Safeguarding
Safeguarding Policy
We consider our role in Safeguarding to be critical to ensure the safety of all members of the school community. Find out about our Safeguarding Policy below and all of the guidance documents that guide our Safeguarding practice to ensure our school family feels safe and secure with us.
Aylesham Primary School is a community and all those directly connected (staff, governors, parents, families and pupils) have an essential role to play in making it safe and secure.
Aylesham Primary School recognises our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children.
Aylesham Primary School recognises the importance of providing an ethos and environment within school that will help children to feel safe, secure and respected; encourage them to talk openly; and enable them to feel confident that they will be listened to. We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow our procedures to ensure that children receive effective support, protection and justice.
Our school core safeguarding principles are: |
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It is a whole school responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children as its paramount concern |
All children (defined as those up to the age of 18) regardless of age, gender, ability, culture, race, language, religion or sexual identity, have equal rights to protection |
All children have a right to be heard and to have their wishes and feelings taken into account |
All staff understand safe professional practice and adhere to our code of conduct and other associated policies |
All staff have a responsibility to recognise vulnerability in children and act on any concern in accordance with this guidance |
There are four main elements to our safeguarding policy |
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Prevention ( e.g. positive, supportive, safe school culture, curriculum and pastoral opportunities for children, safer recruitment procedures); |
Protection (by following the agreed procedures, ensuring all staff are trained and supported to respond appropriately and sensitively to safeguarding concerns); |
Support (for all pupils, parents and staff, and where appropriate specific intervention for those who may be at risk of harm); |
Working with parents and other agencies (to ensure appropriate communications and action are undertaken). |
Child Protection Concerns
A quick guide for parents reporting Child Protection Concerns in Kent
Keeping children safe is everybody's business
If you think a child is being abused or mistreated or you have concerns about a child's well-being you should call and speak to someone at one of the following numbers:
Specialist Children’s Services, Central Duty Team - 03000 41 11 11
Police emergency: 999
NSPCC Helpline 0808 800 5000, email help@nspcc.org.uk , text 88858 (free service), or complete online form
There are 4 different types of categories of abuse. These are:
Physical abuse
Sexual abuse
Emotional abuse
Neglect
Physical Abuse: When an adult deliberately hurts you such as punching, hitting, kicking, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, drowning or suffocating.
Emotional Abuse: An example of this would be when you are constantly being criticised, humiliated or unfairly blamed for things, or told you are stupid and made to feel worthless and unhappy. In other instances you may be completely ignored.
Neglect: This is where you are not being looked after properly, cared for or fed. You may not for example, be given enough to eat, or may be left alone for long periods of time, sometimes in scary or dangerous situations.
Sexual Abuse: This is inappropriate sexual language or behaviour by an adult. For example, forcing you to pose for rude photographs or take part in sexual activities.
All calls concerning worries about children are treated seriously. You will be asked where the child lives and who looks after the child. Enquires will be made immediately. If it is found that a child is being abused or is at risk of significant harm professionals will work together with the family to ensure that the child can be protected.
If you are in any doubt about reporting your concerns don't think 'What if I'm wrong?' think 'What if I'm right?'
The Prevent Strategy
As part of Aylesham School’s commitment to safeguarding and child protection, we fully support the government's Prevent Strategy, and take guidance from Teaching Approaches to help build resilience to extremism. The Prevent strategy is a government strategy designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.