Safeguarding & Support

Worried about a child? Please use the links below.

ANY PARENT OR MEMBER OF STAFF WITH ANY CONCERNS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY REPORT THEM TO THE DESIGNATED SENIOR PERSON: SEE CONTACTS BELOW.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead for Child Protection is: Neil Bithell (Deputy Headteacher) neil.bithell@glusburn.n-yorks.sch.uk

The three Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads who deputise in his absence are:

Mrs Katie Smith (Headteacher) headteacher@glusburn.n-yorks.sch.uk Linsey Sanderson (Head of Early Years) linsey.sanderson@glusburn.n-yorks.sch.uk

Rachel Woodier (Lead for Safeguarding Curriculum and Computing Curriculum) r.woodier@glusburn.n-yorks.sch.uk

Our Safeguarding governor is Claire Clayton-Stead - she is also our Chair of Governors. cclayton-stead@glusburn.n-yorks.sch.uk

A referral directly to social care can be made here: https://safeguardingchildren.co.uk/about-us/worried-about-a-child/

You can contact the school on 01535 632145.

If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 999.

Child Protection Statement

Glusburn Community Primary School is committed to ensuring the welfare and safety of all children in school. All North Yorkshire schools, including Glusburn Community Primary School, follow the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership procedures. The school will, in most circumstances, endeavour to discuss all concerns with parents about their children. However, there may be exceptional circumstances when the school will discuss concerns with Social Care and/or the Police without parental knowledge (in accordance with Child Protection procedures). The school will, of course, always aim to maintain a positive relationship with all parents. The school’s child protection policy is available publicly.

Online Safety

Technology is an important part of children’s lives and learning. We want pupils to enjoy the opportunities that technology provides while understanding how to use it safely, responsibly and respectfully.

Our online safety education includes:

keeping personal information private;
passwords and account security;
safe and respectful communication online;
social media and messaging;
online gaming and chat;
cyberbullying;
inappropriate and harmful content;
online grooming and exploitation;
scams, phishing and misleading information;
privacy, location sharing and digital footprints;
image sharing and consent;
age restrictions on apps, games and social media;
artificial intelligence, manipulated images and deepfakes;
recognising when online content may be false or misleading;
knowing how to block, report and seek help.

Children are taught that the same expectations of kindness, respect and responsibility apply online as they do face to face.

We also encourage parents and carers to take an active interest in their child’s online life, including the games, apps and platforms they use.

If something happens online that worries your child, encourage them to tell a trusted adult and reassure them that asking for help is always the right thing to do.

Online Safety Advice

Domestic Violence

Safeguarding Support and Guidance Available

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: Article 18 (parental responsibilities and state assistance). Governments must support parents by creating support services for children and giving parents the help they need to raise their children.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: Article 19 (protection from violence, abuse and neglect). Governments must do all they can to ensure that children are protected from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect and bad treatment by their parents or anyone else who looks after them.

Safeguarding

Intent

At Glusburn Community Primary School, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every child is a priority; we want all children and adults to feel safe. Our child-centred philosophy ensures that the best interests of the child are always taken into account, while providing a comprehensive support network to ensure that all opportunities are taken to promote effective safeguarding. Although safeguarding is led by a senior team, all adults are responsible for leading safeguarding throughout school. Children are encouraged to take a proactive role in areas relating to safeguarding, ensuring that they are part of the process and owners of their own safety. All pupils follow a well-designed safeguarding curriculum to help them learn about potential risks and danger and develop their understanding of action that can be taken to keep themselves safe. As a school, we work closely with families, external agencies and other professionals to ensure children are protected and can achieve their full potential in all areas of development.

This curriculum has been designed by pulling together strands of learning from the Computing and PSHCE curriculums alongside the Education for a Connected World 2021 Document to ensure children are made aware of their rights and responsibilities when it comes to keeping themselves and others safe both on and offline. We have created this curriculum on the premise of Maslow’s pyramid of learning whereby a child cannot make progress or learn effectively if they, to begin with, do not feel safe or secure.

