"It could happen here." (Keeping Children Safe in Education 2022)
What is Safeguarding?
At Downsell Primary School we are fully aware and committed to the on-going protection and safety of our pupils, staff and wider community in accordance with DfE guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children and Keeping Children Safe in Education. An integral part of that work relates to the Government's PREVENT strategy and the duties it places on academic institutions.
Our school is committed to providing a secure environment for pupils, where children feel safe and are kept safe. All adults in our school recognise that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility irrespective of the role they undertake or whether their role has direct contact or responsibility for children or not. We adopt the approach of, 'it could happen here' when thinking about safeguarding.
Staff will be alert to issues including:
- Disclosures by pupils of their exposure to the extremist actions, views or materials of others outside of school, such as in their homes or community groups
- Graffiti symbols, writing or art work promoting extremist messages or images
- Pupils accessing extremist material online, including through social networking sites
- Parental reports of changes in behaviour, friendship or actions and requests for assistance
- Use of extremist or ‘hate’ terms to exclude others or incite violence
- Intolerance of difference, whether secular or religious or, in line with our equalities policy, views based on, but not exclusive to, gender, disability, homophobia, race, colour or culture
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 or if we have been advised not to by MASH.
Our Safeguarding Team
Every adult at our school has a duty of care for our children. All staff are responsible for the safeguarding of all pupils.
We have a team of staff that oversee and manage safeguarding and child protection across the school; they are our Designated Safeguarding Officers, who are led by the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Designated Safeguarding Lead: Rachael Alexander-Gordon
Designated Safeguarding Officers: Deena Chetty and Deanna Williams
Out of hours Designated Safeguarding Officer: Karen Hodges
Safeguarding and Behaviour Team.pdf
If you need to contact a member of the safeguarding team please contact the school office on 020 85560103.
Operation Encompass
Downsell Primary has been given the opportunity to take part in a project (Operation Encompass) that will run jointly between schools and Waltham Forest Metropolitan Police.
The principles of Operation Encompass are very simple, within every school a trained key adult is appointed – in Downsell Primary this is Mr Chetty.
Mr Chetty will be notified prior to the start of the next school day that the police have attended an incident of domestic abuse to which a child has been exposed. This timely knowledge enables a plan for appropriate support to be made for that child so that all interactions, from when the child first arrives at the school gates, are of a positive nature.
At Downsell, we are keen to offer the best help and support possible to all of our pupils and we believe this will be extremely beneficial in effectively meeting the needs of the children and families involved.
N.B. Any information shared as part of this project is kept securely and confidentially by the school.
For more information please visit Operation Encompass or speak to Mr Chetty if you have any questions about the project.
Safeguarding and our Pupils
Our curriculum supports us in teaching our pupils about safeguarding. We aim to empower our students to become confident, safe, happy and healthy individuals.
Safeguarding across the curriculum.pdf
Have a look at our safeguarding policy posters for children (found under the pupil links tab). These posters are displayed in classrooms and around the school, to encourage our pupils to talk to an adult if they feel worried or upset about anything.
https://www.downsellprimary.org/SAP.aspx?pid=PupilLinks_en-GB#
Safeguarding Newsletters
We publish safeguarding newsletters throughout the year. The topic of these newsletters are decided by what is currently relevant for our children / issues that we have seen arise in our school / community at that particular time.
Safeguarding Newsletter October 2021.pdf
Safeguarding Newsletter November 2021 Anti-Bullying Week-V355678489.pdf
Safeguarding Newsletter February 2022- Mental Health.pdf
Our school fulfills the local and national responsibilities in line with the following:
Working together to safeguard children
Keeping children safe in education
Teaching online safety in schools
Inspecting safeguarding in early years
EYFS statutory framework
Sexual violence and sexual harassment
Children missing in education
Manadatory reporting of FGM (female genital mutilation)
Mental health and behaviour in school
Prevent Duty
County lines
In addition to these statutory documents we have our school policies such as safeguarding policy, online protection, whistleblowing and code of conduct.
Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy 2022-23.pdf
Collecting views and feedback
As a school, we seek to ensure that the views of children and parent / carers are sought in order to plan next steps and to ensure that our safeguarding procedures are effective for all.
Pupil views are collected through pupil questionnaires each half term.
Parent / carer views can be given through our survey by using the following QR Code:
Note for parents and carers:
If you are concerned about a child, young person or a member of staff, please ask to speak to a member of the school’s Safeguarding Team.
Alternatively you can contact the NSPCC: http://help@nspcc.org.uk
Text: 88858
Phone: 0808 800 5000
Or call LBWF Social Care (MASH) on: 020 84962310
If a child is in immediate danger, please call the police.
Links for further information:
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/signs-symptoms-effects/what-if-suspect-abuse/
https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/content/child-protection
Resources for children and families
Childline
NSPCC
Road Safety
Fire Safety
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