Safeguarding

Safeguarding Introduction

Safeguarding is an umbrella term and covers many more aspects than just child protection

 Child Protection is protecting children from identified risks – originally focused on abuse at home now a wider concept to include bullying, abuse through new technologies etc

 Safeguarding extends child protection to include preventing harm and promoting the well being of children.

 Safeguarding is:

•  Protecting children from maltreatment
• Preventing impairment of a child’s health or development
• Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provisions of safe and effective care
• Create opportunities to enable children to have optimum life chances in adulthood.

 (2004 Children’s Act)

Child Protection Policy

 This Policy sets out how the school’s Governing Body discharges its statutory responsibilities relating to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children who are pupils at the school.

 PREVENTION through the teaching and pastoral support offered to pupils and the creation and maintenance of a whole school protective ethos.

 PROCEDURES for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases, of abuse.

 SUPPORT TO PUPILS who may have been abused.

 PREVENTING UNSUITABLE PEOPLE WORKING WITH CHILDREN

Our Policy applies to all staff and volunteers working in the school (education support services).  Teaching assistants, mid-day supervisors, admin staff as well as teachers can be the first point of disclosure for a child.  Concerned parents may also contact school Governors.

Lapworth Church of England Primary School recognises the responsibility it has under the Education Act 2002 (Section 175 for maintained schools), schools must make arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.  Parents/carers should know that the law (Children Act 1989) requires all school staff to pass on information which gives rise to a concern about a child’s welfare, including risk from neglect, physical, emotional or sexual abuse.  Staff will seek, in general, to discuss any concerns with the parent/carer and, where possible, seek their consent to make a referral to Children’s Social Care if that is considered necessary.  This will only be done where such discussion will not place the child at increased risk of significant harm or cause undue delay.  The school will seek advice from Children’s Social Care when they have reasonable cause to suspect a child may be suffering or likely to suffer significant harm.  Occasionally, concerns are passed on which are later found to be unfounded.  Parents/carers will appreciate that the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead carries out their responsibilities in accordance with the law and acts in the best interests of all children.’

Warwickshire Safeguarding Children Board

The Warwickshire Safeguarding Children Board (WSCB) has been established to make the county an even safer place for children and can be found at : Warwickshire Safeguarding Children Board

The Board has a number of duties:

• To ensure that sound arrangements are in place to protect children in Warwickshire.
• To safeguard children by contributing to the prevention of harm and the promotion of the welfare of children in Warwickshire.
• To achieve these objectives by promoting inter-agency cooperation and collaboration.

The Warwickshire Safeguarding Children Board (WSCB) is an interagency forum for agreeing how the different services and professional groups should cooperate to safeguard children, and make sure that local arrangements work effectively to bring about good outcomes for children in Warwickshire.