Children and young people have a fundamental right to be protected from harm. Families have a right to expect schools to provide a safe and secure environment. Safeguarding is the responsibility of all adults and especially those working or volunteering with children.

As a church school we recognise that every child is loved and valued by God and our actions as a school should reflect this. Our school aims to help protect the children in its care by working consistently and appropriately with all agencies to reduce risk and promote the welfare of children. 

Child protection means the protection of children from:
– Exploitation
– Physical, sexual or emotional abuse, and
– Neglect

Safeguarding children is defined in Working together to safeguard children as:

• protecting children from maltreatment
• preventing impairment of children’s health or development
• ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
• taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes

Our school has a senior member of staff who is responsible for child protection matters affecting pupils at the school the (‘Designated Safeguarding Lead or DSL’). We also have a Child Protection Policy which explains how our school deals with child protection concerns, including allegations about the behaviour of members of staff. A copy of this can be viewed on our Policy page.

Online Safety

Online Safety is an integral part of children’s education in today’s digital world and is embedded in their learning at school. We also want to help our parents and children improve their own understanding of e-safety issues so they can learn to use the internet and all digital media in a safe and secure way.

It’s important to remember that the legal age to have an account on most social media – Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, Snapchat – is 13 years old.

At Home

As a parent, you’ll know how important the internet is to children – they use it to learn, play, socialise and express themselves. It’s a highly creative place of amazing opportunities. But the technology children use every day can seem a bit daunting and you might worry about the risks your child can face online – such as bullying, contact from strangers or the possibility of them seeing illegal or inappropriate content.

It is important to engage with your children regarding their use of the internet while at home. Here are some conversation starter ideas from www.childnet.com

• Ask your children to tell you about the sites they like to visit and what they enjoy doing online.
• Ask them about how they stay safe online. What tips do they have for you, and where did they learn them? What is OK and not OK to share?
• Ask them if they know where to go for help, where to find the safety advice, privacy settings and how to report or block on the services they use.
• Encourage them to help. Perhaps they can show you how to do something better online or they might have a friend who would benefit from their help and support.
• Think about how you use the internet as a family. What could you do to get more out of the internet together and further enjoy your lives online.