Implementation

Children are exposed to a weekly Safeguarding lesson with clear learning outcomes which show progression from year to year. Knowledge, skills and understanding are built upon the following themes: Self Image and Identity, Online Relationships, Online Reputations, Online Bullying, Managing Online Information, Health, Wellbeing and Lifestyle, Privacy and Security, Copyright and Ownership. These have been matched to the PSHCE themes across the academic year: Me and My Relationships, Keeping Myself Safe, My Healthy Lifestyle, Becoming Active Citizens and Me and My Future.

Supporting children to speak up

Children need to know that adults will listen when they raise a concern.

At Glusburn Primary School, we encourage pupils to speak to a trusted adult whenever something is worrying them, however big or small it may seem.

Children are taught that:

they will be listened to;
they should never be asked to keep an unsafe secret;
it is always right to tell an adult if someone is hurting them or making them uncomfortable;
they can keep asking for help until someone listens;
they will not get into trouble for telling an adult about something that worries them.

Preventing bullying and harmful behaviour

We expect all members of our school community to treat one another with kindness and respect.

Bullying, discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and harmful behaviour are not accepted.

Children are taught how to recognise bullying and inappropriate behaviour, how to report it and how to support others safely.

Any concerns raised by pupils, parents or staff are taken seriously and dealt with in line with school policy.

Mental health and emotional wellbeing

Safeguarding includes children’s emotional as well as physical wellbeing.

We help children to recognise and talk about their feelings, develop resilience and understand when they may need additional support.

Staff are alert to changes in a child’s behaviour, presentation, attendance or emotional wellbeing that may indicate a safeguarding concern.

Where appropriate, we work closely with parents, carers and external professionals to make sure children receive the support they need.

Attendance and safeguarding

Regular school attendance is an important part of safeguarding.

Changes in attendance or unexplained absence can sometimes indicate that a child or family needs additional help.

We monitor attendance carefully and work with families to address concerns at an early stage.

Safer recruitment and staff conduct

Everyone who works or volunteers at Glusburn Primary School is expected to maintain the highest standards of professional conduct.

The school follows safer recruitment procedures and carries out the appropriate checks for staff and volunteers.

All staff are expected to follow our Code of Conduct and safeguarding procedures.

Concerns or allegations about the behaviour of an adult working with children are managed in accordance with statutory guidance and the school’s Managing Allegations and Low-Level Concerns procedures.

Visitors to school

Visitors and volunteers are expected to follow our safeguarding procedures while on the school site.

Visitors must report to the school office, sign in and wear appropriate identification.

Where necessary, visitors will be accompanied by a member of staff.

Working with parents and carers

Strong safeguarding depends on a positive partnership between school and families.

We encourage parents and carers to contact us if they are worried about their child or another child.

Sometimes safeguarding responsibilities mean that information must be shared with other professionals or agencies. Where it is safe and appropriate to do so, we will work openly with families and explain the actions we are taking.

The welfare of the child will always come first.

Safeguarding policies

Our safeguarding procedures are supported by a range of school policies, including:

Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy;
Online Safety Policy;
Behaviour Policy;
Anti-Bullying Policy;
Attendance Policy;
Staff Code of Conduct;
Managing Allegations and Low-Level Concerns Policy;
Relationships and Health Education Policy;
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Policy.

The latest versions of these documents can be found on our School Policies page.

Useful safeguarding support

Parents, carers and children can also access advice and support from recognised national and local safeguarding organisations.

Useful areas of support include:

Please contact the school if you are unsure where to find the most appropriate support.

Remember

If you are worried about a child, please tell someone.

No concern is too small to share.

Speak to a member of our safeguarding team or contact the school office on 01535 632145.

Resources available:

Education for a Connected World Be Internet Legends Disrespect Nobody PSHE Association Teaching Online Safety in Schools Think You Know How UK Internet Safety Centre