Return to Our School

Safeguarding

 Safeguarding Statement

At St Andrew’s School safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility.

We are fully committed to comprehensive safeguarding practices aimed at ensuring children are safe in both school and at home.  The following are some of our safeguarding practices at St Andrew’s Church of England Primary School and we follow all Government guidance in “Keeping Children Safe in Education”

  • We have a number of policies and procedures in place that contribute to our safeguarding commitment, including our Child Protection, Safeguarding , Online safety and Attendance policies.
  • We have fully trained Designated Safeguarding Lead (Mrs H. Gillingham) and three trained Deputy DSLs (Mrs C.Davey , Mr A.Cooper and Mr J Chesterman).
  • All staff annually attend safeguarding training as part of their INSET and are trained, every three years, to Level 1 Safeguarding by HCC.
  • We are an Operation Encompass school -Operation Encompass is a national police and education early intervention safeguarding partnership which supports children and young people who experience Domestic Violence and Abuse and which is in place in every police force in England and Wales.

    Operation Encompass means that the police will share information with our school about all police attended Domestic Abuse incidents which involve any of our children PRIOR to the start of the next school day.

  • Staff have had training for Prevent Radicalisation and Extremism.

  • All staff are DBS checked as part of our recruitment procedure and are made aware of our safeguarding policies & procedures during their induction.
  • When conducting each recruitment process, at least one member of the panel will have completed Safer Recruitment training.
  • All visitors to school are signed in at reception and accompanied by a member of staff whilst in school, if they do not have a DBS.
  • Visiting professionals/supply staff are asked to show photographic identification prior to entering school and their DBS details would be confirmed by their employer.
  • Volunteers are inducted and must have a DBS.
  • All adults who collect children from school at any point in the school day must do so via the School Office.
  • Entry points to the school either have key code access or cannot be opened from outside the building.
  • Our PSHE curriculum teaches children how to look after themselves and to keep safe. The children are taught to identify safe adults beyond the family to confide in at times of distress or identified danger.
  • E-Safety is a taught module within the computing curriculum and is continually referred to in the teaching of computing lessons. The school also has regular e-safety whole school focus days.
  • E-Safety guidance is often provided to parents through the weekly update and Parents’ meetings.
  • A first day response is in place for all children that are absent from school.

 

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child, you can make a referral to Hertfordshire Children’s Services: 0300 123 4043.

Call 999 if there is immediate danger to the child or a crime is being committed.

For more information about Children’s Social Services please see: https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/childrens-social-care/childrens-social-care.aspx

Photographs and Videos

Whilst lots of parents and carers really enjoy seeing photos and videos of their children’s school life we are very mindful of our duty of care towards all our pupils. We take the issue of safeguarding very seriously and this includes the use of photographic and video images.

Any photographs or videos taken by parents, carers and relatives at school productions, sports days or other events are for the enjoyment of individual families. They must not be used in any way that could potentially place a child at risk. This would include publishing images in any form of print or on the internet including social networking sites. This is emphasised before concerts and shows etc.

Occasionally, the local press will be invited to take photographs of school events and special achievements. We like to use photographs of our children on our website, in school documents, for parent information meetings, newsletters and on our display. Permissions for these are sought each year.