Safeguarding
Safeguarding
Safeguarding at Cottesmore St Marys is on the highest priority. We want the children in our school to flourish and are committed to ensuring they have a safe and supportive environment, in our school to enable this.
All adults who work in our school are cleared through the Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) before they work here as a staff member or volunteer.
Our staff receive annual Child Protection training and we adhere to a number of policies in order to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the whole school community.
The Governors of our school are fully committed to safeguarding all children and adults in our school community.
What is Safeguarding?
Schools play an essential role in protecting children from abuse. They have regular contact with children and young people so are in a strong position to identify signs of abuse and neglect.
Our school can safeguard children by:
creating safe environments for children and young people through robust safeguarding practices.
ensuring that adults who work in the school, including volunteers, don't pose a risk to children.
making sure staff are trained, know how to respond to concerns and keep-up-to-date with policy and practice.
teaching children and young people about staying safe.
maintaining an environment where children feel confident to approach any member of staff if they have a worry or problem.
Source:
(click image to link)
https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/safeguarding-child-protection-schools
The Designated Safeguarding leads in our school are:
Anna Mullans (Designated Safeguarding Lead) who is also the INCO and Designated teacher responsible for CiC-Children in Care and PiC-Previously in Care
annamullans@cottesmore.brighton-hove.sch.uk
Cath Mcloughlin (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead) also the Deputy Head teacher
Catherinemclouglin@cottesmore.brighton-hove.sch.uk
Rachel Breen (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead) also the Head teacher
Rachelbreen@cottesmore.brighton-hove.sch.uk
The governor responsible for safeguarding is:
Kate Williamson
Katewilliamson@cottesmore.brighton-hove.sch.uk
Cottemore's Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy and Procedures
click to view pdf
click to view pdf
Operation Encompass
Operation Encompass is a police and education early information safeguarding partnership enabling schools to offer immediate support to children experiencing domestic abuse
Operation Encompass ensures that there is a simple telephone call or notification to a school’s trained Designated Safeguarding Lead /Officer (known as key Adult) prior to the start of the next school day after an incident of police attended domestic abuse where there are children related to either of the adult parties involved. Mrs Anna Mullans is the school's 'Operation Encompass Key Adult'.
Witnessing domestic abuse is distressing for a young person, who can often see the abuse, see a parent's injuries or distress afterwards, hear it from another room or be physically hurt trying to stop the abuse
Further information can be found here:
(click image to link)
https://www.operationencompass.org
A new national safeguarding website www.actearly.uk has been launched to help the public share concerns about a friend or a loved one who might be vulnerable to radicalisation.
It can be hard to know what to do if someone close to you is expressing extreme views or hatred, which could cause harm to themselves and others.
Research shows that family and friends are well placed to help spot the signs that someone might be vulnerable to radicalisation. Please do share this new safeguarding resource widely amongst your staff and school community.
Families and friends are encouraged to ‘ACT Early’ so their vulnerable friend or loved one can be safeguarded and get the support they need.
The ACT Early campaign aims to:
1) Increase awareness of the signs of radicalisation.
2) Increase understanding of, and confidence in, the referral process.nsuring that adults who work in the school, including volunteers, don't pose a risk to children.
3) Increase awareness of further information and support.
4) Encourage referrals from concerned family and friends at an early stage.
5) Safeguard vulnerable individuals and others.
The site also details real life stories from individuals who have gone through similar experiences and have been supported and safeguarded away from radicalisation
PREVENT STATEMENT
There is no place for extremist views of any kind in our school, whether from internal sources- pupils, staff, visiting adults, governors or external sources- school community, external agencies or individuals.
Any prejudice, discrimination or extremist views, including derogatory language, displayed by pupils, staff, visitors or parents will always be challenged and where appropriate, dealt with.
Our staff receive annual Child Protection training and we adhere to a number of policies in order to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the whole school community.
We encourage pupils to respect the fundamental British values of: democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect of those with different Religions, faiths and beliefs. We ensure that political views are not promoted in the teaching of any subjects in the school and where political issues are brought to the attention of the pupils, reasonably practicable steps are taken to offer a balance presentation of opposing views the pupils.
Additional information about Prevent is available at:
(click image to link)
USEFUL LINKS
(click images to link)
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1181955/Keeping_children_safe_in_education_2023.pdf
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/942454/Working_together_to_safeguard_children_inter_agency_guidance.pdf
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/