Safeguarding

 

Introduction

 

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families and carers has a role to play in safeguarding children. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, Lowerhouse Junior School adopts a child-centred approach to safeguarding. This means that we consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child.  Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is:

• protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of children’s health or development;
• ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and
• taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

 

The Role of School Staff

 

School staff are particularly important as they are in a position to identify concerns early, provide help for children, and prevent concerns from escalating. All staff at Lowerhouse have a responsibility to provide a safe environment in which children can learn. We have a designated safeguarding lead, Mrs Isherwood, who will provide support to staff members to carry out their safeguarding duties and who will liaise closely with other services such as children’s social care.

All staff in school undertake rigorous in-depth safeguarding training on an annual basis. We also include safeguarding as part of our weekly staff briefings, including pastoral sessions and Lancashire Safeguarding Children Board 7-Minute briefings.

 

If you have safeguarding concerns or questions please come to speak with any of our designated safeguarding leaders in school – Mrs Isherwood or Mrs S Smith, Mrs H Marsden, Miss Lee and Miss K Waslin (Deputy/Back Up DSLs)

 

 

Safeguarding Policy

 

At Lowerhouse we recognise our responsibility to protect and safeguard the welfare of the children entrusted to our care by establishing a safe environment in which children can learn and develop. We have a statutory responsibility to make sure and promote the safety of children under ‘Section 175 of the Education Act 2002’. In our School Children are made to feel safe and are encouraged to talk and be listened to. This policy is very detailed and includes Online Safety, Record Keeping, Supporting the Pupil, Curriculum, training and Safe Recruitment.

 

Anti-Bullying Policy

 

It is a Government requirement that all schools have an anti-bullying policy. Bullying is wrong and damages individual children; at Lowerhouse we do all we can to prevent it, by developing a school ethos in which bullying is regarded as unacceptable. This policy aims to produce a consistent school response to any bullying incidents that may occur. Our Governors, Head teacher, staff, parents and children have a role to play in our anti bullying policy. Our aim, as a school, is to produce a safe environment where all can learn without anxiety, everyone can feel welcome, secure and happy and measures are in place to reduce the likelihood of bullying. What can you do? Actively encourage your child to be a positive member of the school. Tell us immediately if you think your child is being bullied.

 

Behaviour Policy 

 

Our values are built on mutual trust and respect for all. The school’s behaviour policy is designed to support the way in which all members of the school can live and work together in a supportive way to develop our values. We follow a positive approach to behaviour, rewarding good behaviour, as we believe that this will develop an ethos of kindness and cooperation. We expect our pupils to;

• Do as we are asked the first time
• Respect each other and our property
• Treat other people as we would like to be treated
• Walk sensibly and calmly around school to keep us safe
• Always try our best at all times

 

What can you do?

We believe it is important that school and home present a united approach to the child. Talk to your child about what is expected of them and praise and promote their good behaviour.

 

SAFEGUARDING

OPERATION ENCOMPASS

 

The purpose of Operation Encompass is to safeguard and support children and young people who have been involved in or witness to a Domestic Abuse incident. Domestic Abuse impacts on children in a number of ways. Children are at increased risk of physical injury during an incident, either by accident or because they attempt to intervene. Even when not directly injured, children are greatly distressed by witnessing the physical and emotional suffering of a parent.

Operation Encompass has been created to address this situation. It is the implementation of key partnership working between the police and schools. The aim of sharing information with local schools is to allow ‘Key Adults’ the opportunity of engaging with the child and to provide access to support that allows them to remain in a safe, but secure, familiar environment.

 

Following the report of an incident of Domestic Abuse by 8.30 am on the next school day, the school’s Key Adult will be informed that the child or young person has been involved in a domestic incident. This knowledge, given to schools through Operation Encompass, allows the provision of immediate early intervention through silent or overt support dependent upon the needs and wishes of the child.

 

The purpose and procedures in Operation Encompass have been shared with all parents and governors, is detailed as part of the school’s safeguarding policy and published on our school website.

 

The Key Adult for Lowerhouse Junior School is Mrs Isherwood, Headteacher.

 

More information can be found on: https://www.operationencompass.org/