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Safeguarding

“Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined for the purposes of this guidance as: protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical 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.“

Safeguarding and child protection policy

COVID-19 Risk Assessment 

Our commitment to Safeguarding & Child Protection

​At The King’s CE School we are committed to safeguarding children and young people and we expect everyone who works in our school to share this commitment.

Adults in our school take all welfare concerns seriously and encourage children and young people to talk to us about anything that may worry them.

 

Safeguarding contacts in school

​​Designated Safeguarding Leader:
Mr E Parry (Vice Principal)

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leaders:

Ms T Bird (Safeguarding Manager)


Attendance and Punctuality Officer:
Mrs K Barratt (Attendance Officer)


Education Welfare Officer (EWO):
Mrs D Cox (Independent Education Welfare Service)

Communication with parents​

​Our school will always discuss concerns with parents/carers and consent for any referrals should be sought unless to do so would:
 
•    Place the child at risk of significant harm or further risk of significant harm.
•    Place a vulnerable adult at risk of harm.
•    Compromise any enquiries that need to be undertaken by children’s social care or the police.
 
The school will endeavour to ensure that parents have an understanding of the responsibilities placed on the school and staff for safeguarding children.
 
In the best interests of safeguarding children there may be occasions when the school has to consult with other agencies without a parent or carer’s prior knowledge. Our first concern and responsibility is the child’s welfare and we have a duty to protect children first and always. Such consultation may result in a formal referral which could prompt visits from social care and/or the police. We fully understand that this can be a very distressing set of circumstances. Our school will follow the procedures required by the Wolverhampton Safeguarding Children Together.​

Curriculum

Child safety issues and child protection will be addressed through the curriculum where appropriate, especially through PSHE, Computing and E-Safety, Citizenship, Sex and Relations Education (SRE) and British values.
 
We use a variety of resources and approaches to teach the children how to keep themselves safe, build their resilience and manage risks.
During PSHE and Citizenship pupils will be taught about a range of age appropriate issues that may impact on them.  These lessons will aim to improve pupils' own confidence and resilience in increasing their preventative strategies to ensure their protection and that of their peers.
Pupils will also experience guest speakers and assemblies to focus on specific aspects of staying safe.  Pupils identified at greater risk than others will have the opportunity to attend workshops/focus groups working with experts from outside of school.  We will ensure we are aware of the developing needs of our pupils and ensure the provision is adapted to suit the school population
Clear advice and guidance is built into the curriculum to ensure that pupils understand that there is a range of contacts they can turn to for advice and support and that they know where and how to report abuse.

Child Sexual Exploitation

Child sexual exploitation is a form of child sexual abuse. It occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity (a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or (b) for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator. The victim may have been sexually exploited even if the sexual activity appears consensual. Child sexual exploitation does not always involve physical contact: it can also occur through the use of technology.
Charities such as NSPCC and Barnardos have been campaigning to raise the profile of this form of child abuse.

Child criminal exploitation: county lines

Criminal exploitation of children is a geographically widespread form of harm that is a typical feature of county lines criminal activity: drug networks or gangs groom and exploit children and young people to carry drugs and money from urban areas to suburban and rural areas, market and seaside towns. Key to identifying potential involvement in county lines are missing episodes, when the victim may have been trafficked for the purpose of transporting drugs.


Internet Safety

​Children and young people spend lots of time on the internet.  They may go online to research information for homework or to play games, chat with friends and make new ones. The internet holds a massive amount of useful information and can also be a really good way of learning about new things and keeping in contact with friends and family.  It can also be a very dangerous place so it is important that children are protected and monitored when they are online.

CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection) has lots of information about how to keep your children safe online and parental controls.  The link to the website is below.

CEOP - Think U Know

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

​FGM has been a criminal offence in the UK since 1985. In 2003 it also became a criminal offence for UK nationals or permanent UK residents to take their child abroad to have female genital mutilation. Anyone found guilty of the offence faces a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison (NSPCC).
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. It's also known as female circumcision or cutting.
Religious, social or cultural reasons are sometimes given for FGM. However, FGM is child abuse. It's dangerous and a criminal offence. There are no medical reasons to carry out FGM. It doesn't enhance fertility and it doesn't make childbirth safer. It is used to control female sexuality and can cause severe and long-lasting damage to physical and emotional health. (NSPCC).
There is lots of information and support available online for parents/carers concerned about this subject or if you know someone who is at risk:
​​
Contact the Police if you think that a girl or young woman is in danger of FGM and is still in the UK.
Contact the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (020 7008 1500) if she’s already been taken abroad.
 
The NSPCC has detailed advice on how to spot the signs, symptoms and effects of FGM and provides support for people who are concerned about a child or who have been affected themselves. The link to the website is below.

NSPCC - FGM

Sexual violence and sexual harassment between children

Sexual violence and sexual harassment can occur between two children of any age and sex. It can also occur through a group of children sexually assaulting or sexually harassing a single child or group of children.
Children who are victims of sexual violence and sexual harassment will likely find the experience stressful and distressing. Sexual violence and sexual harassment exist on a continuum and may overlap, they can occur online and offline (both physical and verbal) and are never acceptable. It is important that all victims are taken seriously and offered appropriate support.

Reporting a Concern of Abuse or Neglect

If you have concerns that a child you know is at risk of serious harm through Abuse or Neglect it is important that you report your worries to the correct agency.  The links below to the Wolverhampton Safeguarding Board will provide information on how to report your concerns.

The NSPCC website is also and excellent source of information and guidance.  If you have concerns you can always contact the Safeguarding team at The King’s CE School for advice.

The SHARP System (Student Help Advice Reporting Page System)

SHARP allows young people to report any incidents which occur within the school and local community anonymously and without fear. Aside from the reporting tool SHARP delivers educational content to raise awareness on a wide range of subjects including: Bullying, Health, Community Issues, Weapons and Hate Crime.

Wolverhampton Social Services

Wolverhampton Safeguarding Together

NSPCC

Free, safe and anonymous online counselling and support

​Kooth is a fully commissioned service from NHS Wolverhampton Clinical Commissioning Group.  It is a free, safe, confidential and non-stigmatised way for young people to receive counselling, advice and support on-line.

Kooth

Useful Websites

​The links on this page are designed to support you, provide advice and create
awareness of some of the areas within safeguarding.

Wolverhampton Safeguarding Board

On this site you will be able to find the form for Safeguarding Referrals

The SHARP System
(Student Help Advice Reporting Page System)
NSPCC

National Website for keeping children safe.

Child Exploitation

Information on Child Exploitation.

Child Abuse

General information about child abuse

FGM

Information on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

FGM

Help Website for FGM

Government Information

General government information regarding safeguarding

Safety Detectives

Best Antivirus Programs with Free Parental Control Tools

​Preventing Radicalisation

Information on Preventing Radicalisation

Keeping Children Safe in Education​

National Guidance 

Useful Resources

Please see below for more safeguarding resources.

Darker Nights Safety Advice

E-safety Tips

Keeping your child safe online checklist

Love your phone

Silent solutions

E-safety conversation starters

Hoax Calls

Keeping yourself safe

Sexting advice

Snapchat maps

E-safety flowchart

Immobilise Property Crime

Live streaming factsheet

Sharing information advice

Working together to safeguard children

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