Safeguarding at Hexham First School
What is Safeguarding?
At Hexham First School we consider the safeguarding of children to be our most important priority. Children need to feel safe, cared for and valued in order to learn and thrive. In our school we follow the guidance set out in ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ which states that schools must ensure they:
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Protect children from maltreatment
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Prevent the impairment of children’s health or development
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Ensure children grow up in safe and effective care
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Take action to ensure children achieve the best outcomes
Who is Responsible for Safeguarding?
Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families has a role to play in safeguarding children. Staff are made aware that any safeguarding issues need to be reported through the correct routes to the designated safeguarding leads. When staff are recruited we follow the procedures set out in our ‘School Safer Recruitment Policy’. Also on-going safeguarding measures are in place for staff currently employed i.e. through training and DBS re-checks.
The following staff have received required Child Protection Training for Safeguarding Leads in School:
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Mrs Justine Overton SAFEGUARDING LEAD
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MISS Elizabeth Barton DEPUTY SAFEGUARDING LEAD
Our named governor for safeguarding is Mrs Fiona Armstrong
In addition, all staff complete annual safeguarding training. All staff receive weekly safeguarding updates. All staff who are new to Hexham First School receive safeguarding training as part of their induction package in order to ensure they can recognise signs and symptoms of abuse and report using our agreed procedures.
Where national issues come to the fore, whole school staff training is put in place, for example around the sexual violence and harassment agenda, PREVENT agenda, online safety.
Staff attend pertinent training throughout the year, for example – domestic violence, child bereavement, drug and alcohol abuse, adverse childhood experiences
Safeguarding updates are shared regular with our parents through Class Dojo and specific safeguarding newsletters. All visitors to Hexham First are provided with our safeguarding leaflet.
KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY
If you live in Northumberland, these are the numbers that you can ring for advice and to make a referral:
- During office hours (8.30am – 5pm Monday to Thursday, 4.30pm on Friday) call Children’s Social Services Initial Contact Point on 01670 536400
- At all other times, Social Services Emergency Duty Team on 0345 6005252
- If you have reason to believe that a child is at IMMEDIATE RISK OF HARM, contact the police on 999
- To report a concern about an adult’s behaviour towards a child, please contact the Local Authority designated officer,
REPORT ABUSE
We have a policy that ‘it could happen here’ and no concern is too small to report to a DSL. If anyone has concern that a child is being harmed as a result of abuse or neglect, they have a duty to share concerns.