At surface level, ‘safeguarding’ is a process that ensures the safety of children and vulnerable adults. Safeguarding protects children, young people and adults from harm, neglect and abuse of any kind.
The safety, wellbeing and care of all people is important, especially when they are young and vulnerable. This is why schools take a particular interest in safeguarding and follow strict guidelines when keeping their pupils, and staff, safe.
Within the school setting, it is essential that every member of staff understands the importance of safeguarding and work toward keeping every child safe and happy. All staff in schools are responsible for safeguarding and regular training is mandatory.
At a basic level, safeguarding involves everything to do with protecting children and keeping them safe from abuse, neglect, or maltreatment. Safeguarding also includes:
(When we talk of ‘safeguarding children,’ we also mean any child that is yet to be born.)
A school has the responsibility of keeping all its children safe and cared for, along with identifying any potential concerns for the child both in and out of the school setting.
Every school has a designated safeguarding lead, or deputy safeguarding lead, on site at all times.
Every adult in school is responsible for safeguarding – even office staff, midday supervisors and caretakers etc.
Schools are responsible for having policies in place.
Every school will have its own policies which have to be published on their website.
Local authorities publish details on their websites, including links directing people, with any safeguarding concerns regarding a school, to appropriate help – including details about contacting Ofsted if applicable.
The Child Safeguarding Policy are a set of policies that will have been created to help keep your child safe and gives them a layer of protection.
In section 11 of the Child Act (2004), it states that all organisations should have a Child Safeguarding Policy to ensure all children within their setting are cared for appropriately. Each settings policy should:
• Have clear aims and outline the purpose of the policy in regard to their specific setting
• Explain the process, should a safeguarding concern be raised
• Have procedures in place to safeguard and protect children from abuse and neglect
• Ensure staff are kept up to date with legislation
• State very clearly who the policy protects and who must follow it
• Add any extra information regarding children with special needs, disabilities or are part of an ethnic minority
• Be kept up to date, adding any relevant information, should it arise
It is important that all staff know how to access this document and it should be available, publicly, for anyone to be able to see on the school’s website.
Every school will have a designated safeguarding officer who deals with any safeguarding issues and concerns. This person (or people) will be fully trained in dealing with any safeguarding issues concerning children and will know exactly what to do, should an issue be raised with them.
A designated safeguarding officer is there to handle and talk you through any concerns you may have, whether you are a fellow teacher or a parent – they will be able to tell you all the relevant information you need to know if you do have any concerns regarding any child within the school setting or general questions about safeguarding you may have.
For more information regarding our safeguarding policy, click here. Alternatively, if you feel as though you could be an asset to our school community, visit our careers page to see our jobs listings. We’re happy to have a chat, you can contact us to find out more about working within our schools and making a difference to our children’s lives.
