Rolleston Primary School ensures children learn in a safe, caring and enriching environment. Children are taught how to keep themselves safe, on and off line, to develop positive and healthy relationships and how to avoid situations where they might be at risk including by being exploited.

Rolleston Primary School has a statutory responsibility to share any concerns it might have about a child in need of protection with other agencies and in particular police, health and children’s services. Schools are not able to investigate concerns but have a legal duty to refer them. In most instances, the school will be able to inform the parents/carer of its need to make a referral. However, sometimes the school is advised by Children’s Social Care or police that the parent/carer cannot be informed whilst they investigate the matter. We understand the anxiety parents/carers understandably feel when they are not told about any concerns from the outset. The school follows legislation that aims to act in the best interests of the child.

SAFEGUARDING AT ROLLESTON PRIMARY SCHOOL

Rolleston Primary School fully recognises the contribution it can make to protect children and support pupils in school.  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. To fulfil this responsibility effectively, all professionals should make sure their approach is child centred.  Our establishment has a culture of vigilance, we take a whole school approach to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and we consider, always, what is in the best interest of the child and young person.   We endeavour to identify concerns early, provide help for children, promote children’s welfare, take into consideration the child’s lived in experience and prevent concerns from escalating.

The aim of this policy is to safeguard and promote our pupil’s welfare, safety and health by fostering an honest, open, caring and supportive climate and our staff members working with pupils to maintain an attitude of ‘it could happen here’ where safeguarding is concerned.  This stance has been developed to ‘It is happening to children in our school, we just haven't noticed it yet, but we are watching, listening and talking to our children.’ 

Through our curriculum we teach children to stay safe and happy. We encourage the understanding that any problem or worry that they may have is legitimate, and to share their worries, big or small with their trusted adult; at home; school or with ChildLine.

Safeguarding and Promoting the welfare of Children

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as:

• Protecting children from maltreatment;

• Preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development;

• Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and

• Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

   

  Child protection is a key element in work to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Child Protection refers to work undertaken with children identified as being at risk of significant harm.

At Rolleston Primary School we are passionate about and committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and we expect all staff and visitors to share this commitment.

We are fully committed to ensuring that consistent effective safeguarding procedures are in place to support families, children and staff at school. We have robust policies in place for ensuring the wellbeing of our children. These policies underpin our practice and values shared by every single member of staff in our school. Copies are available from the school office.

Any concerns about children are passed through the members of staff who are trained as “Designated Safeguarding Leads” in the school in compliance with the “sharing of information” guidance.

As of 1st September 2023, Keeping Children Safe in Education was updated.

Our policy and procedures have also been updated to incorporate the changes.