Dormers Wells Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
We have a number of policies and procedures in place that contribute to our safeguarding commitment, including our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.
Sometimes we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a child’s welfare. We will ensure that our concerns about our pupils are discussed with parents/carers first, unless circumstances prevent us from doing so.
Safeguarding and the curriculum
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 trusted adults.
It is important that children from an early age begin to develop skills and practices which will help them to maintain personal safety. Safeguarding issues are cross referenced with themes in the PSHE and Relationships Education and Growing Up Curriculum (Refer to those policies).
We regularly review and monitor the curriculum, including pupil questionnaires and discussions.
What is Safeguarding
Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm.
Safeguarding means:
Child protection is part of the safeguarding process. It focuses on protecting individual children identified as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. This includes child protection procedures which detail how to respond to concerns about a child.
Safeguarding children and child protection guidance and legislation applies to all children up to the age of 18.
Our Safeguarding Team
Designated Safeguarding Lead:
Mrs George
Designated Safeguarding Leads:
Mrs Simpson
Mrs Sargent
Mr Simpson
Mrs Chander
Mrs Cornelius
Safeguarding Governor:
Elizabeth Palmer
Safer Recruitment Governor:
Mrs George (Headteacher)
What to do if you are worried about a child
If you are concerned that a child or young person is being harmed through abuse or neglect you should contact the local authority’s Children and Families on 020 8825 8000 or the Police on 999 in emergency situation.
If you would like further information about keeping your child safe, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to children (NSPCC) has lots of advice and guidance: Click on the links here and here for more information. You can also call the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, email: help@nspcc.org.uk or text 88858, to talk through or report your concerns about any child you may be worried about.
Safety on the web
Dormers Wells Primary School encourages parents and children to visit the CEOP website (Child Exploitation & Online Protection) to build knowledge of how to stay safe online.
This website has lots of fun activities from which children can gain vital information on staying safe.
Click on the link: www.thinkuknow.co.uk
Also see our Online safety and Remote learning page.
Pupils should:
Never reveal personal information, either their own or others, such as home address, telephone number and personal e-mail address etc.
Or use photographs of themselves on their web pages unless the parent/carer have given permission to do so. Never meet people in person that they have contacted on the internet without parent/carer’s permission.
Notify their teacher whenever they come across information or messages that are dangerous, inappropriate or make them feel uncomfortable.
Be aware that the author of an e-mail or web page may not be the person they claim to be.
Photographs and videos
Whilst we acknowledge lots of parents and carers enjoy seeing photos and videos of their children’s school life, we are very mindful of our duty of care towards all our pupils.
We take the issue of safeguarding very seriously and this includes the use of photographic and video images.
Any photographs or videos taken by parents, carers and relatives at school productions, sports days or other events are for the enjoyment of individual families. They must not be used in any way that could potentially place a child at risk. This would include publishing images in any form of print or on the internet, including social media network sites. This is emphasised before events such as class assemblies and performances.
Occasionally, the local press will be invited to take photographs of school events and special achievements. We like to use photographs of our children on our website, Twitter, Class DOJO, in school documents, for parent information meetings, newsletters and on our display screens around the school. If you do not wish photographs of your child to be used for these purposes, then please indicate this on the admission forms.
Prevent strategy
Schools have a duty to prevent children from being drawn into terrorism. All staff will have training on the government’s anti-radicalisation strategy, Prevent, to enable them to exercise their duties under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, by identifying children at risk of being drawn into terrorism and to challenge extremist ideas.
In this school we recognise that safeguarding against radicalisation and extremism is no different from safeguarding against any other vulnerability.
Our curriculum promotes respect, tolerance and diversity. Children are encouraged to share their views and to understand that they are entitled to have their own different beliefs, which should not be used to influence others.
For further guidance, refer to the government website Educate Against Hate and charity NSPCC
Complaints or concerns about a member of staff
Allegations against a member of staff member should be made directly to the Headteacher. This can be done by calling or emailing the school, on a safeguarding issue. The Head will always take professional advice on how to proceed from the LADO, who is the Local Authority Designated Officer.
Any complaint or concern about the Head should be made directly to the Chair of Governors. You can do this in writing, by emailing the school office (admin@dwij.co.uk) or call the School Office.
Safeguarding Policies
To view our safeguarding polices and other policies relevant to safeguarding. please go to our Policies section here.
Further information
If you would like further information on Safeguarding, please click on the titles below:
For more information about Online safety, please go to our Parent Tab.