Child Protection and Safeguarding
Government Guidance
Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility
The latest Government guidance on Safeguarding can be found here.
Working Together to Safeguard Children
Keeping Children Safe in Education
The Governors and staff at St Bernard’s Catholic Primary School recognise that children have a right to be protected from harm and that the safeguarding of our pupils is absolute paramount. We are therefore committed to the highest standards in protecting and safeguarding the children entrusted into our care at all times. Our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy can be viewed in our Policies tab.
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children can be defined as follows:
- Protecting children from maltreatment;
- Preventing impairment of children’s health and development;
- Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care;
- Taking action to ensure all children have the best outcomes
To this end, St Bernard’s School follows the 'Keeping Children Safe in Education' guidelines issued by the Department for Education (DfE), it is updated each year ready for September. This statutory document is essential guidance for schools and colleges who must have regard to it when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
The document should be read alongside the 'Working Together to Safeguard Children' guidance. This document is also statutory, and provides guidance on inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
In order to protect our children, we aim to:
- Create an atmosphere where all our children can feel secure, valued and listened to
- Recognise signs and symptoms of abuse
- Respond quickly and effectively to cases of suspected abuse
- Monitor and support children at risk
- Use the curriculum to raise children’s awareness, build confidence and skills
- Work closely with parent/carers and support external agencies
- Ensure that all adults within our school/service who have access to children have been checked as to their suitability
All staff, including temporary staff and volunteers are subject to stringent background checks including clearance with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to ensure their suitability for working with children. - All parents and carers entering the school building at whatever time of day (including before and after the normal school day) must do so via the school office where they will be issued with a visitor badge. Any adult seen in the building without a visitor badge will be asked to leave. Should this happen to you, we ask you not to take offence as this is being done in the interests of your child’s safety.
St Bernard’s Catholic Primary School will support all children by:
- Promoting a caring, safe and positive environment within the school.
- Liaising and working together with all other support services and those agencies involved in the safeguarding of children
- Notifying Social Care Services (First Response - 0117 903 6444) via the approved mechanisms as soon as there is a significant concern.
- Providing continuing support to a child about whom there have been concerns who leaves the school by ensuring that appropriate information is forwarded under confidential cover to the child’s new school.
Childline
GET HELP AND ADVICE ON A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES
ChildLine is a private and confidential service for children and any young person up to the age of nineteen. You can contact a ChildLine counsellor about anything, no problem is too big or too small.
CALL FREE ON 0800 1111
Please click here for more information
NSPCC
To help keep all our children safe we encourage you to share the NSPCC Underwear Rule with your child.
The Underwear Rule is a simple way to help keep children safe from abuse. It teaches children that their body belongs to them, they have a right to say no, and that they should tell an adult if they’re upset or worried.
Cyber Safety / E-Safety
Click here to download a cyberbullying e-book
Up to date information about e-safety from the NSPCC
Click here to download an Internet Safety e-book
Emotional Health
Click here to download the NHS guide to young people's emotional health services