Safeguarding

Bridgelea Primary School Safeguarding Children Statement:

Bridgelea Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Designated Safeguarding Lead – Lisa Shaw 0161 272 8716

Local Authority Designated Officer – Manchester Safeguarding and Improvement Unit 0161 234 1214

Designated Safeguarding Governor – Julie Heslop

Chair of Management Group – Mike Cooke

Bridgelea Primary School is a safe place for children, where our responsibilities for safeguarding children are taken seriously.

• Through our curriculum we teach the children about personal safety, and how to keep themselves safe from harm and through the fundamental promotion of British values.

• There is a strong anti-bullying ethos evident throughout the school. We teach our children how to recognise bullying, how to keep themselves safe from bullying behaviour and how to report it. We listen to our children.

• Our curriculum includes opportunities to discuss feelings and emotions and helps our children to think about their own personal safety and their rights as individuals to be kept safe from harm.

• We teach our children about the uses and misuses of drugs, including legal highs, at an age-appropriate time and level.

• We have clear guidance to help children to use the internet (including social media) safely and have appropriate filters in place to prevent pupils from accessing inappropriate materials.

• Our policies and agreed practices for child protection, health and safety, behaviour management, attendance and looked after children all comply with the recommendations for safeguarding children at school. We have a trained designated safeguarding lead and a designated governor with responsibility for safeguarding at the school.

• We have policies to manage potential allegations against staff, whistleblowing, and the use of physical intervention. A list of the policies which support this statement is detailed below.

• Our staff recruitment policies and practices are rigorous and comply with safe recruitment and selection requirements. We always pursue identity checks and qualification checks and we take up and scrutinise written references before confirming employment.

• We require clearance form the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) before employing any staff, in addition to pursuing List 99 checks.

• All voluntary helpers, supply teachers, agency staff, and outside club and coaching staff are required to provide evidence of DBS clearance.

• The local governing body is regularly updated about child protection, bullying and safeguarding policies and practices.

• It is the responsibility of every adult in this school to ensure that we maintain the highest level of awareness about possible unsafe practices and deal with any issues immediately and appropriately.

Policies that support the Safeguarding Statement:

• Safeguarding Policy

• Behaviour Policy including Physical Intervention

• Anti-bullying Policy

• Safer Recruitment Policy

• E-safety Practice & Procedures

• Trips and Visits Practice & Procedures

Bridgelea Primary School has an important part to play in pupils’ safety and well-being and in the detection and prevention of child abuse.  When a child starts at Bridgelea Primary School we want to ensure parents/carers and staff form a positive partnership for the benefit of the child. Children will have many new learning experiences both in school and at home, which will help them to fulfill their potential. Where it appears to a member of Bridgelea staff that a child may have suffered a non-accidental injury or abuse, we are required to report the matter to the Children’s Services Department immediately. Bridgelea Primary School has no choice in the action. Consequently, in such situations, it is likely that the parents/carers will be contacted by a Social Worker and not by Bridgelea Primary School. Please see our policies page for all school policies.

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