Definition of Safeguarding
“Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. ‘Children’ includes everyone under the age of 18. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all practitioners should make sure their approach is child centred. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child.” Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024 (A copy of KCSIE 2024 is available at the bottom of this page)
Perran-ar-Worthal's Commitment to Safeguarding and Child Protection
At Perran-ar-Worthal we are committed to safeguarding children and young people and we expect everyone who works in our school to share this commitment. A copy of our policy can be found at the bottom of this page or in the Policy section of this website.
Adults in our school take all welfare concerns seriously and encourage children and young people to talk to us about anything that may worry them.
We use the 'My Concern' safeguarding system as a tool monitor and recording any concerns.
Safeguarding Contacts in School
- Designated Safeguarding Lead – Ben Teasdale (Deputy Headteacher)
- Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead –Mary Arthur (Year 1 Teacher)
- Safeguarding Governor – Kitty Teff
Communication with Parents
Our school will always discuss concerns with parents/carers and consent for any referrals should be sought unless to do so would:
- Place the child at risk of significant harm or further risk of significant harm.
- Place a vulnerable adult at risk of harm.
- Compromise any enquiries that need to be undertaken by children’s social care or the police.
The school will endeavour to ensure that parents have an understanding of the responsibilities placed on the school and staff for safeguarding children.
In the best interests of safeguarding children there may be occasions when the school has to consult with other agencies without a parent or carer’s prior knowledge. Our first concern and responsibility is the child’s welfare and we have a duty to protect children first and always. Such consultation may result in a formal referral which could prompt visits from social care and/or the police. We fully understand that this can be a very distressing set of circumstances. Our school will follow the procedures required by Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures Manual.
Our school will employ the services of an interpreter if required.
Curriculum
Child safety issues and child protection will be addressed through the curriculum where appropriate, especially through PSHE, Computing and E-Safety, Citizenship, Sex and Relations Education (SRE) and British values.
We use a variety of resources and approaches to teach the children how to keep themselves safe, build their resilience and manage risks.
The curriculum, and in particular the personal, social and health education development strand of the curriculum, includes an emphasis on relationships (relationships and sex education), building confidence and resilience in pupils and in developing preventative strategies to ensure their own protection and that of others. Opportunities are provided for pupils to develop the skills and strategies they need to stay safe from abuse, including age appropriate discussions about healthy relationships, their bodies and being able to say no to requests that they do not want to carry out. Clear advice and guidance is built into the curriculum to ensure that pupils understand that there is a range of contacts they can turn to for advice and support and that they know where and how to report abuse.
In 2017 we joined Operation Encompass, a project that runs jointly between schools and Devon and Cornwall Police.
Operation Encompass is the reporting to schools by the police, prior to the start of the next school day, when a child has been exposed to, or involved in, any domestic incident, and the police have been called.
Operation Encompass will ensure that the Designated Safeguarding Lead (or Deputy) is trained to allow them to liaise with the police and to use the information that has been shared, in confidence, while ensuring that the school is able to make provision for possible difficulties experienced by children, or their families, who have been involved in, or exposed to, a domestic abuse incident.
Radicalisation
Information to assist in staying aware of the risks of radicalisation.
For information regarding reporting any concerns that a young person could be at risk of being radicalised, please see below.
Reporting a Concern of Abuse or Neglect
If you have concerns that a child you know is at risk of serious harm through Abuse or Neglect it is important that you report your worries to the correct agency.