children from physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and neglect.
Safeguarding begins as soon as children enter the school and aims to ensure that all our staff are well trained and know how to act appropriately. Our staff and volunteers go through all safeguarding checks on successful appointments to the school. When staff have concerns they know who to speak to and understand the next steps that will take place.
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all practitioners should make sure their approach is child-centred. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child (Keeping Children Safe in Education, 2023).
Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023 – Statutory guidance for schools and colleges
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 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.
If you have any concerns about a child at our primary school, who you feel needs additional help and support, please contact either:
Dee Forsdick, who is our Designated Safeguarding Lead: d.forsdick@srrcc.org.uk
Anna McMullen, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead: a.mcmullen@srrcc.org.uk
or by telephone via the school office on 0208 325 4630.
You can also contact Richmond Single Point of Access (SPA) team if you are concerned about a child.
Richmond SPA (Single Point of Access)
- Call 0208 547 5008 during office hours.
- Call the out of hours Duty Team (evenings and weekends) on 0208 770 5000.
- Report your concerns online with Single Point of Access.
- In an emergency, if you think a child is in immediate danger, you should call 999.
The Designated School Governor for Safeguarding and Child Protection is Andrew Cole. The role of the Designated School Governor is to meet regularly with the Designated Safeguarding Lead to monitor that appropriate policies and procedures are in place and that they are being implemented correctly.
The following is a summary of our safeguarding procedures at St. Richard Reynolds:
- All staff are DBS checked as part of the recruitment procedures and are made aware of our safeguarding policies and procedures during their induction.
- All staff attend full safeguarding training annually (at the relevant level) and receive regular safeguarding updates at staff meetings. This training includes Prevent training.
- When conducting each recruitment process, one member of the leadership team who has attended the Safer Recruitment training would be on the panel.
- All visitors are signed in at the College office and are shown our Safe Working Practice Agreement for visitors and volunteers.
- The DBS details and identification of visiting professionals and supply staff are obtained prior to entering the College.
- All permanent members of staff have photographic ID for swipe-card entry to buildings and sign in and out daily.
- All entry points into the building are safeguarded with self-locking security doors and can only be opened with staff swipe-card entry.
- The PSHE curriculum teaches children how to look after themselves and to keep safe and identifies safe adults beyond the family to speak to if they have any concerns.
- E-Safety is taught as part of the Computing Curriculum and we complete assemblies through the year on E-safety. Safer Internet day is covered in school and information and support provided for parents.
- The system ‘Safeguard my School’ is used across the College to log any safeguarding concerns about pupils.
- A phone call is made home by the Attendance team if parents haven’t informed the school of their child’s absence.
- Volunteers complete an induction process and adhere to our Safe Working Practice Agreement.
- Our Medical Coordinator liaises with Medical professionals to complete care plans to ensure all staff are aware of any medical needs.
LADO:
The LADO is the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) for Safeguarding. Every local authority has a statutory responsibility to have a (LADO) who is responsible for co-ordinating the response to concerns that an adult who works with children, may have caused them or could cause them, harm. In Achieving for Children there is a LADO service which provides this role and support, across Richmond and Kingston.
Contact the LADO
Email: LADO@achievingforchildren.org.uk
Phone: 07774 332675
Kingston and Richmond SPA: 020 8547 5008
Sources of Information
Childline offers free, private and confidential advice and support for children and young people. The Childline helpline number is 0800 1111.
NSPCC is the UK’s leading children’s charity. NSPCC’s trained helpline counsellors are available 24 hours a day by email or online. The NSPCC helpline number is 0808 800 5000. The helpline is open Monday to Friday 8am – 10pm, and 9am – 6pm at the weekend.
CAMHS (Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services) – On the CAMHS website, you will find a collection of websites and resources that provide information and support to young people and families.
Refuge is the national helpline for victims of domestic abuse. The National Domestic Abuse helpline number is 0808 2000 247.
Early Help Led by Kingston and Richmond Safeguarding Children Partnership (KRSCP) this is a multi-agency approach and system that brings together people from a range of services and teams together and ensures that Early Help is accessed in order to meet the needs of the young person. More information on what is on offer is available on the website.